Publication Date
2009
Document Type
Thesis
Committee Members
Burt Carter (Committee Member), Charles Ciampaglio (Committee Chair), David Dominic (Committee Member)
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Abstract
The Late Eocene echinoid, Periarchus lyelli (Conrad, 1834), known for its wide geographic range, high abundance, and specific stratigraphic range, is an ideal example of a guide fossil. However, due to its highly variable test morphology, many have questioned if, in fact, this sand dollar is actually two or three distinct species that have been misclassified. A preliminary study on this subject has been performed on specimens from Mississippi, North Carolina and South Carolina (Williamson, 2006), showing significant separation in test shapes. Continuing previous research, this study analyzes the test shapes of P. lyelli over its entire North American geographic distribution. Multivariate statistical techniques combined with substrate and structural analysis support the idea of three species instead of one in the case of P. lyelli. This examination of P. lyelli provides insight to the precise classification of the sand dollar and the difference between interspecies variation and intraspecies variation.
Page Count
103
Department or Program
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
Year Degree Awarded
2009
Copyright
Copyright 2009, all rights reserved. This open access ETD is published by Wright State University and OhioLINK.
