Abstract
Biotic immigration has been a natural occurrence for hundreds of millions of years, with one of the most well-known immigrations taking place during the Late Ordovician period, over 450 Ma. This mass immigration, known as the Richmondian Invasion, took place over a million years and led to the introduction of at least 60 new taxa to the Cincinnati Arch region from the mid-continent region and Canadian regions of Laurentia. Alongside the invasion, bioerosion patterns also underwent many changes. Collecting fossils from both sites and measuring boring size, substrate type, and ichnogenera, reveals a strong preference of bryozoans as a substrate, as well as significant variation in Trypanites boring size across different phases of the invasion, likely due to the introduction of invasive species of worms. Though the Richmondian Invasion took place over 450 Ma, many parallels can be drawn to modern day bioeroders as we face ocean acidification and increasing levels of bioerosion. By further studying bioerosion patterns in the Richmondian Invasion and other biotic immigration events, we may be able to gain insight into what will happen to warm, shallow marine environments as modern oceans continue to warm and change.
Advisor
Lyon, Eva
Department
Earth Sciences
Recommended Citation
Grant, Taylor, "Investigating Changes in Bioerosion Patterns Following a Biotic Immigration Event in a Changing Climate" (2026). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 13280.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/13280
Disciplines
Geology | Paleobiology | Paleontology
Keywords
Geology, Paleontology, Bioerosion, Late Ordovician, Biotic Immigration
Publication Date
2026
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
Raw Data
© Copyright 2026 Taylor Grant