Palynostratigraphy of the Carboniferous at the margin of the Polish part of the East-European platform

The paper presents results of miospore studies on Carboniferous strata from drillings made in the last 20 years in several regions in marginal zones of the East-European Platform in Poland (Lublin Coal Basin, Warsaw, Płock, and Bydgoszcz regions, and western Pomerania). In that area the Carboniferous is represented by Dinantian and Silesian strata, from the Tournaisian to Westphalian D.Because of differences in geological development of the Carboniferous and in composition of microfloristic assemblages from strata of that age in the above mentioned regions the first stage of the studies had to be aimed at compilation of local palynostratigraphic schemes for individual regions. The next stage involved compilation of a regional palynostratigraphic scheme for the whole area of Polish margin of the East-European Platform. The scheme comprises 16 spore zones of the concurrent-range-zone type: 6 for the Dinantian and 10 for Silesian. The detailed characteristics of miospore assemblages and age correlations of the zones are given.The proposed scheme was subsequently compared with that proposed for the Carboniferous in western Europe. The comparison showed marked similarities in ranges of taxa diagnostic for individual stratigraphic units in both schemes.     

Integrated Middle Devonian chitinozoan and miospore zonation of the Amazonas Basin, northern Brazil

Middle Devonian chitinozoans were studied from 13 deep wells in the central part of the Amazonas Basin, northern Brazil, and compared with a newly established regional miospore zonation. Of the 23 chitinozoan species encountered, four are newly described: Ancyrochitina multibrachiata, Lagenochitina praeavelinoi, Ramochitina autasmirimense, and Ramochitina herculesi and seven species are retained in open nomenclature because of an insufficient number of well-preserved specimens. The stratigraphic intervals investigated herein correspond to three miospore interval range zones previously defined for the Amazonas Basin, namely, the Grandispora/Samarisporites spp. (GS); late Emsian-early Eifelian, Grandispora permulta (Per); late early Eifelian through the Eifelian-Givetian transition, and Geminospora lemurata-Chelinospora ex. gr. ligurata (LLi); early Givetian. A regional Middle Devonian chitinozoan biozonation, also consisting of three zones, is proposed for the investigated interval. These zones are the interval zone of Angochitina n. sp. A (early Eifelian), the interval zone of Alpenachitina eisenacki (late early to late Eifelian), and the total range zone of Ramochitina stiphrospinata (early Givetian).     

Miospore stratigraphy of Lower and early Middle Devonian deposits from Tidikelt, Central Sahara, Algeria

The Tidikelt region forms an outstanding area for subsurface Lower Devonian stratigraphy in the central Algerian Sahara. Sediments from five boreholes have revealed abundant and diverse assemblages of miospores, acritarchs, chitinozoa, scolecodont and microplant remains. The miospores are moderately well preserved. Three new miospore species (Dibolisporites saharansis nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji, Acinosporites conatus nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji and Scylaspora tidikeltense nov. sp. Hassan Kermandji) are described. Miospore assemblages vary through the regressive and transgressive sequences. Seven miospore assemblage biozones, including six new miospore assemblage biozones (Scylaspora tidikeltense-Perotrilites microbaculatus, Dictyotriletes emsiensis-Emphanisporites spinaeformis, Apiculiretusispora arenorugosa-Camptozonotriletes caperatus, Verrucosisporites polygonalis-Dictyotriletes subgranifer, Emphanisporites annulatus-Geminospora svalbardiae, Hystricosporites microancyreus-Grandispora protea, Calyptosporites velatus-Rhabdosporites langii) are proposed for the Lower and early Middle Devonian rocks of Tidikelt Plateau. The combined use of distinctive, wide distribution cosmopolitan and Gondwanan forms as biozonal and species characteristics permits accurate subdivision, dating and correlation of Tidikelt successions with other similar miospore zones of the Lower Devonian of Europe, Canada and other parts of Gondwana plate. The miospore data provide new explanations to stratigraphic relationships of regional rock units, sedimentary cycles and stratigraphic hiatus. The miospore biozones are proposed as a provincial biozonation, which may also be applied to other Palaeozoic rocks of similar miospore content.     

