论乐平统底界的新定义

金玉玕等(Jinet al.,2001,2002)终于同意将乐平统的底界放在蓬莱滩剖面6k的底,这与王成源(Wang,1999,2000a,b,2001a-c)提出的点位完全一致,将乐平统底界放在6j或6i upper的观点都不得不放弃。这确实是一个很大的进步。但是,Henderson和Mei(2001)为维护他们提出的以Clarkina postbitteri作为乐平统底界定义的观点,又将Clarkina postbitteri分成两个亚种。Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri Henderson and Mei,2001(Per-mophiles,38:36),不符国际动物命名法规,种名无效。提出的新定义Clarkina postbitteri postbitteriMei and Wardlaw1994,是一典型的地层亚种,它包括了一部分典型的Clarkina dukouensis(Jinet al.,2001,plate1,Figs.4a,b),也不能用作乐平统底界的定义。我们应当保留Clarkina postbitteri和C.dukouensis原来的定义。Wang(2000a,plate2,figs.1-8)图示的标本肯定是Clarkina dukouensis。金玉?等(Jinet al.,2000)改变Clarkinadukouensis的首现点位,有时在7d(Permophile,38:34,fig.1,2001),有时在7e(Jinet al.,Permophile,39:38,2001)。Clarkina dukouensis的首现位置(FAD)就在6k。7b已属Clarkinaleveni带。Clarkina postbitteri可区分出三个不同的形态型而不是两个不同的亚种。Clarkina postbitteri的起源仍然不清。Mesogondolella(=Jinogo-ndolella)granti不是Clarkina postbitteri的先驱种。     

牙形刺的鉴定与乐平统的底界

Clarkina postbitteri和C.dukouensis两个种的正确鉴定是确定乐平统底界的关键.Mei和Wardlaw(1994b,c)在建立这两个种时就已明确指出,C.postbitteri不同于C.dukouensis主要是有浑圆而不是钝圆的齿台后端,并有明显的后边缘(brim),并不是依据齿脊特征区别的.金玉 (Jin,2000a)与Henderson(2001)强调,C.postbitteri的中后部细齿分离是有别于C.dukouensis的主要特征.比较C.postbitteri与C.dukouensis的正模和Mei et al .(1 994c)所鉴定的C.dukouensis(图la-c),可以清楚地看到,两者的齿脊几乎相同.Mei et al .(1994c)所鉴定的C.dukouensis齿脊的细齿甚至比C.postbitteri的还分离(图1a,b).两个种的区别,应保持原来的定义主要依齿台后端形状和后边缘的有无. Clarkina dukouensis由C.postbitteri逐渐过渡而来,Henderson(2001)认为,由于是逐渐过渡,C.dukouensis首次出现的点位就是任意选择的.