Original paper
Biostratigraphy – interrelationship between evolution, paleoecology and paleogeography
Piller, Werner E.
Newsletters on Stratigraphy (2026)
248 references
published online: Jan 27, 2026
manuscript accepted: Jan 13, 2026
manuscript revision requested: Dec 10, 2025
manuscript received: Oct 20, 2025
DOI: 10.1127/nos/0916
Abstract
Biostratigraphy is one of the most applied methods in stratigraphy and is therefore a main component in the International Stratigraphic Guide (ISG). The principles of biostratigraphy are reevaluated here and considered generally valid as described in the ISG and in general use. The basic unit is the biozone which can be subdivided into Range Zones (Taxon Range Z., Concurrent Range Z.), Interval Zones (Base Z., Top Z., Base-Top Z., Partial Range Z.), Acme Zones and Assemblage Zones. A special biozone is the Lineage Zone which is based on phylogenetic relationships of species. Biozones are bounded by biohorizons which may be defined by the lowest occurrence and highest occurrence of a taxon. In contrast to frequent use the lowest occurrence should be named Base (B) and highest occurrence Top (T) to avoid confusion with other definitions/abbreviations. First Appearance Datum (FAD) and Last Appearance Datum (LAD) are reserved for the Lineage Zones but should be used with caution. For main fossil groups biozones are presented and examples are provided. The definition of biohorizones is not consistently used in various fossil groups, in particular, in ammonites biostratigraphy/biochronology horizons are not considered surfaces within rocks but described as beds or even a set of beds. An application consistent with the general usage is recommended and in addition to sub-subbiozones the already existing rank ‘zonule’ should be added. The sequence of biozones represents a biozonation which is together with the biohorizons the most important correlation tool. The strong influence of several parameters such as phylogeny, paleoecology, paleobiogeography and paleogeography are discussed resulting in the fact that no global biozonation can exist. As pragmatic but insufficient option ‘standard biozonations’ are established which represent, however, only a fraction of existing biozonations. Correlation of biohorizons and biozones can and should be supported by numerical methods to gain geochronologic results. The step from biostratigraphy to biochronology is described and the differentiation of both approaches is considered very important. For biochronology numerical age dating is required for which several methods exist but basically dating by radiogenic elements or by astrochronology and (as indirect method) by magnetochronology is applied. The final step is to interrelate biostratigraphy/biochronology with other stratigraphic methods to end up with a well based high-resolution integrative stratigraphy. Biostratigraphy plays an important role for chronostratigraphy because 80% of the defined GSSPs are based on bioevents.
Keywords
Biozones • biohorizons • biochronology • bioevents • correlation