TAPHONOMIC AND SYNECOLOGIC FEATURES OF TH E TUBIPHYTES GENUS IN THE TRATAU AND NIZHNI-IRGINSK BUILDUPS (LOWER PERMIAN OF THE URAL MOUNTAINS, RUSSIA)

In the geological record, paleontological taxa of uncertain affinity a re receiving increasing attention in order to provide paleoecological data for paleoenvironment reconstructions. The present study deals wit h the taxon Tubiphytes and analyses some of its synecologic interactio ns, its role played in influencing. community structure and its suspec ted affinity. Tubiphytes is an important skeletal framework element th at occurs in several Lower Permian reef mounds of southern Urals (Russ ia). Tubiphytes acted as an incrusting, a binding organism and a suppo rt for others organisms both in Tratau and Nizhni-Irginsk reef mounds. Tubiphytes is constitued of a dark meshwork, microlaminated, and deve lped around an internal cavity. Thus, this taxon is restricted to the surrounding envelop. Three morphotypes have been recognized within the se buildups, according to the shape and characteristics of their surro unding envelops. Therefore, the internal cavity of Tubiphytes can be r epresented by a sparitic hole or a preserved organic structure. Two as semblages of Tubiphytes with others organisms can be proved in the Ura lian reef mounds: the combination of Tubiphytes with bryozoan zooecial and foraminifer structures.