然而,泥盆系一石炭系界线的定义是在Siphonodella presulcata-S.sulcata连续演化谱系中S.sulcata的首次出现,无人认为,由于是连续演化谱系这个界线点位就是任意的.所有泥盆系的阶的金钉子都是以祖先种到定义种的演化谱系中定义种的首次出现为定义的,也无人认为这些金钉子的点位是任意的,因为每个阶的定义种都有明确的定义.C.dukouensis也有明确的定义,只要齿台后端变钝圆,后边缘消失,就由C.postbitteri进化到C.dukouensis.这个位置就在LPD115-6k,并非可任意选择. 金玉开(Jin,2000a),Henderson(2001)指出,他们对种的鉴定采用了居群概念.在确定金钉子点位时,必须考虑定义种在首次出现(FAD)时的居群特征,这就是a.个体很少;b.形态类型单调;c与先驱种共存;d.在几个剖面上可以证实.LPD115-6k中的C.dukouensis个体很少,形态单调,与先驱种C.postbitteri共存,完全具有此种早期居群的特征.相反,在LPD115 6j和6i上部的C.postbitteri个体数量多,形态类型多样,含有自C. postbitteri到C.dukouensis的过渡类型,代表C.postbitteri演化谱系的高级阶段,反映此种中晚期的居群特征.同时,不能扩大居群的概念,不能把不同的种包括到同一居群中去.金玉 (Jin,2000a)和Henderson(2001)认为C.dukouensis在LPD11 4-7e才开始出现,笔者认为,他们将LPD114-7b中的典型的Clarkina leveni,C.niuzhuanensis,C.bizarrensis也不恰当地归入Clarkina postbitteri居群中.LPD114-7b应属C.leveni带. Henderson(2001)强调,Jinogondolella granti是C.postbitteri的祖先,两者没有重叠,形态差别大.金玉 (Jin,2000a)和Henderson(2001)用点断平衡演化来解释这一差别.但真正的点断平衡演化都有先驱种和后继种的重叠,新的分子不是在先驱分子消失后才出现的,而是在一定的时限内与先驱种共存,并且都是在连续的地层中出现的.没有证实的点断平衡事件,从来不用来做GSSP的建立依据.国际地层规范强调的是,GSSP要建立在连续的地层中,定义种必须有清楚的演化关系.没有任何形态上的证据可以证明C.postbitteri是由Jinogondollella granti演化而来. Henderson(2001)还强调,LPD115-6i上下之间有一小间断(diastem),这一界线是一层序界线,是最理想的乐平统的底界.但小间断的存在,正表明这是一条不理想的生物地层界线,因为根据国际地层规范,GSSP必须建立在连续的单一岩相的地层中.层序地层界线不适合建立GSSP,因为所有层序地层界线都意味着可能有间断.最理想的生物地层界线是在层序界面或初始海泛面之上的第一广泛分布的生物带的底界(Wang&Su,2000).C.dukouen-sis正是这样的生物带,它比层序地层界线高21cm,比岩石地层界线低21cm.层序地层界线是非常好的辅助参考标准,但不是统或阶的界线本身.     

