Die mikroendolithischen Spurenfossilien im Alt-Tertiär West-Europas und ihre palökologische Bedeutung

In order to trace the relation between endoliths and bathymetry and other ecological parameters Lower Tertiary samples from well known fades and environments were used i.e. from Paris Basin, Aquitaine Basin, Northern Italy, Kassel Basin, Lower Rhine Embayment and Schleswig-Holstein. 31 types of boring traces can be distinguished. The new ones were grouped after an ichnotaxonomy based solely on morphographical criteria. Seven ichnogenera and nineteen ichnospedes are new. Apart from macroendolithic bryozoans, sponges and worms our trace fossils can be compared with recent traces of bacteria, cyanophytes, chlorophytes, rhodophytes, fungi and other heterotrophical organisms. A bathymetric classification of our sample strata on the base of ecological needs of producers of the Recent counterparts mostly coincides with an arrangement that follows current fades criteria. Thus for instance "algoid" endoliths are restricted to shallow water fades, whereas fungi and other heterotrophs occur also in deeper water sediments. Exceptions and the meaning of other fades parameters are discussed raphical sites where the specimens .were taken, the different climates, especially tropical Eocene and colder Oligocene, between coarse and sandy or fin'e and argilaceous sediments respectively are reflected in the distribution of endoliths. Most "algoid" endoliths prefer fully marine conditions. Boring assemblages from brackish environments consist mainly of "heterotrophical" endoliths.