Marine ostracod provinciality in the Late Ordovician of palaeocontinental Laurentia and its environmental and geographical expression.

ABSTRACT:

Background

We examine the environmental, climatic and geographical controls on tropical ostracod distribution in the marine Ordovician of North America.

Methodology/principal findings

Analysis of the inter-regional distribution patterns of Ordovician Laurentian ostracods, focussing particularly on the diverse Late Ordovician Sandbian (ca 461 to 456 Ma) faunas, demonstrates strong endemicity at the species-level. Local endemism is very pronounced, ranging from 25% (e.g. Foxe basin) to 75% (e.g. Michigan basin) in each basin, a pattern that is also reflected in other benthic faunas such as brachiopods. Multivariate (ordination) analyses of the ostracod faunas allow demarcation of a Midcontinent Province and a southern Marginal Province in Laurentia. While these are most clearl

SUBMITTER: Mohibullah M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3416799 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature