A tale of three taphonomic modes: The Ediacaran fossil Flabellophyton preserved in limestone, black shale, and sandstone

Wan, Bin; Chen, Zhe; Yuan, Xunlai; Pang, Ke; Qing, Tang; Guan, Chengguo; Wang, Xiaopeng; Pandey, SK; Droser, Mary L.; Xiao, Shuhai

doi:10.1016/j.gr.2020.04.003

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…Two variables used here are the thallus area and the cross-section area of the globular holdfast. The thallus of Flabellophyton was an inverted hollow cone originally, and its fan-like fossil represents a projection of a cone on a two-dimensional surface (Wan et al, 2020). The projection is also equal to the frontal area facing into the flow direction, making it an important parameter for benthic macroalgae to withstand moving water.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The deep sea became intermittently oxic at the beginning of the Ediacaran (Sahoo et al, 2012;Wang et al, 2017;Xiao and Narbonne, 2020). The microbial mat ecosystem declined, and a new ecosystem dominated by erect benthic macroalgae and animals started to establish (Liu et al, 2015;Wan et al, 2020). For example, the benthic macroalga Flabellophyton is a common member of the Lantian, Shibantan, and typical Ediacara biotas distributed in both China and Australia (Wan et al, 2020;.…”

Section: The Evolution Of Holdfast Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The microbial mat ecosystem declined, and a new ecosystem dominated by erect benthic macroalgae and animals started to establish (Liu et al, 2015;Wan et al, 2020). For example, the benthic macroalga Flabellophyton is a common member of the Lantian, Shibantan, and typical Ediacara biotas distributed in both China and Australia (Wan et al, 2020;. Through the Ediacaran, the holdfast of Flabellophyton typicum found in both China and Australia Wan et al, 2020) maintained a composite globose shape and was invariable to the significant change of size of the thallus.…”

Section: The Evolution Of Holdfast Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, the benthic macroalga Flabellophyton is a common member of the Lantian, Shibantan, and typical Ediacara biotas distributed in both China and Australia (Wan et al, 2020;. Through the Ediacaran, the holdfast of Flabellophyton typicum found in both China and Australia Wan et al, 2020) maintained a composite globose shape and was invariable to the significant change of size of the thallus. The morphological stability suggests that the holdfast morphology was at least partially species-specific.…”

Section: The Evolution Of Holdfast Diversitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the great transition from the microbial mat to benthic macroscopic ecosystems in the Ediacaran-Cambrian periods (Butterfield, 2007;Wan et al, 2020;Xiao and Narbonne, 2020), the substrate condition also dramatically transformed from the firm, microbial sealed sediments to the soft, water-rich sediments. Moreover, the redox interface migrated downwards to a deeper depth (Figure 7).…”

Section: Attachment Strategy Innovations For Changing Substrate Conditionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evolution of Holdfast Diversity and Attachment Strategies of Ediacaran Benthic Macroalgae

Wang

Wan

et al. 2021

Front. Earth Sci.

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Holdfast morphologies and attachment strategies of benthic macroalgae are somewhat flexible and controlled by both the substrate condition and species. Six forms (tapered base, globose holdfast, composite globose holdfast, discoidal holdfast, rhizoids and horizontal rhizomes) of attachment structures of Ediacaran benthic macroalgae are recognized from the early Ediacaran Lantian biota and late Ediacaran Miaohe biota in South China based on functional morphology. Each form is considered either adapted to firm substrates that dominate the Precambrian seafloor, or soft substrates that are more common in the Phanerozoic. The results show a diversification in both holdfast morphology and attachment strategies of macroalgae during the Ediacaran Period. In the early Ediacaran Lantian biota, none of the benthic macroalgae is adapted to soft substrates, while in the late Ediacaran Miaohe biota, a considerable number (41%) of species are adapted to relatively soft substrates. This shift might be an adaptive response to the diversification of macroalgae and a changing substrate condition during the Ediacaran Period: the decline of microbial mats and increase of water content in the sediments in the Ediacaran.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%