Phytogeographic patterns and continental configurations during the Permian Period

Abstract The climatic influences on vegetation in the present world can serve as an excellent model for the Permian, there being approximately the same level of floral differentiation and the same relatively cold polar regions. Accordingly, a system of present day climatically defined biomes, developed by Walter, is adapted herein for palaeophytogeographic purposes. There are ten biomes altogether which range from the tropical 'everwet' (biome 1) to the polar 'glacial' (biome 10). Biome 1 is represented by the tropical rainforests of the Cathaysian province sensu stricto which was populated by the arborescent lycopods and sphenophytes, and the Gigantopterids which are interpreted as lianas (vines). This is flanked by the lower diversity 'summerwet' biome 2, the Atlantic Province, a zone which today is characterized by savanna vegetation, and in the Permian was represented by the pteridosperm Callipteris and the primitive conifers. Biome 3 was effectively 'abiotic' and is expressed geologically by evaporite belts. The 'winterwet' or Mediterranean climate of today (biome 4) was not well developed in the Permian, or perhaps just not well preserved, but I attribute some low diversity floras of Kazakhstan to this biome. Biome 5, the 'warm temperate' biome is well developed in both hemispheres, and, like biome 1, is characterized by high diversity floras and abundant swamp deposits. Not surprisingly, the biome 5 floras have been mistaken for biome 1 with which they are transitional in the modern world and with which they share similar climatic conditions. In the Permian Angaran Realm, the Pechora Province represents this biome, while the Austroafroamerican Province is the Gondwanan equivalent. Often, biome 5 floras have been simply termed 'mixed'. Proceeding poleward across the 'hard frost line', the cool temperate floras of biome 6 were populated by diverse herbaceous sphenophytes and deciduous trees (the cordaitids of Angara and the similarly diverse glossopterids of Gondwana). Areas in the temperate zone that were remote from moisture sources are assigned to biome 7 and are only known in the southern hemisphere by some aeolian deposits in Argentina. The 'cold temperate' biome 8 is a low diversity equivalent of biome 6, and has been given the name Gangamopteris Flora in the southern hemisphere. The 'tundra' environment, biome 9, and the truly glacial deposits, biome 10, are known only from the southern hemisphere.