In order to establish a refined biostratigraphic subdivision and correlation of the Uppermost Carboniferous/Lower Permian
deposits of the Southern Alps (Carnic Alps, Karavanke Mountains; Austria/Italy/Slovenia), two major microfossil groups (fusulinoideans,
conodonts) were investigated within the same sample. The fusulinoidean species diversity (71 species, including five new species
and three new subspecies) and generic composition were reviewed and complemented. Additionally, the data on fusulinoidean
assemblages were supplemented by co-occurring conodont faunas (seven species). Accompanying studies on material from the type
sections of the Southern Urals (Russia) were made to improve the biostratigraphic correlation with the Russian standard zonation
and to discuss paleobiogeographical aspects of the faunal associations. An integrated microfacies analysis of the sampled
material in the Southern Alps serves to evaluate the relationships between certain genera and specific microfacies types.
The fusulinoidean fauna of the Lower “Pseudoschwagerina” Limestone is of late Gzhelian age. The Carboniferous/Permian boundary is close to the base of the Grenzland Formation, which
covers the entire Asselian and a part of the Sakmarian. The Upper “Pseudoschwagerina” Limestone and Trogkofel Limestone are Lake Sakmarian to Artinskian. The studies sequences in the Karavanke Mountains. formerly
known as “carbonate and clastic Trogkofel beds”, correlate to the Lower “Pseudoschwagerina” Limestone, respectively with parts of the Grenzland Formation. Due to the lithologic differences, new formation names (Dolzanova
Soteska Fm., Born Fm.) were introduced for the so-called “Trogkofel” Limestone along the Dolzanova Soteska.
Whereas late Gzhelian/Asselian fusulinoidean faunas of the Southern Alps correspond to the Southern Uralian faunas to a large
extent, Sakmarian and Artinskian faunas reveal an increasing divergence in species and genus composition. Climatic as well
as geographic barriers may have prevennted the dispersal of Paleotethyan taxa into the Southern Urals. Biostratigraphic correlation
of Sakmarian to Artinskian deposits is therefore possible only on the basis of the sparse conodont faunas.
Keywords Fusulinoideans - conodonts - biostratigraphy - paleobiogeography - carnic alps (Austria/Italy) - karavanke mountains(slovenia) - southernurals (Russia) - upper carboniferous - lower permian