二叠系乐平统底界的牙形化石定义

乐平统长期以来一直很有希望成为上二叠统的国际标准,只因华南缺乏经过详细论证的乐平统底部层序而未能实现。通过近些年的研究,梅仕龙等建立了完整的瓜德鲁普统一乐平统界线地层的牙形化石带等,促成乐平统被正式批准为上二叠统的国际标准,并使蓬莱滩剖面成为底界的最佳候选层型剖面。 笔者等曾反复论述Clarkina postbitteri带或C．dukouensis带之底作为乐平统底界候选层位的优点和缺点。C．dukouensis的演进可以作为Clarkina属内渐变群的第一个基准面(datum),而且该种分布较广。然而,C．dukouensis在C．postbitteri-C．dukouensis演化种系中的首现本身并无区域对比意义,因为C. dukouensis的首现从未在其他地点发现．而首现的层位也不与全球性生物或环境变化的重要事件对应,C. postbitteri带之底接近前乐平统生物绝灭事件的顶峰层位以及在整合层序中厘定的重要层序界面。根据动物群和沉积变化容易进行国际对比这一优越性,使该带之底成为最有希望的界线。近些年来．国际二叠纪地层分会的工作方案一直将其作为乐平统底界。不过,C. postbitteri与祖先种之间的形态变化较显著,演化谱系需要充分论证。 多年来,底界附近的牙形化石被归纳为两个组合带,即下部的Neogondolella bitteri-N．liangshanensis带和上部的N. bitteri-N,leveni带。新建的牙形化石带表明N．bitteri-N.liangshanensis带并不存在,而带化石N．liangshanensis的层位实际上高于N．leveni。在王成源1995年至1998年发表的论文中,这些事实以及多数新的牙形化石带基本被接受。他于1998年发表蓬莱滩剖面牙形化石的研究,并“赞赏”以C．postbitteri带之底为底界。但在“乐平统的底界-蓬莱滩剖面再研究”中,他认为C．postbitteri带不存在,并转而采用C．dukouensis的始现为底界。 从“再研究”可以得出全然不同的结论。首先,C．postbitteri的首现仍属于底界最具吸引力的候选层位。理由是1．在设备良好的实验室可以从该层及其上下的层位获得适量的牙形化石;2．新的研究结果表明,C. postbitteri自Jinogondolella xuanhanensis种系演进而来,可以在蓬莱滩剖面厘定;3．在美国至今仅发现C. postbitteri的过渡类型,所以关于C．postbitteri始现于美国、而后迁移至古特提斯的假说有待证实;4．C．postbitteri带的界限明确,王氏报道的零星出现在层116.4-4f的C．postbitteri颇有疑问;5．王氏报道Jinogondolella的种与C．postbitteri的延限范围重叠,但只图示了这些种的一个标本(图版Ⅳ,图1)．而该标本应为C．postbitteri;在湘南斗岭组顶部与C. postbitter共生的不仅有瓜德鲁普世类型菊石,还有乐平世类型腕足类。王氏的“C. dukouensis”产于C．postbitteri带,层位与此相同,而不是较高。 王氏确定的C．dukouensis首现层位显然有误。他用来代表“C．dukouensis”首现的产于层114.6-6k的标本(图版Ⅱ,图1-5)以及层114-7b(图版Ⅱ,图6-8)的标本,与代表C. postbitteri的标本(图版Ⅰ,图1-8)都具有后部和中部小齿分离的齿式,应属于C. postbitteri的居群。产于层114-7e及以上层位的C．dukouensis的标本(图版Ⅰ,图9-15)具备该种特征的齿式,后部和中部的小齿排列较紧密。层114-7e的一个标本(图版Ⅰ,图10)具有C,postbitteri与C．dukouensis之间的过渡型齿式。作为乐平统底界的另一候选层位,C. dukouensis的首现实际上处于层114-7e附近。 生物成种的速率和型式多样,既有渐次演进,屯有点断平衡。无视这一事实,把一些明显的变化都看成地层记录缺失,必然使界限上下的变化愈来愈细小,终至难于确定,争论不休。即使定了也无法横向追索,缺乏对比价值。     

广西二叠纪深海硅质岩系中瓜德鲁普统至乐平统界线地层牙形石分带及动物群特征

在广西钦州地区小董镇大虫岭深海硅质岩剖面中,首次处理出了层序连续的牙形石化石,并由老至新划分了二个牙形石带,即Jinogondolella granti带和Clarkina dukouensis带。通过这二个牙形石带与斜坡相和盆地相碳酸盐岩硅质岩系中的牙形石带进行对比,划分了本剖面中乐平统生物地层底界。本文对深海硅质岩系中这一界线地层牙形石动物群特征进行了简要的描述。     

巴基斯坦盐岭地区二叠纪生物地层研究的新进展

近30年来,巴基斯坦盐岭地区的Wargal组和Chhidru组以及在喜马拉雅地区相当地层的地质时代被许多学者视为中二叠世(瓜达鲁普世)。根据华南与盐岭地区瓜达鲁普统和乐平统的牙形类化石带对比,可以确定Amb组和Wargal组底部的时代为瓜达鲁普世晚期,瓜达鲁普统与乐平统的界线位于Wargal组下部,吴家坪阶与长兴阶的界线位于Chhidru组的下部,而二叠与三叠系的界线位于Mianwali组下部的Kathwai段之内。我国西藏南部色龙群及相当地层含有与巴基斯坦盐岭地区Kalabagh段和Chhidru组可对比的乐平世腕足动物群以及二叠系—三叠系界线附近连续的牙形类化石带,由此可以推定色龙群的时代应为乐平世。     

