Temporal and environmental distribution of microfossils

Since a species persists only for a limited amount of geologic time and only in a specific environment, microfossils can be used to date the rocks in which they are found (biostratigraphy) and to indicate the environment in which the sediment was deposited (paleoecology).

Biostratigraphic utility of microfossil groups

The chart below shows the geologic periods in which various microfossil groups existed and those periods for which the groups are most useful for dating.

Figure 17-13 See text for explanation.

See also

• Stratigraphic and geographic distribution of fossils
• Biogeography
• Paleoclimatology
• Taphonomy and provenance

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