Changes

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | part    = Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | chapter = Applied paleontology

  | frompg  = 17-1

  | frompg  = 17-23

  | topg    = 17-65

  | topg    = 17-24

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | author  = Robert L. Fleisher, H. Richard Lane

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

  | link    = http://archives.datapages.com/data/specpubs/beaumont/ch17/ch17.htm

==Applications==

==Applications==

Major paleogeographic and climatic shifts through the Phanerozoic have produced frequent changes in biogeographic patterns of plant and animal distribution. The resulting biogeographic arrays can be used in two ways:

Major paleogeographic and climatic shifts through the [[Phanerozoic]] have produced frequent changes in biogeographic patterns of plant and animal distribution. The resulting biogeographic arrays can be used in two ways:

* To constrain paleogeographic reconstructions

* To constrain paleogeographic reconstructions

==Examples of paleogeography==

==Examples of paleogeography==

The occurrence of Early Triassic reptiles and amphibians of the ''Lystrosaurus'' fauna in Antarctica, southern Africa, and India is strong confirmation that the Early Triassic Gondwana reconstruction, which placed Antarctica in contact with southern Africa and India, must be correct. Terrestrial vertebrates require dry-land connections to complete such a pervasive migration.<ref name=ch17r26>Colbert, E., 1972, Antarctic fossils and the reconstruction of Gondwanaland: Natural History, v. 12, p. 67–72.</ref>

The occurrence of [[Lower Triassic]] reptiles and amphibians of the ''Lystrosaurus'' fauna in Antarctica, southern Africa, and India is strong confirmation that the Early Triassic [[Wikipedia:Gondwana|Gondwana]] reconstruction, which placed Antarctica in contact with southern Africa and India, must be correct. Terrestrial vertebrates require dry-land connections to complete such a pervasive migration.<ref name=ch17r26>Colbert, E., 1972, Antarctic fossils and the reconstruction of Gondwanaland: Natural History, v. 12, p. 67–72.</ref>

Australia's eventual separation from Gondwana to become an island continent about 43 Ma is also reflected in biogeographic patterns. The fossils and living marsupials of Australia are significantly different from those elsewhere because they evolved in isolation.<ref name=ch17r49>Jardine, N., McKenzie, D., 1972, Continental drift and the dispersal and evolution of organisms: Nature, v. 235, p. 20–25, DOI: [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v235/n5332/abs/235020a0.html 10.1038/235020a0].</ref>

Australia's eventual separation from Gondwana to become an island continent about 43 Ma is also reflected in biogeographic patterns. The fossils and living marsupials of Australia are significantly different from those elsewhere because they evolved in isolation.<ref name=ch17r49>Jardine, N., and D. McKenzie, 1972, Continental drift and the dispersal and evolution of organisms: Nature, v. 235, p. 20–25, DOI: [http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v235/n5332/abs/235020a0.html 10.1038/235020a0].</ref>

==Climate==

==Climate==

The distribution of benthic marine organisms can help us constrain latitudinal seasurface temperature gradients and quantitative paleoclimate models.

The distribution of [http://www.thefreedictionary.com/benthic benthic] marine organisms can help us constrain latitudinal sea-surface temperature gradients and quantitative paleoclimate models.

==Examples of climate==

==Examples of climate==

The total paleolatitudinal range of ancient reefs has been used as a guide to rate of change of sea-surface temperature with paleolatitude. This is based on a broad analogy with the distribution of modern reef corals. Because of the Late Ordovician Gondwana glaciation, the Early Silurian reefs are asymmetrically distributed.<ref name=ch17r28>Copper, P., Brunton, O., 1990, A global review of Silurian reefs: The Palaeontological Association, London, Special Papers in Palaeontology 44, p. 225–259.</ref> They did not reach as far south as 30°S paleolatitude but extended north of 30°N, reflecting the existence of a colder south polar region in the Early Silurian. This conclusion is also supported by the development of a cold-water ''Clarkeia'' province in the Early Silurian of Gondwana<ref name=ch17r25>Cocks, L., 1972, The origin of the Silurian Clarkeia shelly fauna of South America, and its extension to West Africa: Palaeontology, vol. 15, p. 623–630.</ref> which is supplanted at lower latitudes by other faunal provinces.

The total paleolatitudinal range of ancient [[reef]]s has been used as a guide to rate of change of sea-surface temperature with paleolatitude. This is based on a broad analogy with the distribution of modern reef corals. Because of the [[Late Ordovician]] Gondwana glaciation, the lower [[Silurian]] reefs are asymmetrically distributed.<ref name=ch17r28>Copper, P., and O. Brunton, 1990, A global review of Silurian reefs: The Palaeontological Association, London, Special Papers in Palaeontology 44, p. 225–259.</ref> They did not reach as far south as 30°S paleolatitude but extended north of 30°N, reflecting the existence of a colder south polar region in the Early Silurian. This conclusion is also supported by the development of a cold-water ''Clarkeia'' brachiopod province in the early Silurian of Gondwana<ref name=ch17r25>Cocks, L., 1972, The origin of the Silurian ''Clarkeia'' shelly fauna of South America, and its extension to West Africa: Palaeontology, vol. 15, p. 623–630.</ref> which is supplanted at lower latitudes by other faunal provinces.

Published interpretations of interior Australian surface temperatures during the Permian, reaching values as high as [[temperature::50&deg;C]], cannot be reconciled with the existence of terrestrial vertebrates in the same area because such temperatures would have been lethal. A reassessment of this quantitative model is needed.

Published interpretations of interior Australian surface temperatures during the [[Permian]], reaching values as high as [[temperature::50&deg;C]], cannot be reconciled with the existence of terrestrial vertebrates in the same area because such temperatures would have been lethal. A reassessment of this quantitative model is needed.

==Problems==

==Problems==

* Inconsistent taxonomic identifications by practitioners, impairing the validity of the basic data

* Inconsistent taxonomic identifications by practitioners, impairing the validity of the basic data

* Difficulty in distinguishing local differences in the composition of fossil communities from those produced by geographic separation

* Difficulty in distinguishing local differences in the composition of fossil communities from those produced by geographic separation

* Development of accreted terranes, which may tectonically juxtapose contrasting biogeographic entities that were not naturally contiguous

* Development of accreted [[Wikipedia:Terrane|terranes]], which may tectonically juxtapose contrasting biogeographic entities that were not naturally contiguous

==See also==

==See also==

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Predicting the occurrence of oil and gas traps]]  

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]

[[Category:Applied paleontology]]