Conodont ecology in the Early-Middle Frasnian transition on the South Polish carbonate shelf

Well exposed Early–Middle Frasnian (E–MF, Palmatolepis transitans to Palmatolepis punctata zonal interval) deposits of the Holy Cross Mountains, in particular the reference Wietrznia section at Kielce, were studied in terms of conodont biofacies dynamics. Frequency of the conodont elements has been controlled mostly by depositional rate in hemipelagic muddy lithofacies and post−mortem gravity sorting during lateral redeposition in storm−generated, talus−like and encrinite layers. The conodont assemblages are dominated by a highly varying proportion of polygnathid, icriodontid, and ancyrodellid fauna. Major biofacies turnovers coincided with the deepening pulses corresponding to Timan, Middlesex, and early Rhinestreet global events. Trends in the conodont dynamics, mortality, and diversity point that the biotic shifts also coincide with the large−scale δ¹³C excursions as a record of changing trophic conditions during the major biogeochemical perturbation. A gradual decline of the Early Frasnian Ancyrodella reef−dwelling community correlates with the minor positive and succeeding larger negative δ¹³C excursion, and this is paired with a replacement by, mostly sparse, polygnathid and polygnathid−icriodontid biofacies, as well as with a short−term Belodella acme in mud−mounds areas. The distinctive habitat deterioration in pelagic and reef ecosystems is broadly correlative with the Domanik Crisis. The progressive biofacies unification is a conodont response to onset of the prolonged (ca. 0.5 Ma) δ¹³C enrichment, probably linked with high−stress life conditions due to eutrophication and partly anoxic regimes. A negative carbon isotope excursion in the late Pamatolepis punctata Zone is marked by the second major biofacies turning point during the Rhinestreet transgression, as recorded primarily in a final mesotaxid extinction, and highlighted also by decrease of conodont size and increased mortality of juveniles. After stabilization of δ¹³C values and a return to the background level across the Palmatolepis punctata–Palmatolepis hassi zonal transition, renewed biofacies diversification, in particular re−appearance of reef−related ancyrodellid fauna, took place. In addition, a large−scale migration event among palmatolepids and polygnathids during sea−level rise, mainly from the East European Platform, characterised this Middle Frasnian interval.