Miocene diatom biostratigraphy at ODP Sites 689, 690, 1088, 1092 (Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean)

Four ODP sites located between 64°S and 41°S in the eastern Atlantic sector of the Southern Ocean were investigated to refine the Miocene diatom biostratigraphic zonation tied to the geomagnetic chronology. The Miocene diatom stratigraphy from two sites located on Maud Rise (ODP Leg 113) is revised considering the progress in diatom biostratigraphic research, diatom taxonomy and magnetostratigraphic age assignment during the past 10 years. A new diatom zonation was erected for Site 1092 (ODP Leg 177) located on Meteor Rise integrating a magnetostratigraphic interpretation of the shipboard data. This zonation was also applied to Site 1088 (ODP Leg 177) located on Astrid Ridge. The study is focused to Middle and Upper Miocene sequences. It reveals latitudinal differentiations in stratigraphic species ranges and species occurrence pattern that are related to latitudinal differences in surface water masses reflecting the climatic development of the Antarctic cryosphere. Considering the latitudinal differences two stratigraphic zonations are proposed that are applicable to the northern and southern zone of the Southern Ocean, respectively. The southern Southern Ocean Miocene diatom biostratigraphic zonation consists of 16 zones in which 11 represent new or modified zones. The northern biostratigraphic zonation contains 10 diatom zones allowing a stratigraphic resolution in the range of 0.2–2 Myr. This paper also includes the taxonomic transfer of seven Miocene diatom taxa from genus Nitzschia Hassal to Fragilariopsis Hustedt.     

Upper Devonian conodonts of northeastern European Russia

The conodont succession in the Upper Devonian facially different sections of northeastern European Russia (Chernyshev Ridge, Subpolar and Polar Urals, Pai-Khoi) are studied. The sections are subdivided and correlated taking into account the global standards for stages. The Frasnian Montagne Noire zonation (Klapper, 1989) is used for the first time for northeastern European Russia; the authors correlated this zonation with the scale of Ziegler and Sandberg (1990). Famennian deposits are subdivided using scale of Ziegler and Sandberg (1984) and miospore zonation. The age of local geological units (formations) is specified; the formations of different regions of northeastern European Russia are correlated to each other and to the regional subdivisions of EEP and Southern Urals. A total of 93 species of Ancyrodella, Mesotaxis, Palmatolepis, Polygnathus, and Zieglerina are described. Two new species Ctenopolygnathus parallelus sp. nov. and Polygnathus masonae sp. nov. are distinguished and five species are described in the open nomenclature. Special chapter is devoted to the phylomorphogenesis of Ancyrodella.     

Late Devonian and early Carboniferous microfloras from the Hakkarı Province of southeastern Turkey

Late Devonian and early Carboniferous miospore and microphytoplankton assemblages are described for the first time from southeastern Turkey. The preliminary data show that assemblages recorded from the upper part of the Yiginli Formation are late Famennian in age and can be correlated with the VH, LL, LE Miospore biozones of western Europe, whilst assemblages from the overlying Köprülü Formation are considered to be middle to late Tournaisian in age and are tentatively assigned to the PC Miospore biozone of western Europe. Regional palynological correlations with other sections in North Africa and the Middle East are proposed. A new species, Verruciretusispora loboziakii is described.     

Miospore assemblages from the Silurian–Devonian boundary,in borehole A1-61, Ghadamis Basin,Libya

Well preserved and diversified miospore assemblages have been recorded from a relatively continuous sequence in borehole A1-61 which spans the Silurian–Devonian boundary in the northwestern part of the Ghadamis Basin, Libya. The sequence is represented by early Devonian Lochkovian beds of the Tadrart Formation that transgress onto the Silurian Ludlow-Pridoli beds of the upper part of the ‘Alternances Argilo-gréseuses’ Formation. The present work demonstrates a succession of miospore assemblages from closely sampled layers that have been stratigraphically dated as Ludlow–middle Pridoli and early Lochkovian by chitinozoans and acritarchs. Over 80 species of cryptospores and trilete spores have been identified. Modified detailed morphological interpretations are given. The miospore assemblages are correlated with miospore zonation schemes established for the type sequences of the Welsh Borderland, and those previously described from Libya. Early occurrences of some species as Streelispora newportensis on the western Gondwana plate, are put forward by comparison with the Old Red Sandstone continent. Phytogeographic and palaeobotanic implications based on these observations are discussed.     

