Palaeontologic and biogeochemical characterization of the Cyrtograptus lundgreni event in the black shales of eastern Mid-Sardinia, Italy

A succession of biotic and geochemical changes that occurred during the Cyrtograptus lundgreni Event (Late Wenlock) have been recorded from the 'pelagic' black-shales in the Goni section, eastern mid-Sardinia, Italy. The studied interval encompasses the Cyrtograptus rigidus to Pristiograptus dubius-Gothograptus nassa zones. The fossil association includes graptolites, chitinozoans and microplankton i.e. probable linings of agglutinated foraminifera and radiolaria capsular membranes. Analysis of the chitinozoan distribution revealed a succession of several chitinozoan associations with low species diversity and dominated by opportunistic species. Three chitinozoan faunal turnovers and three extinction events have been recorded. Two of them coincide with graptolite extinctions whereas one probably is of local significance. Disappearance of the chitinozoan and microplankton associations occurred during four consecutive graptolite zones. Geochemical data (trace elements analysis) showed significantly higher (up to c. 100%) values for Co and Cd in the sedimentary organic matter (SOM) than in the whole rock samples. Possible relationships between peaks of metal enrichment, the major faunal changes among chitinozoans, extinction events among chitinozoans and graptolites and, to a certain extent, oceanic events may be inferred. The first extinction datum is older that those occurring in Gotland, Sweden and Thüringen, Germany and is so far considered to be of local significance. The second extinction datum of Sardinia can be matched with Datum 1 of Gotland and Thüringen. A close correlation between the third extinction datum of Sardinia and Datum 2 of Thüringen and Gotland reinforces the importance of these events at global scale.     

Upper Silurian microplankton of the Leintwardine Group, Ludlow Series, in the type Ludlow area and adjacent regions

The acritarchs and prasinophyte algae from the Upper Bringewood, Lower Leintwardine, Upper Leintwardine and Lower Whitcliffe formations of the Ludlow type area and surrounding regions are described. The following new taxa are proposed: Cymatiosphaera pumila sp. nov., Melikeriopalla pustula sp. nov., Cheleutochroa beechenbankensis sp. nov., Cymbosphaeridium molyneuxii sp. nov., Flammulasphaera bella gen. et sp. nov., Percultisphaera incompta sp. nov., Salopidium aldridgei sp. nov. and Umbellasphaeridium? wicanderi sp. nov. A holotype is defined for Lophosphaeridium galeatum Hill and a further 34 new taxa are described under open nomenclature. Two biozones, identified by the first appearance of the zone taxon, are defined in the Sunnyhill section, Ludlow [Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Ludfordian Stage, Ludlow Series]. The base of the Leoniella vilis Biozone is identified at 4.52m below the top of the Upper Bringewood Formation at Beechenbank, Aymestrey. The base of the Triangulina sanpetrensis Biozone is identified at 15.49m above the base of the Lower Leintwardine Formation and Ludfordian Stage at the Sunnyhill section. These biozones allow correlation with sections in north–west Spain, Podolia and Gotland. The possibility of using Visbysphaera whitcliffense and U.? wicanderi as biozonal indicators is suggested.     

Regular and flexible modes of division and hystero-ontogenetic growth in the Silurian rugose coral Stauria favosa

New modules arise in colonial corals as the result of asexual reproduction. The Silurian rugosan Stauria favosa ordinarily exhibits cerioid coralla with a characteristic cross-shaped axial structure and a typical pattern of parricidal increase. Quadripartite increase at the sites of the four protosepta is most common, whereas cases of tripartite increase are rare. Parental protosepta are transformed into dividing walls, where the four protosepta first appear with a definite polarity in offset corallites. Daughter corallites inherit metasepta as metasepta, and catasepta as catasepta, within the same quadrants as those of the parent. Metasepta are inserted serially, following Kunth's rule, as is characteristic of rugosan protocorallites. As each daughter corallite derived immediately from the same parent is arranged with identical polarity, it grows equally and evenly both individually and as a group. Daughters thus form protosepta and metasepta under strict phylogenetic and developmental constraints. However, individual corallites grow and reproduce autonomously, by using all available skeleton and space of the parent. Although each module cannot modify essential modes of division, flexibility of the system was via changes in the density and arrangement of corallites, and regulating modes of growth, in tandem with adjacent corallites within the corallum. It is probable that regularity, due to constraints of several origins, as well as flexibility are typical of other rugosan colonies and played an important role in growth dynamics between corallites and corallum.     

A Nereites ichnofacies from the Ordovician‐Silurian Welsh Basin

The sediments of the Ordovician‐Silurian succession of west Wales are interpreted as turbiditic sands with associated pelagic and hemi‐pelagic mudstones. The strata contain a trace fossil assemblage consisting of fifteen ichnogenera, namely: Chondrites, Circulichnis, Cochlichnus, Cosmorhaphe, Desmograpton, Gordia, Helminthoida, Helminthopsis, Neonereites, Nereites, Paleodictyon, Palaeophycus, Planolites, Protopaleodictyon and Spirophycus. The ichnofaunal assemblage is typical of the Nereites ichnofacies. Twenty three ichno‐species are described, two of which (Helminthoida granulata, Palaeophycus serratus) are new. Turbiditic sands contain the most abundant and diverse ichnoassemblages, a reflection of favorable environmental conditions for habitation by benthic organisms. Both the turbiditic mudstones and anoxic hemipelagites contain just two ichno‐species, namely Chondrites ichnosp. and Planolites montanus both of which are common, albeit less so in the latter facies. The effects of preservation potential, medium and preservation mechanisms are also important controls on distribution.     

