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Calner at Rödvig

Mikael Calner

Professor

Calner at Rödvig

Palaeoclimate perturbations before the Sheinwoodian glaciation: A trigger for extinctiond during the 'Ireviken Event'

Author

  • Oliver Lehnert
  • Peep Männik
  • Michael M. Joachimski
  • Mikael Calner
  • Jiri Fryda

Summary, in English

Telychian to Sheinwoodian conodonts (Pterospathodus eopennatus ssp. n. 1 Zone through the Ozarkodina

sagitta rhenana Superzone) were studied in detail for their oxygen isotope composition. The Upper Kockelella

ranuliformis and Ozarkodina sagitta rhenana Zones represent the peak interval of the Sheinwoodian positive

δ18Oapatite excursion reflecting the coolest conditions with marine sea–water temperatures decreased by

more than 6 °C in the subtropics. The δ18Oapatite data cover pre- through post-‘Ireviken Event’ strata. The

study includes also material from younger levels up to the late Wenlock Ctenognathodus murchisoni Zone.

However this record is incomplete with one major hiatus reflecting the regression associated with the

Middle Silurian Mulde Event.

The stratigraphic levels of the analyzed conodont samples from Estonia can be correlated with high precision

to the datum points of the ‘Ireviken Event’ strata in the Lower and Upper Visby formations on Gotland,

Sweden. Inferred short-term climatic changes in the upper Telychian part of the studied interval may have

been caused by phases of major volcanic activity along the Caledonian front. Across the ‘Ireviken Event’ we

observe variations in oxygen isotope ratios which allow a direct comparison to the stepwise extinctions and

faunal reorganisations in different groups. Our data suggest that faunal extinctions are connected to time

intervals of warming before the establishment of more stable and cooler conditions during the main

Sheinwoodian glacial. The most severe extinctions and faunal turnovers at datum points 2 and 4 occurred

during the early, warmer interval of the event. After the shift into the Sheinwoodian icehouse in the Lower

Kockelella ranuliformis Zone, reflected by rapidly decreasing sea–water temperatures, faunas restabilized and

reefal communities started to flourish. Sedimentary evidence for the glaciation is discussed for different

palaeolatitudes.

Department/s

  • Lithosphere and Biosphere Science

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

320-331

Publication/Series

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

Volume

296

Issue

3-4

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Geology

Keywords

  • Glaciation
  • Palaeoclimate
  • Oxygen isotopes
  • Silurian
  • Baltoscandia
  • Estonia

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1872-616X