A second varanopseid skull from the Upper Permian of South Africa: implications for Late Permian 'pelycosaur' evolution

Late Permian terrestrial faunas of South Africa and Russia are dominated taxonomically and ecologically by therapsid synapsids. On the basis of a single specimen from the Upper Permian of South Africa, the varanopseid Elliotsmithia longiceps is the sole basal synapsid ('pelycosaur') known from Gondwana. Recent fieldwork in the Upper Permian of South Africa has produced a second varanopseid specimen that is referrable to Elliotsmithia . Data from both this specimen and the holotype suggest that Elliotsmithia forms a clade with Mycterosaurus from the Lower Permian of North America and Mesenosaurus from the Upper Permian of Eastern Europe. That postulate is supported by the three most parsimonious trees discovered in a new analysis of varanopseid phylogeny. However, the available data cannot resolve the interrelationships of these three genera. The new phylogenetic results contrast with earlier work identifying Elliotsmithia as the basal member of a clade that includes the North American taxa Aerosaurus , Varanops , and Varanodon . The new trees reduce the stratigraphic debt required by the latter scenario, and the one with the least stratigraphic debt identifies Elliotsmithia and Mesenosaurus as sister taxa. Two new taxa are erected, Mycterosaurinae and Varanodontinae, for the two varanopseid subclades.     

Late Devonian global ostracod palaeobiogeography

A global Late Devonian ostracod database is constructed, incorporating new materials from South China and Northwest China. Four palaeobiogeographical units (Cathaysia, North America, Europe and peri‐Gondwana) are recognized during the Frasnian and five palaeobiogeographical units (Cathaysia, North America, Europe, Siberia and Australia) in the Famennian. Three controlling factors (climatic zonation, geographical isolation and global sea‐level changes) are identified to have played roles in shaping the palaeogeographical regionalization of ostracod faunas in the Late Devonian. The ostracod palaeobiogeography in the Frasnian was mainly influenced by climatic zonation, while rapid changes in tectonic configuration in the Famennian drastically altered the global palaeobiogeography of ostracods. The palaeobiogeographical regionalization of ostracod faunas suggests that Laurussia and Gondwana continued to draw near during the Late Devonian, with the first collision occurring in Southern Central Europe in the Famennian. The South China plate drifted northward to the Kazakhstan plate away from the Australian plate, which gradually became isolated during the Famennian Stage.     

Revision of Famennian-Tournaisian (Late Devonian – Early Carboniferous) conodont biostratigraphy of Sardinia,Italy

Conodont biostratigraphy of the Famennian and Tournaisian of Sardinia is provided on the basis of all data available in the literature. More than 130 conodont taxa documented from this time-interval allow recognition of nineteen conodont biozones. The zonation scheme adopted here is broadly similar to the standard zonation schemes used in the Upper Devonian and Lower Carboniferous, though a few variations are needed to better accommodate the species occurrences in Sardinia: the velifer Zone and the styriacus Zone have been reintroduced, even though with slightly different meanings than previously used; the Lower praesulcata Zone is expanded to include the Middle praesulcata interval. The Upper praesulcata Zone and the sulcata Zone are missing. All zones are described and discussed and a complete list of bioevents is provided.     

