Devonian stromatoporoid dataset of the Natural History Museum, London (UK) and the globe
Data files
Jan 10, 2025 version files 108.86 KB
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README.md
1.13 KB
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Supplementary_Data_Set_1.xlsx
54.49 KB
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Supplementary_Data_Set_2.xls
53.25 KB
Abstract
Devonian stromatoporoid collections in the Natural History Museum, London (UK) have been deposited for over 100 years. The characteristics and systematic position of these specimens, however, have received little attention. In this study, a total of 307 Devonian stromatoporoid specimens comprising material documented by Nicholson (1886a–1892) from the UK, Germany, United States, and Canada, plus specimens described by Ripper (1933, 1937a, b, c) from Australia, were re-examined. Overall, 50 species belonging to 29 genera were systematically redescribed based on recent progress, mainly including Actinostroma, Petridiostroma, Stictostroma, Pseudotrupetostroma, and Parallelopora. Three-dimensional reconstructions follow the earlier works of Stearn (1966) and Cockbain (1984). The reconstructed skeletons reveal stromatoporoid architectural patterns, crucial for enhancing understanding and revision of stromatoporoid identification. This study underscores the significance of three-dimensional reconstruction in taxonomic research on stromatoporoids. The NHMUK material is combined with data from publications and the Paleobiology Database (PBDB) to perform a network analysis of the global occurrence of Devonian stromatoporoids at the generic level; this reveals a close relationship of the global stromatoporoid fauna during the Early Devonian, indicating a widespread distribution, despite this interval being regarded as a time of global stromatoporoid contraction. The Middle Devonian assemblage shows a much higher cosmopolitan occurrence in the context of the subsequent Eifelian-Givetian global stromatoporoid proliferation, consistent with the known pattern from other studies of Middle Devonian stromatoporoids. Overall, the NHMUK collections are a valuable resource to help understand the global occurrence of Devonian stromatoporoids.
README: Devonian stromatoporoid dataset of the Natural History Museum, London (UK) and the globe
https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.547d7wmjm
Description of the data and file structure
All the data were collected from global references and specimens deposited in the Natural History Museum, London (UK).
Files and variables
File: Supplementary_Data_Set_1.xlsx
Description: This file contains taxonomic list of Devonian stromatoporoids stored in the Natural History Museum, London (UK). Name, age, number, and location are included.
Variables
- NHM: Natural History Museum, London (UK).
- n/a: data unavailable or no data.
File: Supplementary_Data_Set_2.xls
Description: This file contains the global distribution of Early and Middle Devonian stromatoporoids in different continents (areas).
Variables
- "X" and "O" represent the occurrence of stromatoporoid genera in certain continents (areas).
- n/a: data unavailable or no data.
- Note: Entries in yellow highlight are the NHMUK collections taxa and illustrated in this study.