Validating marine Devonian biogeography: a study in bioregionalization

The Devonian record presents an opportunity to test and validate existing marine bioregionalization. This study is the first use comparative biogeography phylogenetic data Proposed in 1960s, Old World, Eastern Americas Malvinokaffric realms have been functional standard for biogeography. Data from 32 published phylogenies of taxa, a database c. 800 occurrences were analysed using software area monophyly. taxic our then tested against total fauna Paleobiology Database (https://paleobiodb.org) identify differences sampling. Results indicate that current bioregionalization not representative natural areas requires revision. results highlight are most robust which makes recommendations improve process diagnosis biogeographical areas. We found legacy issues within palaeontology evident their interpretation. validation critical advancement palaeontology. sensitivity shows biotic geographical relationships, how life earth evolved together, bias scientific process.