Influence of the Frasnian-Famennian event on radiolarian faunas

Abstract

The impact of the Frasnian-Famennian biotic mass extinction event (F-F event) on radiolarian faunas is examined in 13 sections, which belong to two types of cherty basin in South China. No appreciable decrease in radiolarian biodiversity is observed across the F-F boundary. Indeed, radiolarian faunas flourished during the Famennian. The F-F event may not have had any dramatic effect on the radiolarian faunas in deep water and the disappearance of Famennian radiolarians in shallow water platform sections may simply be a result of sea level change rather than any biotic crisis.