Devonian paleoenvironments of Ohio

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Carbonate depositional systems from the Paleozoic era have been less studied in terms of paleoecological interactions compared to siliciclastic systems. This research investigates the paleontology of the Middle Devonian Dundee Formation in Ohio, a significant environment within the Michigan Basin. Understanding biotic relationships—such as mutualism, commensalism, parasitism, and predation—is crucial for deciphering the fossil record. The study has resulted in a substantial field collection that will aid future researchers in documenting the fossil content of this formation. Rituparna Bose employed advanced microscopic and imaging techniques to analyze biotic interactions in small invertebrate shells, addressing complex hypotheses related to the biodiversity crisis in geology and paleontology. Her work focused on the Devonian geology and paleontology of the newly explored Whitehouse Quarry in Lucas County, Ohio. She identified Devonian brachiopods to the genus level based on morphology and examined paleoecological entities on host brachiopods, measuring episkeletobiont traces to assess environmental and evolutionary impacts on extinct species. These findings have significant implications for predicting future biodiversity, ecosystem conservation, and climate change. Additionally, this research will enable comparisons of the ecology of brachiopod hosts in the Dundee Limestone with other Devonian brachiopods from various setting