Data from: Palaeobiogeographical distribution of Orbiculoidea (Brachiopoda, Discinoidea) responding to global climatic and geographical changes during the Palaeozoic

The Palaeozoic Era is a particularly interesting period of Earth history, as it includes the formation and northward movement of a supercontinent (Pangea), dramatic climatic changes and global biotic catastrophes. Here, we analyse the palaeobiogeographical distribution of the discinid brachiopod genus Orbiculoidea and discuss its distributional patterns in light of the environmental changes that occurred throughout the Palaeozoic and the Triassic. Our results indicate that the distribution of the genus seems to have been controlled mainly by the palaeogeographical framework and by global climate change. Importantly, its spatial pattern appears to directly respond both to the formation and northward movement of Pangea and to global temperature fluctuations during the Palaeozoic. In conjunction with these two global parameters, it is likely that the distribution of Orbiculoidea was also affected by regional factors, including the presence of oceanic upwelling as well as the development and demise of continental shelves and seaways.

古生代（Palaeozoic Era）是地球历史中颇具研究意义的地质时期，该时期涵盖了超大陆（supercontinent）泛大陆（Pangea）的形成与北移过程、剧烈的气候变化以及全球性生物灾变事件。本研究针对盘形腕足类（discinid brachiopod）圆孔贝属（Orbiculoidea）的古生物地理分布展开分析，并结合古生代至三叠纪（Triassic）时期的环境变化，探讨其分布模式。研究结果显示，该属的分布主要受古地理格局与全球气候变化的调控。尤为重要的是，其空间分布格局似乎直接响应了泛大陆的形成与北移过程，以及古生代期间的全球温度波动。结合这两项全球影响因素，圆孔贝属的分布大概率还受到区域因素的影响，包括海洋上升流的存在，以及大陆架与海道的发育与消亡。