The Carboniferous Period experienced recovery and major diversification in the marine and terrestrial realms after the end-Devonian mass extinctions. Marked evolutions took place in the terrestrial realm with the development of extended forests and the appearance of reptiles and the first flying organisms. Strong faunal provincialism resulted from geodynamic and climatic changes during the Visean. The Carboniferous Period is also characterized by the onset of the Late Paleozoic Ice Age with characteristic glacial—interglacial cycles, the closure of the western Paleotethys Ocean, and the Variscan orogeny.