A consideration upon macrobenthic assemblages of the Korytnica Clays (Middle Miocene; Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland)

Abstract

Paleoecology of macrobenthic assemblages of the Korytnica Clays (Middle Miocene; Holy Cross Mountains, Central Poland) is considered basing upon two contrasting neoecological theories. Comparison of the results shows that what is to be regarded as distinct communities in the light of one of the theories, appears as a product of resilient responses of a single benthic community type according to the other theory. This conclusion undermines validity of each paleoenvironmental inference based solely upon the ecological structure of paleocommunities. The derivative nature of community-paleoecological analyses does, however, not affect any evolutionary-paleoecological argument.