Late neogene biostratigraphy and paleoceanography of DSDP site 310 Central North Pacific and correlation with the Southwest Pacific

Late Neogene planktonic foraminifera have been examined at Site 310 in the Central North Pacific and their stratigraphic ranges and frequencies are presented here. Blow's (1969) zonation developed for tropical regions has been applied where applicable. Where tropical index taxa are rare or absent in this temperate region, Globorotalia crassaformis, and the evolutionary bioseries G. conoidea — G. conomiozea and G. puncticula — G. inflata have been found useful for zonal subdivisions. A correlation between stratigraphic ranges and frequency distributions of these species at Site 310 in the Central North Pacific, and Site 284 in the Southwest Pacific indicates that these species are relatively consistent biostratigraphic markers in temperate regions of both the North and South Pacific Oceans. An informal zonation for temperate latitudes of the Southwest Pacific has been established by Kennett (1973) and a similar zonal subdivision can be made at Site 310.Paleoclimatic/paleoceanographic interpretations based on coiling ratios, percent abundance, and phenotypic variations of Neogloboquadrina pachyderma indicate four major cold events during early, middle, and late Pliocene, and early Pleistocene. Faunal correlations of these events with similar events elsewhere in the Northeast and Southwest Pacific which have been paleomagnetically dated indicate the following approximate ages for these cold events: 4.7 Ma, 3.0 Ma, 2.6–1.8 Ma. and 1.2 Ma. Faunal assemblages have been divided into three groups representing cool, intermediate, and warmer water assemblages. Cool water assemblages are dominated by >60% N. pachyderma; intermediate temperature faunas are dominated by species of Globigerina and Globigerinita and contain between 20% and 30% N. pachyderma. Warmer water assemblages are dominated by species of Globorotalia and contain <10% N. pachyderma. Frequency oscillations within these groups, in addition to paleotemperature parameters evident in N. pachyderma, afford refined paleoclimatic/paleoceanographic interpretations.     

Silurian-Devonian miospores from the western and central Algeria

The age of Rock Units B1 and B2 of the Middle Silurian-Lower Devonian of Sahara (Algeria) is assessed and confirmed as late Homerian to ?earliest Lochkovian on the basis of moderately well preserved miospore assemblages. The data upon which this age assessment is provided by recent palynological studies in the Cantabrian Mountains (NW Spain), the type Wenlock area, Shropshire (England), south and south-west Wales, the Midland Valley of Scotland and the Ghadames Basin, Libya. Quantitative study shows that cryptospores decrease in number and variety upwards, laevigate miospores are prevalent and the representatives of the rugulate, crassitate genus Scylaspora are dominant. The occurrence and range of these species as well as other miospore taxa recorded during this study provide the basis for recognizing three miospore assemblage and one interval biozones, namely Scylaspora vetusta-Scylaspora kozlica, Chelinospora sanpetrensis-Cymbosporites triangulatus, Chelinospora hemiesferica and Scylaspopra radiata-Apiculiretusispora synoria. Of these biozones, two assemblage biozones are proposed as new. Core samples of Rock Unit B1 from borehole NGS-1 of the Triassic Province contain the oldest two miospore assemblage biozones. Rock Unit B2 from the boreholes GMD-2, ISS-1 (Tidikelt Plateau) and NGS-1 (Triassic Province) comprise the youngest two miospore biozones. The assemblage and interval biozones allow inter-regional correlation with latest Middle Silurian to probably earliest Devonian strata. The inadequacy of coverage of core samples result in the absence of critical palynological evidence, to determine the exact position of the base of the Ludlow, Pridoli and Lochkovian. Comparison with the zonal and sub-zonal divisions of Mid-Palaeozoic sequences from other parts of the world shows crucial differences in the distribution of the spore flora within Gondwanan and Euramerican regions during Pridoli and early Lochkovian. Six new miospore species namely Retusotriletes delicatus nov. sp., Scylaspora cymba nov. sp., S. distincta nov. sp., S. radiata nov. sp., S. undulata nov. sp. and Cymbosporites triangulatus nov. sp. are described. Three more possibly new miospore forms are described and illustrated but not specifically named.     

