Completeness of the fossil record and the validity of sampling proxies at outcrop level

Research on the Dorset and East Devon Coast reveals that sampling proxies for sedimentary rock volume and accessibility do not significantly influence apparent diversity at a local scale, indicating efficient sampling of the outcrop. However, worker effort shows some correlation with palaeodiversity, suggesting the 'bonanza effect' where paleontologists preferentially sample richer rock units. The study found no single proxy that comprehensively accounts for all sampling biases, highlighting the complexity of interpreting fossil records.

DUNHILL, A. M., BENTON, M. J., TWITCHETT, R. J., & NEWELL, A. J. (2012). Completeness of the fossil record and the validity of sampling proxies at outcrop level. Palaeontology, 55(6), 1155–1175. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-4983.2012.01149.x