Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports 2010 Systematics and evolutionary paleoecology of crinoids from the St. Louis Limestone (Mississippian, Meramecian) of the Illinois Basin Lewis Anderson Cook West Virginia University Follow this and additional works at: https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd Recommended Citation Cook, Lewis Anderson, "Systematics and evolutionary paleoecology of crinoids from the St. Louis Limestone (Mississippian, Meramecian) of the Illinois Basin" (2010). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3083. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3083 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by the The Research Repository @ WVU with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. 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Systematics and Evolutionary Paleoecology of Crinoids from the St. Louis Limestone (Mississippian, Meramecian) of the Illinois Basin Lewis Anderson Cook Dissertation submitted to the College of Arts and Sciences at West Virginia University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geology Thomas Kammer, Ph.D., Chair William Ausich, Ph.D. Richard Smosna, Ph.D. Helen Lang, Ph.D. Timothy Carr, Ph.D. Department of Geology and Geography Morgantown, West Virginia 2010 Abstract Systematics and Evolutionary Paleoecology of Crinoids from the St. Louis Limestone (Mississippian, Meramecian) of the Illinois Basin Lewis A. Cook Very little attention has been paid to crinoids of the St. Louis Limestone since the 19th century. Now that the stratigraphic boundaries of the formation are well defined and a collection of crinoids specific to the St. Louis has become available, updated systematics and evolutionary paleoecology is possible. Previous work recognized a significant transition in the macroevolution of crinoids that occurred during the Mississippian Period. The diversity of crinoid taxa changed substantially from faunas dominated by camerates and primitive cladids to those dominated by advanced cladids. Much of that change took place during the Meramecian Stage, which includes the St. Louis Limestone. The preceding Salem Limestone contained a prevalence of camerates whereas the following superjacent Ste. Genevieve Limestone contained a more advanced cladids. Questions that are considered include: what changes in morphology of crinoids accompanied that transition; what, if any, environmental change occurred that influenced the major transition in crinoids; and what was the precise change in the distribution of crinoid taxa throughout the deposition of the St. Louis Limestone? The approach to providing a plausible description and explanation includes an evaluation of the geologic setting, a re-evaluation of crinoid systematics, and an investigation of the evolutionary paleoecology of the St. Louis Limestone crinoids. Lithology of the St. Louis Limestone is compared to the Salem Limestone below and the Ste. Genevieve limestone above. A change in environment occurred within the St. Louis. The Salem and Ste. Genevieve were deposited in a deeper water setting, whereas St. Louis deposition took place in a low-energy, mostly lagoonal setting. This is reflected in microscopic study by the prevalence of mudstone and wackestone in the St. Louis while ths Salem and St. Genevieve are granistones Systematic evaluation confirmations 17 species of crinoids previously assigned to the St. Louis. Three crinoid species that were identified within other formations, but not in the St. Louis, were added. One new species, Armenocrinus howelli was identified. Three species were synonymized within the St. Louis. Eight species previously listed as belonging to the St. Louis were found to be incorrectly assigned. Crinoids had been adapting in their overall morphology prior to the Meramecian. Various changes in feeding structures, predatory defenses and mobility occurred from the Ordovician through the early Meramecian. Those adaptations allowed crinoids with the most advantageous morphology to survive adverse environmental conditions. In fact, two events took place during the Meramecian that would have impacted the survival of crinoids. Durophagous predators increased in numbers and a prolonged regression reduced habitat area during the deposition of the St. Louis. Those two factors impacted crinoids in a negative way. That evolutionary bottleneck resulted in the better adapted advanced cladids radiating, whereas the previously dominant camerates saw a substantial decrease in diversity. iii Dedication I dedicate this work to my wonderful wife, Vicki, whose unfailing support and sacrifice is beyond commonplace in today’s world. I also dedicate this work to the the people of the Town of Fayetteville, West Virginia who allowed me to become a part of their community and provided the means over my years in medical practice there that allowed me to attempt this endeavour. iv Acknowledgements As with any work such as this dissertation, there are those whose assistance along the way has been invaluable in my being able to complete this project. Peggy Fisherkeller, Curator of Geology, Indiana State Museum, and Jann Thompson, Deputy Chair and Collections Manager, National Museum of Natural History, were very accommodating in allowing my visits and work at their museums. Robert Howell collected the specimens of crinoids from the Harris Stone Quarry, Bainbridge, Indiana, and also spent an entire day guiding Dr. Kammer and me through the site. His collection was an integral part of this work, without which it would have been impossible. I very much appreciate assistance from the Department of Geology and Geography in providing financial assistance in the form of tuition waviers and travel expenses as well creating a very nice facility and faculty that was very nurturing. My dissertation committee, including Dr. Richard Smosna, Dr. Helen Lang, Dr. Timothy Carr, Dr. William Ausich and my advisor Dr. Thomas Kammer have been unfailing in their attention to the steps in preparing this work. I want to thank Dr. Ausich, in particular, the outside committee member and having to travel a long distance to attend my proposal and defense, for his kindness. My advisor, Dr. Thomas Kammer with his extraordinary abilities as a scientist and a writer insisted on the best work that I was able to achieve. Anything about this work that is of any value is to his credit. v Table of Contents Page Dissertation Cover (Title Page) --------------------------------------------- i Abstract ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ii Dedication -------------------------------------------------------------------- iii Acknowledgements --------------------------------------------------------- iv Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------- v List of Figures -------------------------------------------------------------- vii List of Tables ----------------------------------------------------------------- x Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Geologic Setting Introduction ------------------------------------------------------------- 3 Origin of the Illinois Basin ------------------------------------------- 3 Mississippian and Meramecian Stratotypes ------------------------ 9 Formations within study area: Salem Limestone ------------------------------------------------ 11 St. Louis Limestone --------------------------------------------- 16 Ste. Genevieve Limestone ------------------------------------- 27 Thickness and Extent of formations within the study area ------------------------------------ 35 Summary -------------------------------------------------------------- 38 Systematics Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------- 39 Methods --------------------------------------------------------------- 41 Faunal Analysis ------------------------------------------------------ 44 Systematic Paleontology -------------------------------------------- 46 Evolutionary Paleoecology Introduction ----------------------------------------------------------- 101 History of Crinoid Subclass Distribution ------------------------- 101 Crinoid Morphology ------------------------------------------------ 115 Adaptation ------------------------------------------------------------ 122 Environmental Change during the Meramecian ----------------- 134 Discussion ------------------------------------------------------------ 140 Conclusions ----------------------------------------------------------------- 143 References ------------------------------------------------------------------- 149 Appendix A. Key for figures 5, 7, and 11, of Geologic Setting section, and Appendix B----------------------------------- 173 vi Appendix B. Stratigraphic column of Salem, St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve limestone at the Casper Stolle Quarry-----------174 Appendix C. Stratigraphic column of the Salem, St. Louis and Ste. Genevieve limestones,