Abstract

Biotic and sedimentological cycles in the late Silurian are closely similar to those recognized in the early Silurian. They are explained here by alternations between primo and secundo conditions, the former being characterized by cold dense oceanic bottom waters and high nutrient supply, and the latter by salinity-dense bottom waters and diminished nutrient supply. The lithological pattern, together with the turnover of conodont faunas and of other fossil groups, permits the identification of a sequence of episodes and events in the Ludlow following the Klinte Secundo Episode, which developed in the latest Wenlock: The Sproge Primo Episode, the Linde Event, the Etelhem Secundo Episode, the Havdhem Primo Episode, the Lau Event, the Hoburgen Secundo Episode and the Klev Secundo–Primo Event, continuing into the earliest Přídolí. Testing of this model against others that invoke a primary sea-level control is marred by the current imprecisions of biostratigraphical correlation.