Our understanding of Carboniferous conodont faunas has been significantly advanced in the last several years because of increased interest in these microfossils. Although numerous biostratigraphic zonations have been proposed, especially in the lower Carboniferous, variations in taxonomic and zonal approach preclude a unified worldwide zonation at this time. Carboniferous conodont provincialism does not restrict correlation because globally distributed species occur at most levels in the system. However, paleoecological studies are just beginning and undoubtedly will receive considerable attention in the future. Although significant advances in upper Carboniferous multielement taxonomy have been made, few published attempts at lower Carboniferous conodont apparatus recons ructions have been proffered. Nevertheless, our comprehension of Carboniferous conodont evolution has reached a level where these microfossils will greatly influence decisions by international professional groups working on problems of boundary definitions and correlations, and will aid in paleogeographic reconstructions.

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