The palynology of the Middle–Upper Devonian (Givetian–Frasnian) in the Łysogóry-Radom and Lublin basins, south-central Poland

Abstract

The Middle and Upper Devonian (Givetian and Frasnian) deposits of the Łysogóry-Radom and Lublin basins (south-central Poland) presented a diversified palynomorph assemblage. Numerous miospore taxa were documented and also contained well-preserved and varied plant remains, scolecodonts, acritarchs, chitinozoans, organic tentaculitoids, and bioclasts of uncertain biological affinity. Aneurospora extensa, Geminospora aurita, Samarisporites triangulatus and other documented taxa allowed us to establish two local miospore zones: the Givetian ‘Geminospora’ extensa zone and the Givetian–Frasnian Geminospora aurita zone. The time interval of these two zones shows the impoverishment in taxonomic diversity of microflora related to the rapid climate changes that are associated with the global Taghanic Event. The palynofacies analysis indicated a shallow-shelf environment with significant terrestrial input that was controlled by transgressive-regressive cycles, which confirmed the dynamic palaeoenvironmental changes. The new miospore taxon Retusotriletes radomskii is described.