二叠系平乐统底界的牙形化石定义

乐平统长期以来一直径有希望成为上二叠统的国际标准,只因华南缺乏经过详细论证的乐平统底剖层序面未能实现。通过近些年的研究,梅仕龙等建立了完整的瓜德鲁普统一乐平统界线地层的牙形化石带等,促成乐平统被正式批准为上二叠统的国际标准,并使蓬莱滩剖面成为底界的最佳侯选层型剖面。笔者国反复论述Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａ ｐｏｓｔｂｉｔｔｅｒｉ带或Ｃ．ｄｕｋｏｕｅｎｓｉｓ带之底作为乐平统底界侯选层位的优点和缺点。Ｃ．ｄｕｋ     

华南乐平统放射虫生物地层学研究进展

以Albaillella分子的地层分布为基础,华南地区晚二叠世地层中已经建立5个放射虫化石带,自下而上分别为:Albaillella cavitata带、Albaillella levis带、Albaillella excelsa带、Albaillella triangularis带和Albail-lella yaoi带.Albaillella cavitata带地层范围相当于牙形石Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri带至Clarkina guang-yuanensis带的底部,其下伏放射虫化石Follicucullus bipartitus-Follicucullus charveti带的地质时代为中二叠世.Albaillella triangulaHs带层位相当于牙形石Clarkina postwangi带,Albaillella yaoi带与牙形石Clarkina yini带相当.华南晚二叠世放射虫动物群演化明显分为两个阶段:第一个繁盛期始于中二叠统上部,延续到A.cavita-ta带下部,以Follicucullus的丰富和多样化为特征;第二个繁盛期出现在A.levis带至A.yaoi带之间,以Albail-lella和Neoalbaillella的鼎盛为特征.     

南秦岭陕西镇安西口二叠系剖面牙形刺生物地层

陕西镇安西口地区构造上属于南秦岭微板块,二叠纪时该地区与华南板块被勉略洋(东古特提斯洋的一个分支)分隔,而成为南秦岭微板块上的一个孤立台地。由于其二叠纪时处于华北和华南板块的汇聚带,同时又位于沟通古特提斯和泛大洋的重要通道上,其特殊的古地理位置使其具备与华南乃至全球其它地区二叠系对比的重要古地理和古环境意义,具有成为二叠系经典剖面的潜力。本次研究共分析60件样品,从中发现具有地层划分对比意义的平台型牙形刺分子4属18种。这些化石分布于上石炭统至上二叠统的地层中,且主要产于中二叠统水峡口组和上二叠统的西口组、熨斗滩组及龙洞川组。根据牙形刺的产出情况将研究区二叠系划分出13个带,自上而下为:长兴阶(Changhsingian)的Clarkina subcarinata带和C.changxingensis带;吴家坪阶(Wuchaipingian)的C.postbitteri带,C.dukouensis带,C.liangshanensis带和C.orientalis带;卡匹敦阶(Capitanian)的Mesogondolella posterserrata带,M.shannoni带,M.altudaensis带和M.granti带;罗德阶(Roadian)的M.nanjingensis带;亚丁斯克阶(Artinskian)的Sweetognathus whitei带;阿瑟尔阶(Asselian)-萨克马尔阶(Sakmarian)的S.inornatus带。最后,主要依据牙形刺带对陕西镇安西口二叠系剖面的生物地层进行重新划分,确立了3统9阶,从而能够更好地进行洲际对比。     

四川盆地中东部二叠系瓜德鲁普统茅口组牙形刺生物地层及色变指标研究

对四川盆地中东部茅口组进行了详细的牙形刺研究,发现丰富化石,共计3属13种。在茅口组识别出3个牙形刺带,自下至上依次为Jinogondolella altudaensis带,J.xuanhanensis带和J.granti带。上覆地层为王坡煤系的茅口组产出的最高牙形刺带为J.granti带,而峨眉山玄武岩的茅口组产出的最高牙形刺带为J.xuanhanensis带。牙形刺化石高CAI值的时间演化规律和空间分布特征与峨眉山玄武岩喷发具有良好的相关性。喷发到地表的岩浆对四川盆地热演化有极大影响,但影响时间和范围有限。峨眉山地幔柱活动对岩石圈热状态影响范围很小,在超级地幔柱的"中带"和"外带"地层中没有体现。     

