Devonian palaeobiogeographic affinities of Afghanistan and surrounding areas (Iran, Pakistan)

This article compiles data on the Devonian-Carboniferous Boundary successions from countries and regions, which have not been dealt with separately in this special issue. Data derive from different palaeocontinents on a large palaeoclimatic gradient from the southern high latitudes of western Gondwana through the palaeotropics into the temperate/boreal northern latitudes of Siberia. The quality of the data is variable, but often surprisingly good, although major uncertainties can persist and traditional positions of the boundary do not withhold modern stratigraphic results and concepts. Not all these regions have been on the forefront of the DCB discussions in recent years, but they provide invaluable insights into the regional and global dimensions of uppermost Devonian and lowermost Carboniferous changes in the biosphere and geosphere. Almost globally documented are faunal turnovers and collapse of ecosystems in the Hangenberg extinctions. Those allow the placement of the DCB even if index fossils are absent or scarce. However, it also shows the regional differences, which advocate for a holistic approach to the boundary by ensuring global correlation without relying on the conceptual dominance a single taxon, which might be less powerful outside its usual facies.

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“…Sections spanning the DCB in Afghanistan are mentioned by Mistiaen et al (2015). However, detailed data are not available.…”

Section: Pakistan and Afghanistanmentioning

confidence: 99%