Anne-Christine DA SILVA, from the Geology Department, has been awarded the Academy of Sciences’ Edmond de Selys Longchamps Prize for two articles:

- Da Silva, AC., Kershaw, S. and Boulvain, F. (2011) Sedimentology and stromatoporoid paleoecology of Frasnian (Upper Devonian) mud mounds from southern Belgium. Lethaia, 44, 255-274.                                       
- Da Silva, AC., Kershaw, S. and Boulvain, F. (2011) Stromatoporoid palaeoecology in the Frasnian (upper Devonian) Belgian platform, and its applications in interpretation of carbonate platform environments. Palaeontology, 54 (4), 883-905.

They deal with the subject of Belgian stromatoporoid fossil fauna, in other words fossil sponges.

Presentation of the articles by A.-Ch. DA SILVA: 

The Palaeoecology and Palaeontology of Frasnian reefs in Belgium, a study of stromatoporoids

Since the 18th century Belgian’s geology has been studied by seasoned geologists, which has enabled an exceptional development of this discipline. This early interest and the numerous related studies have led to recognition of our rocks on a global level (amongst other examples the term Frasnian is used by geologists from every country to designate rocks which are between 376 and 382 million years old). The climate over the course of the Frasnian period was hot and sea level was high; these conditions thus have a particular interest for our knowledge of an Earth which is warming up. Wallonia appeared covered by a tropical ocean within which reefs developed abundantly. In this reefs grew, amongst others, the main living organisms of these reefs at the time, the stromatoporoids, which are fossil sponges. Reefs being structures which interact closely with their environment, these variations are recorded by the organisms which make them up. We have described in detail the fauna of the stromatoporoids which developed in very different environments (lagoon, barrier reef, profundal zone, deep mud mounds) by taking a reading of the different species (taxonomy) and their morphology, as well as the condition of their preservation. We have been able to show that the external morphology of the stromatoporoids varies along with their environment (sea level, sedimentary inputs, etc.) and that they can thus serve as indicators in an overall approach to the evolution and functioning of the reef environment.

PSmall reef (recognisable due to the dome shape of the layers) in the Belgian Frasnian (376 to 384 million years ago) in the La Boverie quarry (Rochefort).		Stromatoporoid with a rounded shape, the La Boverie quarry (close to Rochefort), Frasnian (376 to 384 million years ago)		Stromatoporoid with a flat shape (lamellars), Tailfer quarry (South Namur), Frasnian (376 to 384 million years ago)

Useful links :  

• Anne-Christine Da Silva’s career path

• Publications (ORBi)