Microbial mats in the terrestrial Lower Triassic of North China and implications for the Permian–Triassic mass extinction

Chu, Daoliang; Tong, Jinnan; Bottjer, David J.; Song, Haijun; Song, Huyue; Benton, Michael J.; Tian, Li; Guo, Wenwei

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.06.013

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…A similar discrete, depth occurrence is seen for microbial mat occurrences in the Neoproterozoic which was favored at shallow water depths (i.e., in the photic zone) in siliciclastic settings where episodic influx of sand and finer sediment favored growth and then burial of mats (Noffke et al, 2002). Davies et al (2016) have argued that the reported prevalence of microbial surfaces in the Early Triassic (e.g., Pruss et al, 2004;Chu et al, 2017) is an artifact of over-sampling from this interval, and that they are probably a mundane facet of Phanerozoic conditions. They supported their contention with a survey that highlighted many MISS occurrences.…”

Section: Controls Of Miss Occurrences In the Early Triassicmentioning

confidence: 57%

Controls on the formation of microbially induced sedimentary structures and biotic recovery in the Lower Triassic of Arctic Canada

et al. 2019

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Microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) are reportedly widespread in the Early Triassic and their occurrence is attributed to either the extinction of marine grazers (allowing mat preservation) during the Permo-Triassic mass extinction or the suppression of grazing due to harsh, oxygenpoor conditions in its aftermath. Here we report on the abundant occurrence of MISS in the Lower Triassic Blind Fiord Formation of the Sverdrup Basin, Arctic Canada. Sedimentological analysis shows that mid-shelf settings were dominated by deposition from cohesive sand-mud flows that produced heterolithic, rippled sandstone facies that pass down dip into laminated siltstones and ultimately basinal mudrocks. The absence of storm beds and any other "event beds" points to an unusual climatic regime of humid, quiet conditions characterized by near continuous run off. Geochemical proxies for oxygenation (Mo/Al, Th/U, and pyrite framboid analysis) indicate that lower dysoxic conditions prevailed in the basin for much of the Early Triassic. The resultant lack of bioturbation allowed the development and preservation of MISS, including wrinkle structures and bubble textures. The microbial mats responsible for these structures are envisaged to have thrived, on sandy substrates, within the photic zone, in oxygen-poor conditions. The dysoxic history was punctuated by betteroxygenated phases, which coincide with the loss of MISS. Thus, Permo-Triassic boundary and Griesbachian mudrocks from the deepest-water settings have common benthos and a well-developed, tiered burrow profile dominated by Phycosiphon. The presence of the intense burrowing in the earliest Triassic contradicts the notion that bioturbation was severely suppressed at this time due to extinction losses at the end of the Permian. The notion that Early Triassic MISS preservation was caused by the extinction of mat grazers is not tenable.

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Section: Controls Of Miss Occurrences In the Early Triassicmentioning

confidence: 57%

Controls on the formation of microbially induced sedimentary structures and biotic recovery in the Lower Triassic of Arctic Canada

et al. 2019

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“…They are found over a large palaeogeographic range, including the deep-sea (Buatois & Mángano, 2003;Flood, Bailey, & Biddle, 2014), shallow marine (Banerjee & Jeevankumar, 2005;Banerjee et al, 2014;Buatois, Narbonne, Mángano, Carmona, & Myrow, 2014;Hagadorn & Bottjer, 1997;Mata & Bottjer, 2009;Sarkar, Banerjee, Samanta, & Jeevankumar, 2006;Sarkar, Choudhuri, Mandal, & Eriksson, 2016;Sarkar et al, 2014;Yang, Chen, & Fang, 2017), fluvial and lacustrine (Chu et al, 2015(Chu et al, , 2017, and even continental environments (Simpson et al, 2013). They are found over a large palaeogeographic range, including the deep-sea (Buatois & Mángano, 2003;Flood, Bailey, & Biddle, 2014), shallow marine (Banerjee & Jeevankumar, 2005;Banerjee et al, 2014;Buatois, Narbonne, Mángano, Carmona, & Myrow, 2014;Hagadorn & Bottjer, 1997;Mata & Bottjer, 2009;Sarkar, Banerjee, Samanta, & Jeevankumar, 2006;Sarkar, Choudhuri, Mandal, & Eriksson, 2016;Sarkar et al, 2014;Yang, Chen, & Fang, 2017), fluvial and lacustrine (Chu et al, 2015(Chu et al, , 2017, and even continental environments (Simpson et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Microbial shrinkage caused by a period of subaerial exposition, is also a possibility (e.g., Chu et al, 2017;Kovalchuk, Owttrim, Konhauser, & Gingras, 2017), although the surface morphologies and microtextures are not consistent with this process. However, no microscopic features were described until now.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wrinkle structures are one of the most common sedimentary features related to microbial mats. They are found over a large palaeogeographic range, including the deep-sea (Buatois & Mángano, 2003;Flood, Bailey, & Biddle, 2014), shallow marine (Banerjee & Jeevankumar, 2005;Banerjee et al, 2014;Buatois, Narbonne, Mángano, Carmona, & Myrow, 2014;Hagadorn & Bottjer, 1997;Mata & Bottjer, 2009;Sarkar, Banerjee, Samanta, & Jeevankumar, 2006;Sarkar, Choudhuri, Mandal, & Eriksson, 2016;Sarkar et al, 2014;Yang, Chen, & Fang, 2017), fluvial and lacustrine (Chu et al, 2015(Chu et al, , 2017, and even continental environments (Simpson et al, 2013). Some researchers claimed that relative microbial community growth correlates to with irregular surface of wrinkle structures (Banerjee & Jeevankumar, 2005;Hagadorn & Bottjer, 1997;Sarkar et al, 2006Sarkar et al, , 2014.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Taking microtextures into account, it seems unlikely that bacterial orientation is capable of mobilizing large amount of sediments to form ridges. Microbial shrinkage caused by a period of subaerial exposition, is also a possibility (e.g., Chu et al, 2017;Kovalchuk, Owttrim, Konhauser, & Gingras, 2017), although the surface morphologies and microtextures are not consistent with this process. Also, dilational strain on a mildly dipping sediment surface could explain these features, but their orientations are irregular and their distributions are sporadic.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Unusual microbial mat‐related structural diversity 2.1 billion years ago and implications for the Francevillian biota