黔南下-中二叠统界线层的牙形刺--瓜达鲁平统底界在华南的确认

本文详细研究了贵州罗甸纳水剖面下－中二叠统界线、即瓜达鲁平统（Ｇｕａｄａｌｕｐｉａｎ）底界附近的牙形刺动物群,并自上而下划分为Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｓｉｃｉｌｉｅｎｓｉｓ－Ｍ．ｐｈｏｓｐｈｏｒｉｅｎｓｉｓ,Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｉｄａｈｏｅｎｓｉｓ－Ｍ．ｐｈｏｓｐｈｏｒｉｅｎｓｉｓ,Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｇｕｊｉｏｅｎｓｉｓ－Ｍ．ｉｎｔｅｒｍｅｄｉａ和Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅ     

Latest Guadalupian brachiopods from the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary GSSP section at Penglaitan in Laibin, Guangxi, South China and implications for the timing of the pre-Lopingian crisis

A brachiopod fauna comprising nine species in eight genera from three closely spaced stratigraphic horizons of the same stratigraphic section is described for the first time from the Laibin Limestone in the uppermost part of the Maokou Formation in the Guadalupian/Lopingian (G/L) GSSP section at Penglaitan, Guangxi Autonomous Region, South China. The brachiopod assemblages are bracketed between two conodont zones: Jinogondolella xuanhanensis Zone below and Jinogondolella granti Zone above and, therefore, they can be safely assigned to the latest Capitanian in age. However, all but one of the nine brachiopod species from the Laibin Limestone carry strong early Lopingian (Wuchiapingian) aspect. Thus, the discovery of this brachiopod fauna not only suggests that some Lopingian brachiopod species had already appeared in the late Guadalupian (Capitanian); more importantly, it has also highlighted the fact that both the previously noted pre-Lopingian life crisis (or end-Guadalupian or Middle Permian mass extinction) and Lopingian recovery/radiation actually occurred in late Capitanian times, sometime before the G/L chronostratigraphic boundary. So far, the Penglaitan GSSP section provides the highest-resolution disappearance patterns of different fossil groups around the G/L boundary.     

The Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary (Permian) in a pelagic sequence from Panthalassa recognized by integrated conodont and radiolarian biostratigraphy

Guadalupian–Lopingian sedimentary rocks are widely distributed in accretionary complexes in Japan, but the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary (G–LB) is not well documented from these pelagic sediments. To identify the G–LB and to better correlate an extinction event that occurred around the Guadalupian–Lopingian boundary, we examined the conodont biostratigraphy from a Permian pelagic chert sequence in the Gujo-hachiman section, Gifu, southwest Japan. Age-diagnostic conodonts, including Clarkina postbitteri postbitteri, were found in this section. The biostratigraphic occurrences of these age-diagnostic conodonts can pinpoint the “G–L transitional zone” in the Gujo-hachiman section by comparison with well-studied sections from south China, including the GSSP section. The transitional zone was recognized by the first occurrence horizons of both Clarkina postbitteri hongshuiensis and C. p. postbitteri. The G–LB has been placed at or above the first occurrence horizon of the radiolarians Albaillella yamakitai or Albaillella cavitata in previous studies from China and Japan. We detected the first occurrence horizon of A. yamakitai below the base of the “G–L transitional zone,” in the Upper Capitanian. The conodont biostratigraphy is consistent with the radiolarian biostratigraphy in this section, which can be correlated to relevant sections in China.     

