Diversity changes of Pectinoidea (Bivalvia) in the Jurassic seas of the Caucasus (northern Neo-Tethys)
摘要
Jurassic bivalves have been studied in the Caucasus for many decades. The present work focuses the superfamily Pectinoidea, which was common in Jurassic seas. The previously published data permitted to document stratigraphic ranges of its taxa and to analyse the regional diversity dynamics by stages. The presence of pectinoids in the main parts of the Caucasus is proven. The analysis of the regional diversity implies that the number of species and genera was significantly higher in the Middle to Late Jurassic than in the Early Jurassic. The species diversity reached its maximum in the Callovian, and the diversity of genera in the Tithonian. The regional generic diversity changes differ from the global pattern. Particularly, the Caucasian diversity of the superfamily Pectinoidea was lowest in the Toarcian (possible effect of the mass extinction), whereas the global diversity was lowest in the Aalenian (possible effect of the biotic crisis). The factors of the diversity changes are yet to be established. Further improvements in the taxonomy of Jurassic pectinoids reported from the Caucasus may result in corrections of the present diversity estimates.