Calcium phosphate preservation of faecal bacterial negative moulds in hyaena coprolites

Pesquero, María Dolores

doi:10.4202/app.2012.0067

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(21 reference statements)

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“…This coating corresponds to the mineralised outer layer present on the Skara Brae coprolites. As first suggested by Bradley (1946), and confirmed by recent studies (Hollocher et al 2010;Pesquero et al 2014), calcium phosphate and other bone mineral content in coprolites contributes to their long-term preservation. The only intact Skara Brae coprolite without such a coating still contained bone, but a smaller amount than the other three finds.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae

Romaniuk

Panciroli

Buckley

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Coprolites (fossilized faeces) can provide valuable insights into species’ diet and related habits. In archaeozoological contexts, they are a potential source of information on human-animal interactions as well as human and animal subsistence. However, despite a broad discussion on coprolites in archaeology, such finds are rarely subject to detailed examination by researchers, perhaps due to the destructive nature of traditional analytical methods. Here, we have examined coprolitic remains from the Neolithic (third millennium BCE) settlement at Skara Brae, Orkney, using a range of modern methods: X-ray computed tomography, scanning electron microscopy, lipid and protein analysis (shotgun proteomics of the coprolite matrix as well as collagen peptide mass fingerprinting of isolated bone fragments). This combined approach minimised destructiveness of sampling, leaving sufficient material for subsequent study, while providing more information than traditional morphological examination alone. Based on gross visual examination, coprolites were predominantly attributed to domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), with morphologically identified bone inclusions derived from domestic sheep (Ovis aries) and common voles (Microtus arvalis). Partial dissection of a coprolite provided bone samples containing protein markers akin to those of domestic sheep. Considering the predominance of vertebral and distal limb bone fragments, Skara Brae dogs were probably consuming human butchery or meal refuse, either routinely fed to them or scavenged. The presumably opportunistic consumption of rodents may also have played a role in pest control.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 56%

Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae

Romaniuk

Panciroli

Buckley

et al. 2020

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…The presence of pseudomorphs after bacteria in coprolites has been noted several times, for example from the Miocene (Pesquero et al . ), Palaeogene (Meng & Wyss ), Cretaceous (Hollocher et al . , ; Mahaney et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbiota and food residues including possible evidence of pre-mammalian hair in Upper Permian coprolites from Russia

Bajdek¹,

Qvarnström

Owocki

et al. 2016

LET

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Coprolites (fossil faeces) provide direct evidence on the diet of its producer and unique insights on ancient food webs and ecosystems. We describe the contents of seven coprolites, collected from the Late Permian Vyazniki site of the European part of Russia. Two coprolite morphotypes (A, B) contain remains of putative bacteria, cyanobacteria, fungi, protists, invertebrate eggs, arthropod elements, undigested bone and tooth fragments, fish scales and elongated hair-like structures with hollow interiors. Content, size and shape of the coprolites together with the associated body fossil record suggest that the most probable scat-producers were carnivorous tetrapods; the bone-rich morphotype A reveals short food retention time and a fast metabolism and is therefore assigned to therapsid carnivores whereas morphotype B with rarer and degraded bones are assigned to archosauromorphs or other non-therapsid carnivores. The general coprolite matrix contains abundant micron-sized spheres and thin-walled vesicles which are interpreted as oxide and phosphatic pseudomorphs after microbial cells. From analyses of the undigested bones, we infer that they represent remains of actinopterygian fish, a therapsid and unrecognizable parts of amphibians and/or reptiles. Additionally, hair-like structures found in one coprolite specimen occur as diagenetically altered (oxide-replaced) structures and moulds (or partly as pseudomorphs) in a microcrystalline carbonate-fluoride-bearing calcium phosphate. This suggests that the latest Permian therapsids probably were equipped with hair-like integument or hairsuit. If true, this is by far the oldest evidence of this mammalian character in the stem group of mammals. □ Coprolites, food residues, hair-like structures, Late Permian, microbial structures. Piotr Bajdek [piotr.bajdek@gmail.com], Aleja Naj swie z tszej Maryi Panny 20/20A 42-200 Cze z stochowa, Poland; Martin Qvarnstr€ om [martin.qvarnstrom@ebc.uu.se], Grzegorz Nied zwiedzki [grzegorz.niedzwiedzki@ebc.uu.se],

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“…Spherical objects around 1.5 µm in diameter are present, which are interpreted as pseudomorphs after bacteria ( Fig. 6D; Pesquero et al, 2014).…”

Section: Morphotype M3mentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

Dentzien‐Dias

Carrillo-Briceño

Francischini

et al. 2018

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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Coprolites (fossil feces) provide important paleoecological information, such as diet of the producer, parasite infestation and gut microbiota, which cannot be accessed through body remains. The Late Miocene Urumaco Formation, in western Venezuela, has a diverse vertebrate fauna composed of ground sloths, rodents, reptiles, fishes and amphibians, as well as coprolites. Here we describe 106 coprolites produced by a range of carnivorous and herbivorous vertebrates, classified into five different morphotypes based on their size and shape, suggesting different producers. Herbivorous morphotypes (M1, M2 and M5) are the most abundant (59%). The most common inclusions in these coprolites are Poacea remains, although Eudicotyledoneae fragments, bacteria and cyanobacteria filaments were also found. The M1 morphotype is a bullet shape with longitudinal grooves; the M2 morphotype is round to oval, with at least one distinctive tapered end; and the M5 morphotype is a short cylinder with a rough surface, and rounded ends. In contrast, the morphotypes M3 and M4 are attributed by us to carnivores and have different inclusions. While M3 is a large cylinder with rounded ends and contains bacteria, nematode eggs and phytoliths, M4 is sausage-shaped and has muscle cells preserved inside. Based on the co-occurring fauna and the morphology of the coprolites, the probable producers were inferred as the following: M1, a rodent; M2, a notoungulate; M3, a crocodilian; M4, an indeterminate carnivore; and M5, a sirenian. The preservation of herbivorous and carnivorous coprolites with bacterial, parasitological and muscle remains in the same formation and even the same outcrop is rare in the geological record. This unique association and preservation suggests early lithification promoted by rapid burial, although the presence of the boring trace Gastrochaenolites in a single specimen indicates some degree of time-averaging.

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Calcium phosphate preservation of faecal bacterial negative moulds in hyaena coprolites

Abstract: The vertebrate fossil locality of La Roma 2, Spain (Upper Miocene,

Cited by 15 publications

References 30 publications

Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae

Combined visual and biochemical analyses confirm depositor and diet for Neolithic coprolites from Skara Brae

Microbiota and food residues including possible evidence of pre-mammalian hair in Upper Permian coprolites from Russia

Paleoecological and taphonomical aspects of the Late Miocene vertebrate coprolites (Urumaco Formation) of Venezuela

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