General regularities in the development Gzhelian-Asselian conodonts

Abstract

Subject of study. The features of the evolutionary changing of Gzhelian-Asselian conodonts are examined. Materials. The data on Ural and North American conodonts are used. Results. The cyclic type of change of the Pa-element morphology in the process of the evolutionary development of the representatives of the genus Streptognathodus is established. Morphological evolutionary trends of gradual development alternate with the periods of the rapid appearance of a group of the forms of original constitution. The species of this group are characterized by wide distribution and short lifetime. Such species are used as the markers of the boundaries of stratigraphic subdivisions. Lower boundary of Gzhelian is determined by the appearance of species of the group simulator; the species of group isolatus mark lower boundary of Asselian. Model of the ensemble evolution of the related species is used for explaining the directed change in the morphology of conodonts. The saltational appearance of the determined indication is explained by the phenomenon of evolutionary oscillations. Conclusion. We can make conclusion about the sexual multiplication of this group of the organisms according the established alternation of the periods of the slow and rapid morphological evolution of conodonts.

Keywords

• gzhelian conodonts
• asselian conodonts
• cyclic recurrence of development
• groups of conodonts
• ensemble evolution
• evolutionary oscillations
• punktualism