前乐平统海洋动物灾变事件

作为古生代最后阶段的乐平统可划分为２个阶和４个亚阶,暂以逼近自然界线的Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａ ｐｏｓｔｂｉｔｔｅｒｉ带之底为下界;在二叠纪形成了栖霞期之前和吴家坪期之前两个超序界面,乐平世海侵居于二叠一三叠纪超序的低水位体系,乐平世末的海泛淹没了古特提斯区的残留陆棚;二叠纪末的生物大绝灭形成规模和性质不同的两幕;茅口期末全球性海退使栖居地丧失而导致地方性类群和远洋浮游生物灭亡的前乐平统海泮动物灾变事件,     

川东北二叠纪吴家坪期牙形石（刺）序列及其世界对比

对四川省宣汉县渡口和南江县桥亭吴家坪期地层的系统采集和研究结果表明,吴家坪期至少包括７个牙形石带,自下而上为Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａｄｕｋｏｕｅｎｓｉｓ带,Ｃ．ａｓｙｍｍｅｔｒｉｃａ带,Ｃ．ｌｅｖｅｎｉ带,Ｃ．ｇｕａｎｙｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓ带,Ｃ．ｔｒａｎｓｃａｕｃａｓｉｃａ带,Ｃ．ｏｒｉｅｎｔａｌｉｓ和Ｃ．ｉｎｆｌｅｃｔａ带。其中,前３个带的层位低于一直作为吴家坪期早期的Ｃ．ｌｉａｎｇｓｈａｎｅｎｓｉｓ带。吴家坪阶的顶界以置于Ｃ．ｉｎｆｌｅｃｔａ带与Ｃ．ｓｕｂｃａｒｉｎａｔａ带之间较妥。同时,建立了Ｃｌａｒｋｉｎａｄｕｋｏｕｅｎｓｉｓ,Ｃ．ａｓｙｍｍｅｔｒｉｃａ,Ｃ．ｂｉｚａｒｒｅｎｓｉｓ,Ｃ．ｄａｘｉａｎｅｎｓｉｓ,Ｃ．ｄｅｍｉｃｏｒｎｉｓ,Ｃ．ｉｎｆｌｅｃｔａ,Ｃ．ｌｏｎｇｉｃｕｓｐｉｄａｔａ等７个新种。     

Timing and progression of the end-Guadalupian crisis in the Fars province (Dalan Formation, Kuh-e Gakhum, Iran) constrained by foraminifers and other carbonate microfossils

The Middle-to-Upper Permian in the Kuh-e Gakhum anticline (southeastern Iran) has rarely been studied due to its structural complexity and the difficult access. Rich Permian fusulinid assemblages varying in age from Wordian to Changhsingian were found in a thick carbonate succession corresponding to the Dalan Formation. Three new species of foraminifers are described and a new biostratigraphic framework including five biozones is proposed. One of these, described and defined for the first time in the Dalan Formation, is based on the presence of Praedunbarula simplicissima n. gen. n. sp. When compared to the fossil content of existing bioprovinces, the floro-faunal biota of the Dalan Formation shows an affinity with Central and Western Tethys. A mass extinction of fusulinids and small foraminifers (70%) occurred concomitantly with the onset of a relative sea-level fall. This event led to a change in the carbonate factories from biologically induced carbonate production to ooid-rich chemically induced precipitation. The morphology of the platform at the Guadalupian/Lopingian transition evolves from a bioclastic ramp to a shelf. This transition is also characterized by a major sequence boundary and morphological anomalies in foraminifers. Therefore, as the regression and the changes in floro-faunal contents have been observed at the Guadalupian/Lopingian boundary, the extinction event is considered as end-Guadalupian. It is followed by a Lopingian transgression yielding renewed foraminiferal assemblages.     

