Organic-walled microphytoplankton assemblage of the Middle Devonian (Givetian) Arkona, Hungry Hollow and Widder formations, Ontario, Canada: biostratigraphic and palaeogeographic significance

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Abstract
A diverse and abundant organic-walled microphytoplankton assemblage, consisting of 49 species of acritarchs, prasinophyte phycomata and chitinozoans, was recovered from a 13.3 m-section of the Middle Devonian (Givetian) Arkona, Hungry Hollow and Widder formations at Hungry Hollow, Ontario, Canada. Close similarity exists between this assemblage and others described previously from the Givetian of North America. Marine palynofloras of comparable age from elsewhere in North America share between 59–96% of the species identified in the present assemblage, thus testifying to its stratigraphic-correlative applicability in a regional context. Species widely occurring in North America and typically Givetian (although not restricted therein) include: Arkonites bilixus, Cymatiosphaera canadense, Diexallophasis simplex, Duvernaysphaera angelae, D. tenuicingulata, Estiastra rhytidoa, Exochoderma arca, Gorgonisphaeridium inflatum, Hapsidopalla chela, Leiofusa pyrena, Muraticavea munifica, Oppilatala sparsa, Palacanthus ledanoisii, Polyedryxium ambitum, Staplinium cuboides, Tyligmasoma alargada, Uncinisphaera acantha, Veryhachium pastoris, Villosacapsula compta and V. rosendae. Palaeogeographically, Middle Devonian organic-walled microphytoplankton taxa display a conspicuous degree of cosmopolitanism, with many species shared with Laurasia (Laurentia, Avalonia, Baltica), Gondwana (principally Argentina, Ghana, Libya, Algerian Sahara, Western Australia) and Kazakhstan (northwestern China).

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