Conodont stratigraphy and biodiversity of the Middle Devonian Kačák Episode at the Pic de Bissous (Montagne Noire, S-France)

Pic de Bissous belongs to classic sections of the latest Eifelian Kačák Episode (KE) interval, uniquely developed in hemipelagic carbonate facies. The present conodont study is based on dense sampling of the section, yielding rich and diverse assemblages dominated by Polygnathus. The position of the lower and upper KE boundaries is here documented within the upper Eifelian kockelianus Zone and at the base of the lowermost Givetian hemiansatus Zone, respectively. Both boundaries are marked by an increase of P₁ elements diversity, the phenomenon reported also from other palaeogeographic setting, and accompanied by an appearance of several new taxa. This suggests a global two-step conodont biodiversity rise around the KE interval, presumably caused by the eustatic If and earliest Givetian sealevel rises, respectively. These events were accompanied by increased juvenile conodont mortality probably due to some local/regional adverse conditions of either abiotic or biotic nature.