Llandovery Epoch
Massive ecological change-over
The Llandovery Epoch (443-433 Ma) is the Early Silurian, occurring after Late Ordovician and before the Wenlock Epoch
Geologic Age
443.8–433.4 Ma
Subdivisions:
Telychian: 438.5±1.1–433.4±0.8 Ma
Aeronian: 440.8±1.2–438.5±1.1 Ma
Rhuddanian: 443.8±1.5–440.8±1.2 Ma
Eon / Era / Period
What happened during this time?
Global ice-house climate that included great ice sheets at high latitudes
Middle of Llandovery, climate becomes warmer
Change in the composition of microfossils (Kenrick et al. 2012)
The abundance of cryptospores, indicative of non-vascular plants (packages of 2 or 4) decreases sharply
Individually dispersed spores (trilete), indicative of vascular plants, increases in number
This may indicate the origin of vascular plants
Possible vascular cells identified during this time (Niklas & Smocovitis 1983).
Pinnatiramosus qianensis (Edwards et al. 2007) is a plant with tracheids, but may represent roots of a Permian plant from rock strata above the Llandovery rocks from this locality in China
Eohostimella heathana is a possible tracheophyte from Maine, USA.