Biostratigraphical value of some Strunian (Devonian, uppermost Famennian) Productidina, Rhynchonellida, Spiriferida, Spiriferinida brachiopods

The space of Devonian time considered in this paper corresponds to the uppermost part of the Famennian or the latest Famennian as a fourfold subdivision of the stage, usually called by many authors Strunian in neritic facies and Wocklumeria Stufe or Wocklumian in pelagic facies. Here, we examine the biostratigraphical value of certain brachiopod genera and species as bio-markers of the uppermost Famennian throughout the world (Europe, the former USSR, Middle East, Asia, North America, North Africa, and Australia). We have focused our study for species which stratigraphical range has been firmly established in correlation with the conodont biozones (Upper expansa, Early, Middle and Late praesulcata), the ammonoid biozones (do VI = “Wocklumeria Stufe”), or the foraminifera biozones (kobeitusana Zone). Other data for which the stratigraphical range is not based on standard biozonation are provided in the annex. The brachiopod bio-markers discussed in this paper belong to 14 Productidina genera (Acanthatia, Araksalosia, Ericiata, Hamlingella, Mesoplica, Nigerinoplica, Orbinaria, Ovatia, Rugauris, Semiproductus, Sentosia, Spinocarinifera, Steinhagella, Whidbornella), 7 Rhynchonellida genera (Araratella, Centrorhynchus, Hadyrhyncha, Megalopterorhynchus, Novaplatirostrum, Rozmanaria, Tchanakhtchirostrum), 13 Spiriferida genera (Brachythyris, Cyrtospirifer, Dichospirifer, Eochoristites, Imbrexia, Parallelora, Prospira, Rigauxia, Sphenospira, Tenisia, Toryniferella, Tylothyris, Voiseyella) and one Spiriferinida genus (Syringothyris). Other orders have not been studied in this paper. The main features of the uppermost Famennian brachiopod taxa represented in this paper are commented. All these taxa are listed as completely as possible throughout the world (with complements in the annex). A quick summary of the geographic distribution of the more represented taxa is given in conclusion.     

Phyllocarid remains (Malacostraca, Crustacea) from the basal Famennian (Late Devonian) of the Montagne Noire (Southern France)

From the early Famennian of the Montagne Noire 19 different morphotypes of probably phyllocarid (Crustacea) affinities are described. Apart from formerly unknown enamel-like structures that veil the uppermost tips of the denticles on most of the gnathal lobe morphs, the stratigraphic implications concerning extinction behaviour across the Kellwasser mass extinction event and during early Famennian diversification are discussed. In addition, phyllocarids in the Famennian seem to form a useful stratigraphic tool for biostratigraphical correlation. Therefore, three basal Famennian phyllocarid assemblage zones are distinguished.      

Fluctuations in a late devonian-early Mississippian phytoplankton flora of Ohio,U.S.A

Fossil diversity and abundance fluctuations of Late Devonian (Famennian)—Early Mississippian (Tournaisian) phytoplankton assemblages were determined in a stratigraphic sequence of samples in Barberton test core 3, from northeast Ohio. Both diversity and abundance were relatively high during deposition of the lower Chagrin Shale (Upper Devonian) and both decreased during deposition of the upper Chagrin Shale. The overlying Cleveland Shale (Upper Devonian) is characterized by sharply increased abundance with a corresponding (although less marked) increase in diversity; in contrast, both abundance and diversity were at relatively low levels during deposition of the Lower Mississippian Bedford Shale, the uppermost unit of the sequence. These trends agree with the phytoplankton periodicity model presented by Tappan, which indicates large-scale extinction at the end of the Devonian.Many of the acritarch and prasinophycean algal taxa have restricted stratigraphic occurrences within the section studied, making them useful for local and perhaps worldwide correlation. The stratigraphically restricted taxa provide a basis for the proposal of five biostratigraphic zones within the Upper Famennian (Upper Devonian) and a portion of the Lower Mississippian. In ascending order occur: the Gorgonisphaeridium ohioense Assemblage Zone, the Acriora petala Assemblage Zone, the Muraticavea enteichia Range Zone, the Cymatiosphaera labyrinthica Range Zone, and the Navifusa drosera Assemblage Zone.     

