Selected benthic faunas from the Devonian of the Ardennes: an estimation of palaeobiodiversity
Authors
Benoit L.M. Hubert
Laboratoire de Paléontologie stratigraphique FLST & ISA, UMR 8014 CNRS,
41, rue du Port, 59046 Lille cedex
Unité de Recherche de Pétrologie sédimentaire, B20, Université de Li¯ge,
Sart-Tilman B-4000 Li¯ge
Mikołaj Zapalski
Laboratoire de Paléontologie stratigraphique FLST & ISA, UMR 8014 CNRS,
41, rue du Port, 59046 Lille cedex
Laboratory of Palaeontology, Warsaw University, Faculty of Geology,
Żwirki i Wigury 93, PL-02-089 Warszawa
Jean-Pierre Nicollin
Laboratoire de Paléontologie stratigraphique FLST & ISA, UMR 8014 CNRS,
41, rue du Port, 59046 Lille cedex
Bruno Mistiaen
Laboratoire de Paléontologie stratigraphique FLST & ISA, UMR 8014 CNRS,
41, rue du Port, 59046 Lille cedex
Denice Brice
Laboratoire de Paléontologie stratigraphique FLST & ISA, UMR 8014 CNRS,
41, rue du Port, 59046 Lille cedex
A survey of the principal benthic faunas from the Devonian of the Ardennes is presented. The α-diversity is very high (707 species, including 138 species of stromatoporoids, 113 species of tabulates, hydroids and chaetetids, and 456 species of brachiopods). Analysis of their distribution through time indicates two brachiopod diversity peaks (Emsian/Eifelian and Frasnian), a single stromatoporoid diversity peak (Givetian), and no clear peak of tabulate corals (with the highest diversification during the Eifelian–Frasnian). The highest diversity of bioconstructors in the Givetian correlates with a decrease in brachiopod diversity. Changes in the vertical distribution of the faunas are correlated with the facies development: the development of carbonates correlates with the abundance of stromatoporoids and tabulates, while brachiopods were most abundant before and after the peak of carbonate development. Bioconstructors are absent (or nearly absent) in siliciclastic facies.
