Symbiotic interactions in the Silurian of North America

Abstract

There are at least 47 different symbiotic pairs of taxa and 16 symbiotic associations in the Silurian of North America. Crinoids are most common host species and they hosted variety of epibiotic and endobiotic symbionts, including Tremichnus, platyceratid gastropods, brachiopods, microconchids, cornulitids, cyclostome bryozoans and favositid tabulates. Eighteen symbiotic pairs contain at least one colonial partner. Stromatoporoids hosted the most diverse fauna of endobiotic symbionts, including cornulitids, lingulids, Chaetosalpinx, Heliocosalpinx and rugosans. Among 16 symbiotic associations of Silurian of North America, 8 are common between North America and Baltica. North American symbiotic associations involving stromatoporoid hosts are the most similar to their Baltic equivalents.

Keywords:

• Symbiosis
• invertebrates
• endobionts
• stratigraphic distribution
• Silurian
• Laurentia

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is a contribution to IGCP 591 ‘The Early to Middle Palaeozoic Revolution’. I am grateful to Carlton E. Brett, Mark A. Wilson and an anonymous reviewer for the constructive reviews.