Miospores from the Frasnian-Famennian Boundary deposits in Eastern Europe (the Pripyat Depression, Belarus and the Timan-Pechora Province, Russia) and comparison with Western Europe (Northern France)

A zonal subdivision of the Frasnian-Famennian transitional deposits in the Pripyat Depression and Timan-Pechora Province, based on a detailed palynological study, has been completed. The data obtained on miospores and conodonts from the Timan-Pechora Province enable a correlation to be made with the Standard Conodont Zonation. The lateral extent of the palynozones in Eastern Europe and the correlation with Western Europe are discussed. The following previously published new combinations are validated: Auroraspora speciosa (Naumova) Obukhovskaya, comb. nov., Corbulispora viminea (Nekriata) Obukhovskaya and Nekriata, comb. nov., Cristatisporites imperpetuus (Sennova) Obukhovskaya, comb. nov., Cymbosporites acanthaceus (Kedo) Obukhovskaya, comb. nov., Grandispora subsuta (Nazarenko) Obukhovskaya, comb. nov., and Verrucosisporites evlanensis (Naumova) Obukhovskaya, comb. nov.     

Synchroneity of Pliocene planktonic foraminiferal datums in the North Atlantic

Leg 94 of the Deep Sea Drilling Project has provided a unique set of paleomagnetically dated cores, taken along a N-S transect in the North Atlantic. High deposition rates in the sediments, combined with the palaeomagnetic ages, have enabled existing planktonic foraminiferal zonations to be tested and a new zonation for the mid- to high latitudes to be erected. The PL zonation of Berggren (1973, 1977) is shown to be adequate as far north as 41°N, although both the LAD's ofGlobigerina nepenthes andGloborotalia margaritae occur earlier than in tropical regions. North of 41°N these two species have very diachronous LAD's, even though they are common during their range in the northern sites. The new zonation for the mid to high latitude North Atlantic is based on the FAD ofG. margaritae, FAD ofG. puncticulata, LAD ofG. cf. crassula, LAD ofN. atlantica, FAD ofG. inflata and FAD of sinistrally coiled encrustedN. pachyderma.     

Miospores in middle-upper Frasnian to Famennian sediments partly dated by conodonts (Boulonnais,France)

The middle-upper part of the Formation de Beaulieu exposed in the new railroad trench at Caffiers-Ferques and the Formation de Ferques exposed in the Tartinskal quarries contain well-preserved miospore assemblages. They are here restudied in comparison with new conodont data ranging from the middle asymmeyricus to the Ancyrognathus triangularis Zone. The conodonts allow precise correlations with the type Frasnian area as well as with the Russian Platform and Timan-Pechora provinces. The miospore assemblages of the Formation d'Hydrequent are also considered and their age discussed in term of the Frasnian/Famennian boundary.In the systematic part, two new combinations are proposed: Ancyrospora lysii (Taugourdeau-Lantz, 1960) nov. comb., and Pustulatisporites rugulatus (Taugourdeau-Lantz, 1967) nov. comb.     

A multivariate approach to the determination of faunal structures among European butterfly species (Lepidoptera: Rhopalocera)

Multivariate analyses of 393 butterfly species over 85 geographical areas (R- and Q-data matrices) in Europe and North Africa have produced a consistent pattern of faunal structures (units and regions). Prominent features to emerge are the latitudinal zonation of geographical units and the division of the Mediterranean into western and eastern components; southwards in Europe, endemicity increases whereas faunal structures decrease in spatial dimensions. Central Europe–from the Urals to the British Isles–forms a single large faunal structure (extent unit and region). A model has been constructed to account for Pleistocene evolutionary changes and endemism in European butterflies and for the east-west taxonomic divisions in the extent faunal structure which dominates central Europe. Periodic Pleistocene climatic changes have resulted in cycles of population extinction, isolation, evolution and migration, but the nature and timing of events has depended on the environmental tolerances of species belonging to different faunal units. During Pleistocene glaciations, southern species have been relatively static and more isolated and have evolved independently. By comparison, northern species have been more mobile and have migrated over large distances. Contact and hybrid zones among cosmopolitan species in northern Europe are probably of some antiquity. They result from persistent survival and isolation of refuge populations in the west and east Mediterranean during glacial phases; dispersal from these refuges leads to their regeneration during each interglacial.