Permian reefs re-examined: extrinsic control mechanisms of gradual and abrupt changes during 40 my of reef evolution

The evolution of Permian reefs is characterized by the following sequence of events: (1) Late Carboniferous–Cisuralian radiation, (2) early Late Cisuralian (Artinskian–Kungurian) turnover, (3) Guadalupian radiation, (4) end-Guadalupian crisis, (5) Lopingian radiation, (6) end-Lopingian crisis at the PTB (Permian–Triassic boundary), and (7) the at least 7 my (million years) metazoan reef gap during the Early Triassic. The early Late Cisuralian turnover and the end-Guadalupian reef crisis are gradual changes, while the end-Lopingian reef crisis represents an abrupt event. Lopingian reefs occur in a zone from 40 °N to 15 °S, Guadalupian reefs in an extended equatorial zone from 35 °N to 35 °S, and Lopingian reefs in a narrow equatorial zone of 20 °N and 20 °S. This pattern resulted from a network of global and regional control mechanisms including the assemblage of Pangea, the northward drift of continents, the opening of Neo-Tethys, and second-order sea level changes. The mechanism of the extinction has been intensely debated and a combination of the above mentioned long-term changes and abrupt ocean anoxia or hypercapnia (CO₂-poisoning) for the end-Guadalupian reef crisis is considered.     

Evolution of Permian conodont provincialism and its significance in global correlation and paleoclimate implication

The main components of Asselian through Artinskian conodont faunas found around the world are basically the same, and the provincialism is indicated only by less common endemic elements such as Gondolelloides and New Genus A Henderson in North Pangea, Sweetognathus bucaramangus around the equator and Vjalovognathus in eastern Gondwana. Provincialism is marked by differences at the species level of Mesogondolella, Neostreptognathodus and Sweetognathus during the Kungurian, and becomes very distinct with differences at the genus level during the Guadalupian and Lopingian. Three provinces of Permian conodonts, referred to as the North Cool Water Province (NCWP), the Equatorial Warm Water Province (EWWP) and the peri-Gondwana Cool Water Province (GCWP), are recognized. The NCWP is marked by Gondolelloides in the early Cisuralian, dominance of Neostreptognathodus and no or rare Sweetognathus in the late Cisuralian, dominance of Merrillina and Mesogondolella and absence of Sweetognathus in the Guadalupian, and dominance of Merrillina and Mesogondolella and absence of Iranognathus in the Lopingian. The EWWP is characterized by the absence of Gondolelloides and Vjalovognathus in the Cisuralian, abundance of Sweetognathus and Pseudosweetognathus in the Kungurian (late Cisuralian), Jinogondolella and Sweetognathus in the Guadalupian, and Clarkina and Iranognathus in the Lopingian. The GCWP is marked by Vjalovognathus, Merrillina in the Cisuralian, Vjalovognathus, Merrillina and Mesogondolella in the Guadalupian, and Vjalovognathus and Merrillina in the Lopingian. Mixed faunas are recognized in regions bordering between the EWWP and GCWP including Western Timor during the Artinskian, Pamirs during the Kungurian and the Salt Range during the Guadalupian and Lopingian.

Three different conodont zonations are proposed, one for each of the three conodont provinces. Four potential horizons for inter-provincial correlation of Permian conodonts are recognized. They are in ascending order: (1) the first appearance of Sweetognathus whitei, which is closely related to the last occurrence of Carboniferous-type conodonts such as Streptognathodus and Adetognathus; (2) the first appearance of Neostreptognathodus pequopensis; (3) the base of the Jinogondolella nankingensis Zone; and (4) the base of the Clarkina postbitteri–Iranognathus erwini Zone.

The spatial and temporal distribution pattern of Permian conodonts suggests that temperature is the primary controlling factor. Evolution of Permian conodont provincialism reveals a glaciation during the Asselian and Sakmarian, a global warming during the Artinskian, a climate cooling in North Pangea during the Kungurian, a continuation of Kungurian climate trends in the Guadalupian, a relatively minor warming during the Wuchiapingian, a returned cooling in the Changhsingian and Lower and Middle Griesbachian, and a global warming in the Late Griesbachian, which ended the Permian conodont lineage.