Bioevent Explained

A bioevent or bio-event (a shortening of 'biotic event' or 'biological event') is an event recognised in a sequence of sedimentary rocks, where there is a significant change in the biota as recorded by assemblages of fossils over a relatively short period of time. It has been defined as "short-term (hours or days to kyrs) locally, regionally, or interregionally pervasive changes in the ecological, biogeographical, and/or evolutionary character of biotas that are isochronous or nearly so throughout their range".[1] Bioevents either relate to diversification of a particular fossil group or a reduction, these may equate to speciation events or extinction events, or may only represent migration. Records of the appearance and disappearance of particular taxa at a single locality are insufficient to define a bioevent.[2]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Sageman, B.B. . Paleontological Events - Stratigraphic, Ecological and Evolutionary Implications . Kauffman E.G. . Harries P.J. . Elder W.P. . 1997. Columbia University Press. New York. Brett C.E. & Baird G.C. . Cenomanian/Turonian bioevent and ecostratigraphy in the Western Interior Basin: contrasting scales of local, regional, and global events. 520 - 570.
  2. Book: Zhang, S.. The palynology and micropalaeontology of boundaries . Barnes C.R. . 2004 . Beaudoin A.B. & Head M.J. . . London. Special Publications. 230. Conodont bio-events, cladistics and response to glacio-eustasy, Ordovician-Silurian boundary through Llandovery, Anticosti Basin, Québec . 76 - 78. 9781862391604 . https://books.google.com/books?id=l_zOZZGM2hEC&dq=zhang+barnes+2004&pg=PA47 . 15 March 2012.