Biohistoric evolution of spiriferid brachiopods: A model study of a globally distributed Devonian clade

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The target of this model study is to reconstruct the evolution of the howellellid-hysterolitidacrospiriferid clade as the most important group of Devonian spiriferid brachiopods. The main questions are: How did the spiriferids evolve during Early and Middle Devonian times? How close are the relationships between spiriferids from different regions of the world? Was endemic development predominant, or were there phases of faunal dispersal across the boundaries of palaeobiogeographic units? When and on which pathways did the brachiopods migrate? To find answers to these questions, it is essential to re-investigate the genera of this globally distributed group in detail and to compare them side-by-side for the first time. Numerous character states are to be documented and evaluated for phylogenetic studies. New phylogenetic trees will be reconstructed supported by cladistic analyses using the program PAUP 4.0. The most parsimonous solution is taken as the base for a revised systematic subdivision of the group. Stratigraphic and palaeobiogeographic distribution patterns in combination with palaeoclimatic information, also taking into account the shell isotopic composition, are recorded in order to reconstruct the whole biohistory of the group in space and time.