Stromatoporoid morphology in the Devonian of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland, and its palaeoenvironmental significance

Abstract

Stromatoporoid skeletons from polished slabs of stromatoporoid- and coral-bearing limestones of the Upper Devonian Kowala Formation from the Holy Cross Mountains in central Poland have been measured using a classic parameterization method, introduced by KERSHAW & RIDING (1978) and improved by KERSHAW (1984, 1998). The stromatoporoid shape appeared to be strongly dependent on its size – the V/B ratio decreases along with increasing B. The relation can be well matched by a curve described by a formula: f(x) = 5.7103 x^0.81633. The size of the measured specimens must therefore be taken into account in those studies of the stromatoporoid morphology, where it is concerned a palaeoenvironmental indicator. The stromatoporoids adopted several types of initial surfaces, corresponding to various growth strategies in the first phase of their growth in response to various environmental conditions, such as substrate consistency and sedimentation rate. Latilaminae arrangement well records the stromatoporoid growth history and therefore its studies are crucial in environmental interpretations, as the conclusions inferred from the shape alone might be very misleading.