et al. 2018

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The 2.1-billion-year-old (Ga) Francevillian series in Gabon hosts some of the oldest reported macroscopic fossils of various sizes and shapes, stimulating new debates on the origin, evolution and organization of early complex life. Here, we document ten representative types of exceptionally well-preserved mat-related structures, comprising "elephant-skin" textures, putative macro-tufted microbial mats, domal buildups, flat pyritized structures, discoidal microbial colonies, horizontal mat growth patterns, wrinkle structures, "kinneyia" structures, linear patterns and nodule-like structures. A combination of petrographic analyses, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and organic elemental analyses of carbon-rich laminae and microtexture, indicate a biological origin for these structures. The observed microtextures encompass oriented grains, floating silt-sized quartz grains, concentrated heavy minerals, randomly oriented clays, wavy-crinkly laminae and pyritized structures. Based on comparisons with modern analogues, as well as an average δ C organic matter (C ) composition of -32.94 ± 1.17‰ (1 standard deviation, SD) with an outlier of -41.26‰, we argue that the mat-related structures contain relicts of multiple carbon pathways including heterotrophic recycling of photosynthetically derived C . Moreover, the relatively close association of the macroscopic fossil assemblages to the microbial mats may imply that microbial communities acted as potential benthic O oases linked to oxyphototrophic cyanobacterial mats and grazing grounds. In addition, the mat's presence likely improved the preservation of the oldest large colonial organisms, as they are known to strongly biostabilize sediments. Our findings highlight the oldest community assemblage of microscopic and macroscopic biota in the aftermath of the "Great Oxidation Event," widening our understanding of biological organization during Earth's middle age.

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Microbially induced sedimentary structures from the Xinji Formation (Cambrian Series 2), Western Henan, North China

et al. 2021

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Abundant well-preserved microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) are exposed in the Xinji Formation, the earliest Cambrian sedimentary unit in North China. The MISS herein are categorized into microbial mat growth structure (wrinkle structures and mat biolaminites) and microbial mat destruction structure (sand cracks and 'Manchuriophycus' structures). The MISS developed on the surface of thick quartz sandstones, as well as the lithologic interface between thin sandstone and mudstone. Most of the sand cracks lack the direct evidence of microbial activities, whereas the mat biolaminites that consist of filamentous mica, clay minerals, and quartz grains may record the in situ microbial mats. The Xinji Formation deposited along with the Cambrian explosion when biodiversity and abundance of metazoan stayed relatively low. Besides, the intermittently exposed tidal flats are not the ideal place for early life, which exacerbated the ecological vacuum therein. The massive occurrence of the MISS in the siliciclastic rocks of the Xinji Formation indicated that the tidal flat setting during this period was still beneficial for accumulations of microbial mat because of the deficient grazing metazoans and weak bioturbation.

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Microbial mats in the terrestrial Lower Triassic of North China and implications for the Permian–Triassic mass extinction

Abstract: General rightsThis document is made available in accordance with publisher policies. Please cite only the published version using the reference above.

Cited by 34 publications

References 105 publications

Controls on the formation of microbially induced sedimentary structures and biotic recovery in the Lower Triassic of Arctic Canada

Controls on the formation of microbially induced sedimentary structures and biotic recovery in the Lower Triassic of Arctic Canada

Unusual microbial mat‐related structural diversity 2.1 billion years ago and implications for the Francevillian biota

Microbially induced sedimentary structures from the Xinji Formation (Cambrian Series 2), Western Henan, North China

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