Late Badenian zooxanthellate corals of the Medobory Hills (western Ukraine) and their environmental significance

Zooxanthellate corals in the Badenian (Langhian to lower Serravallian) of western Ukraine occur in different lithofacies, but are most abundant in the upper Badenian coralgal reefs of the Ternopil Beds. The coral assemblage consists of five genera, with two predominant (Tarbellastraea and Porites) and three strongly subordinate (Favia, Heliastraea, Siderastrea). The present study is the first record of Heliastraea defrancei in the Fore-Carpathian Basin. The taxonomic composition of the corals indicates that their development occurred in conditions of some ecological stress, most probably connected with climate (location at the northern limit of coral distribution) and sedimentary environment (possible influx of terrigenous material). The coral assemblage shows similarities to numerous fossil reefs of Miocene age from the Paratethyan and Mediterranean realms.