Paleocommunities of the Fort Thompson Formation (Pleistocene) of Florida
One of the replicate samples was processed from each of the 24 sampled horizons. The samples yielded a total of 26,786 specimens belonging to 87 species of bivalves and gastropods. The data was tabulated, and subjected to multivariate analyses.
Factor Analysis
A factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed to explore patterns in the similarity of samples in the data set, and to define groups of samples with similar species compositions.
21 of the 24 samples formed two tight clusters in the two-dimensional factor space. The remaining three samples were strung out between the two larger clusters.
The distribution of the samples in the outcrop is shown below.
The two clusters of samples are from two different zones of the outcrop, with the three aberrant samples found in a sloping contact between them.
Fort Thompson Research Page
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