Provinces, communities, and the proposed nektobenthic habit of Ordovician conodontophorids

Ordovician conodontophorid distribution, paleogeography, paleoclimate, and global tectonics strongly support the existence of one biogeographic conodontophorid province, largely restricted to equatorial regions and characterized by raised salinity and temperature. This Midcontinent Province is recognized in North America, Australia, and Siberia. The same data indicate that in other areas the North Atlantic Province represents a normal-marine, virtually cosmopolitan fauna. In both provinces, communities are recognized that show a lateral segregation, strongly indicating that the majority of Ordovician conodontophorids were benthic or nektobenthic. The only Ordovician pelagic forms we recognize are the simple cone genera that either lack, or have a simple, symmetry transition series. It appears possible to correlate certain evolutionary changes in the conodont apparatus with changes in preferred habitat.