Acta Geologica Polonica , Vol. 58 (2008), No. 1, pp. 87-103 Eco-taphonomy of mass-aggregated giant balanids Concavus (Concavus ) concavus (DARWIN , 1854) from the Lower Pliocene (Zanclean) of Rafina near Pikermi (Attica, Greece) URSZULA RADWAŃSKA & ANDRZEJ RADWAŃSKI Institute of Geology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury , 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa, Poland. E-mail:
[email protected] ABSTRACT: RADWAŃSKA , U. & R ADWAŃSKI , A. 2008. Eco-taphonomy of mass-aggregated giant balanids Concavus (Con - cavus ) concavus (DARWIN , 1854) from the Lower Pliocene (Zanclean) of Rafina near Pikermi (Attica, Greece). Acta Geologica Polonica , 58 (1) , 87-103 . Warszawa. The large- to giant-sized balanids, mass-aggregated in a tempestite of the Lower Pliocene (Zanclean) section at Ra - fina near Pikermi, Greece, represent a single species, Concavus (Concavus ) concavus (DARWIN , 1854) [ non BRONN , 1831], the taxonomy of which is revised. The peculiarly shaped forms ‘ raphanoides ’ and ‘ scutorum ’ are ecopheno - types of this species; the same applies to the ‘ tulipiformis ’ specimens reported previously from this section. Discussed are dynamic events controlling the life and death conditions in the nearshore (offshore) environment of Rafina, where the giant specimens of Concavus (Concavus ) concavus (DARWIN , 1854) flourished through several succes - sive generations. As opportunistic species they adopted the r-selection reproduction strategy in order to dominate over other biota. The intermittent action of high-energy agents was responsible for the production of balanid-shell hash that involved taphonomic feedback. This enabled further colonization of the biotope and the growth of multiphased (bouquet-like and pyramidal) clusters. The demise of the monospecific balanid communities is ascribed to a heavy storm which stirred-up the whole balanid-bearing sequence, to produce a proximal tempestite.