Middle Permian (Guadalupian) fusulinid taxonomy and biostratigraphy of the mid-latitude Dalan Basin, Zagros, Iran and their applications in paleoclimate dynamics and paleogeography

The Middle–Upper Permian (Guadalupian–Lopingian) Dalan Basin was part of a very large carbonate ramp/platform along the passive margin of the Arabian Plate, located at mid-latitude Neo-Tethys Ocean. As shown in the modern world the mid-latitudes are areas where climatic fluctuations and velocity of climate change are most significant. Consequently, the most significant variations in foraminiferal diversity occur at higher latitudes as already noted for the Middle Permian (Guadalupian) foraminifers’ record. The fusulinids as a large, warm-water foraminifera were quite sensitive to water temperature. The optimal water temperature for recent warm-water benthic foraminifera with living symbionts, and consequently for fusulinids, is 20–30°C, while the lower limit is 14–16°C. Three climatically-determined assemblages were distinguished in Zagros and the surrounding areas. The first assemblage is characteristic of temperate, cool-water environments and contains smaller foraminifera with no symbionts, which possess resistance to such environments. Fusulinid staffellids, schubertellids, Chusenella, Eopolydiexodina and Monodiexodina can be found in the warmer water environments in a second climatic assemblage, transitional from temperate- to warm-water state. The third assemblage is characterized by the presence of verbeekinids in warm-water conditions in Zagros and appeared where surface-water temperature exceeded approximately 25°C. The proposed model of climate fluctuations and paleogeography in the Neo-Tethys is based on analyses of temporal and spatial distribution of fusulinids. Also, a temperate cool-water Monodiexodina is recorded in this area for the first time. Three new species of fusulinids are described.