Palaeoecology of Famennian-Tournaisian (Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous) bryozoans from central and southern regions of Russia

Abstract

The palaeoecology of Famennian-Tournaisian (Late Devonian-Early Carboniferous) bryozoans from central and southern regions of Russia is analysed. Famennian-Tournaisian bryozoans associations of the Altai-Sayan Folded Area and the south-western region of the West-Siberian plate was a shallow-middle shelf according to our own and literature data. Robust branching-fenestrate-bilaminar bryozoan associations are found in locations of warm water, transitional low-high water energy, normal salinity and changing sedimentation rate. Bryozoan associations from South Urals and the central part of the Russian plate are characterised by a low number of species and specimens. Encrusting unilaminar and delicate branching growth habits are dominate in the Russian Plate and indicate an environmental setting in close proximity to strandline.