Latitudinal influences on bryozoan calcification through the Paleozoic

Abstract Bryozoans are active non-phototrophic biomineralizers that precipitate their calcareous skeletons in seawater. Carbonate saturation states varied temporally and spatially Paleozoic oceans, we used the Bryozoan Skeletal Index (BSI) to investigate whether bryozoan calcification was controlled by seawater chemistry trepostome cryptostome bryozoans. Our results show genera were influenced ocean throughout precipitated most calcite at lower latitudes, where carbonate generally higher, less midlatitudes, will be relatively undersaturated. Trepostome a similar but weaker trend for Ordovician Devonian, suggesting that, like cryptostomes, they unable metabolically overcome falling simply robust higher latitudes. Carboniferous Triassic trepostomes differ, however, toward increased indicating an ability unfavorable states. Analysis of Permian species level indicates this is pronounced Southern Hemisphere, matched feeding capacity. It proposed capacity allowed The differing responses bryozoans suggest should not considered as single group marine extinctions linked changes. Likewise, it would modern stenolaemate gymnolaemate treated separately when considering response