Silurian craniide brachiopods from Gotland

Seven craniide brachiopod genera are described from the Silurian (Wenlock–Ludlow) of Gotland, including one new genus and five new species. The new genus and species Thulecrania septicostata is unique among Silurian craniides as it possesses solid spines. The new species Lepidocrania multilamellosa is the first Silurian record of this poorly known Permian genus. The problematic North American Propatella Grubbs, 1939 , was originally described as a gastropod, but the new species Propatella palmaria from Gotland shows that it is a craniide with sutured hollow spines of a type not previously recorded from Silurian craniides. The dorsal valves of the new species Valdiviathyris? bicornis are remarkably similar to those of the type species and represent the first possible Palaeozoic record of this poorly known extant craniide. This first systematic study of craniide brachiopods from the Silurian of Gotland shows that the diversity is relatively high as compared to other known Silurian craniide faunas, but a more thorough comparison is not possible due to the lack of data from most parts of the world. The new data from Gotland support the view that the craniides were not affected by the end‐Ordovician extinction.     

The Machaeridian Lepidocoleus Sarlei Clarke, 1896, from the Rochester Shale (Silurian) of New York State

Eight new specimens and the holotype of Lepidocoleus sarlei Clarke, 1896 from Lagersta¨tten deposits within the Rochester Shale (Silurian, Wenlock) of New York are described to elucidate the morphology, function and construction of the scleritome. The material exhibits an unusual type of dorsal hinge with a pronounced antero-posterior displacement between the two sides. Two specimens have an aberrant sclerite on the right side of segment eleven. One tightly enrolled specimen may demonstrate a method of defence with the stronger protected dorsal side oriented outwards. The presence of a segmented body plan is suggested, based on requirements for a functional spiral enrolment. Distinct anterior and posterior morphologies together with the pattern of rugae provide valuable help in reconstructing disarticulated lepidocoleids.     

Endemicity and palaeobiogeography of the Osteostraci and Galeaspida: a test of scenarios of gnathostome evolution

Abstract: Armoured stem‐gnathostomes (jawless vertebrates previously termed ‘ostracoderms’) have long been assumed to exhibit strong endemicity. This assumption has underpinned their utility in many palaeobiogeographic studies as well as scenarios regarding the evolution and dominance of jawed vertebrates over their jawless relatives. The hypothesis of endemicity in stem‐gnathostomes is investigated for the first time in the light of the phylogeny of the closest relatives of jawed vertebrates – Osteostraci and Galeaspida. Palaeobiogeography of each is reconstructed using Fitch optimization and modified Brooks Parsimony Analysis. Palaeobiogeographic distributions corroborate phylogeny. Results, along with consideration of the Heterostraci, enable identification of similar patterns across groups (broad ancestral range, Early Devonian expansion, endemic and pandemic clades within each, and Middle Devonian radiation events) and inferences to the palaeogeographic relationship between major terranes (i.e. Laurentia, Baltica, Avalonia, Kara, Altaids, South China, Tarim). Comparison of basin and terrane level analyses identifies the different palaeogeographic processes responsible for the distributions of each group: sea‐level changes in the case of the Osteostraci and rifting in the case of the Galeaspida. The general endemic nature of the Osteostraci and Galeaspida is confirmed, and thus the hypothesis that the demise and extinction of stem‐gnathostomes was because of their limited dispersal capacity is supported.     

Biogeographic associations of Silurian bryozoan genera in North America, Baltica and Siberia

Six distinct bryozoan paleobiogeographical provinces existed during the Silurian of North America, Baltica and Siberia. These provinces are based on parsimony analysis of endemicity (PAE), each supported by a number of endemic genera only present in that assemblage. The area cladogram displays a nested pattern, permitting the clustering of assemblages into larger units that might be indicative of their areas of origin. Paired-group cluster analysis supports the existence of provincial assemblages. Relationships indicate the action of both vicariance and geodispersal. Geographic boundaries between the provinces include land, deep sea, and climate zone boundaries, including barriers created by the Iapetus Ocean and the Tornquist Sea.     

Integrated Telychian (Silurian) K-bentonite chemostratigraphy and biostratigraphy in Estonia and Latvia

Kiipli, T., Kallaste, T., Nestor, V. & Loydell, D.K. 2010: Integrated Telychian (Silurian) K-bentonite chemostratigraphy and biostratigraphy in Estonia and Latvia. Lethaia , Vol. 43, pp. 32–44.
The distribution of altered volcanic ash layers (K-bentonites) and Telychian chitinozoans in four East Baltic drill core sections are compared. This information is integrated with graptolite and conodont biozonations to give a precise correlation chart using four different stratigraphical tools: K-bentonite-based chemostratigraphy; chitinozoan biostratigraphy; graptolite biostratigraphy; and, conodont biostratigraphy. Thickness variations in the K-bentonites suggest that the source of the volcanic ash was to the west and north-west.     

黔北晚奥陶世和早志留世四射珊瑚新资料

报道黔北早志留志中期（Middle Llandovery)地层中新发现的四射珊瑚7属--Cantrillia,Neocantrillia,Prototryplasma,Pycnostylus,Dalmanophyllum?.Rhegmaphyllum,Schlotheimophyllum,并描述产自黔东北石阡奥陶纪末期（Late Ashgill)观音桥层四射珊瑚2种--Grewingkia cf.bilateralis Neuman,Brachyelasma cf.medioseptatum(Neuman)及晚奥陶世（Early Ashgill期）涧草沟组中首次发现的四射珊瑚Crassilasma sp.。全文共描述四射珊瑚13属18种,其中6新种,它们是Crassilasma fenggangense sp.nov.,C.crebrumseptatum sp.nov.,Dinophyllum insolitum sp.nov.,Neocantrillia silurica sp.nov.,Prototryplasma guizhouense sp.nov.,Schlotheimophyllum regeneranum sp.nov.。