Dead, fossil or alive: Bioapatite diagenesis and fossilization

Ferretti, Annalisa; Medici, Luca; Savioli, Martina; Mascia, Maria Teresa; Malferrari, Daniele

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2021.110608

Cited by 12 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…It has been used successfully in modern environments and, even though the impact of bioapatite diagenesis ( e.g . Ferretti et al, 2021 ) on the preservation of this proxy has not been investigated so far, it yields consistent results in fossil hypermineralized tissues ( e.g . Balter et al, 2002 ; Sponheimer et al, 2005 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts

Leonhard

Shirley

Murdock

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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Conodonts were the first vertebrates to develop mineralized dental tools, known as elements. Recent research suggests that conodonts were macrophagous predators and/or scavengers but we do not know how this feeding habit emerged in the earliest coniform conodonts, since most studies focus on the derived, ‘complex’ conodonts. Previous modelling of element position and mechanical properties indicate they were capable of food processing. A direct test would be provided through evidence of in vivo element crown tissue damage or through in vivo incorporated chemical proxies for a shift in their trophic position during ontogeny. Here we focus on coniform elements from two conodont taxa, the phylogenetically primitive Proconodontus muelleri Miller, 1969 from the late Cambrian and the more derived Panderodus equicostatus Rhodes, 1954 from the Silurian. Proposing that this extremely small sample is, however, representative for these taxa, we aim to describe in detail the growth of an element from each of these taxa in order to the test the following hypotheses: (1) Panderodus and Proconodontus processed hard food, which led to damage of their elements consistent with prey capture function; and (2) both genera shifted towards higher trophic levels during ontogeny. We employed backscatter electron (BSE) imaging, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and synchrotron radiation X-ray tomographic microscopy (SRXTM) to identify growth increments, wear and damage surfaces, and the Sr/Ca ratio in bioapatite as a proxy for the trophic position. Using these data, we can identify whether they exhibit determinate or indeterminate growth and whether both species followed linear or allometric growth dynamics. Growth increments (27 in Pa. equicostatus and 58 in Pr. muelleri) were formed in bundles of 4–7 increments in Pa. equicostatus and 7–9 in Pr. muelleri. We interpret the bundles as analogous to Retzius periodicity in vertebrate teeth. Based on applied optimal resource allocation models, internal periodicity might explain indeterminate growth in both species. They also allow us to interpret the almost linear growth of both individuals as an indicator that there was no size-dependent increase in mortality in the ecosystems where they lived e.g., as would be the case in the presence of larger predators. Our findings show that periodic growth was present in early conodonts and preceded tissue repair in response to wear and damage. We found no microwear and the Sr/Ca ratio, and therefore the trophic position, did not change substantially during the lifetimes of either individual. Trophic ecology of coniform conodonts differed from the predatory and/or scavenger lifestyle documented for “complex” conodonts. We propose that conodonts adapted their life histories to top-down controlled ecosystems during the Nekton Revolution.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 85%

Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts

Leonhard

Shirley

Murdock

et al. 2021

PeerJ

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“…Post-mortem, during the diagenesis, the biogenic phosphatic matter chemically evolves toward CAF-apatite composition through various substitutions, together with an increase in crystallite size and formation of authigenic apatite phases (Trappe 1998). However, such alteration pathways are still only fragmentally understood (Ferretti et al 2021).The shelly phosphorites found in northern Estonia were deposited during the Cambrian-Ordovician transition in the coastal zone of a shallow, epicontinental sea (Heinsalu and Viira 1997;Nielsen and Schovsbo 2011). They belong to the Kallavere Formation, which spreads over most of northern Estonia and parts of the Leningrad region in northwestern Russia (Fig.…”

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confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Early diagenetic transformation stages revealed by micro-analytical studies of shelly phosphorites, Rakvere region

Graul¹,

Kallaste²,

Moilanen³

et al. 2023

EJES

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In sedimentary phosphorites, P 2 O 5 can occur in several forms, such as fossilised bones, nodules, or other biochemogenic phosphates (Godet and Föllmi 2021). The precipitation of biochemogenic phosphates in marine sediments is restricted to the transition zone between oxic and suboxic environments close to the sediment-water interface. The most common phosphate encountered belongs to the apatite mineral group, with cryptocrystalline carbonate fluorapatite (CAF-apatite), also referred to as 'francolite', dominating in the occurrence of cryptocrystalline grains (Lécuyer et al. 1998;Ptáček 2016). Francolites are non-stoichiometric minerals with the generalised formula (Ca 10-a-b Na a Mg b (PO 4 ) 6-x(CO 3 ) x-y-z (CO 3 ,F) y (SO 4 ) z F 2 ) and numerous structural and chemical variations. Chemical substitutions can occur in all its lattice sites (the two Ca 2+ sites, PO 4 3− and F − ) (McLennan 2001;Veiderma et al. 2005). Bioapatites, another sedimentary apatite source, originate from phosphate biomineralisation of the hard skeleton of vertebrates and some invertebrates. For the precipitation of vertebrate bones and teeth, the nucleation by proteins and macromolecular matrices provides casts that control crystal growth. Such processes presumably also control the segregation of the skeleton of invertebrates (Trappe 1998). In inarticulate brachiopods, direct biomineralisation occurs as precipitation of phosphate to stabilise the exoskeletons. Their shells are initially composed of hard tissues, amorphous hydrogels, phosphate precipitates, and organic matter (Lowenstam and Weiner 1989). Post-mortem, during the diagenesis, the biogenic phosphatic matter chemically evolves toward CAF-apatite composition through various substitutions, together with an increase in crystallite size and formation of authigenic apatite phases (Trappe 1998). However, such alteration pathways are still only fragmentally understood (Ferretti et al. 2021).The shelly phosphorites found in northern Estonia were deposited during the Cambrian-Ordovician transition in the coastal zone of a shallow, epicontinental sea (Heinsalu and Viira 1997;Nielsen and Schovsbo 2011). They belong to the Kallavere Formation, which spreads over most of northern Estonia and parts of the Leningrad region in northwestern Russia (Fig. 1; Kaljo et al. 1988). The Kallavere Formation in the study area has low thermal maturity. It exhibits no evidence of hydrothermal influence due to overall tectonic stability and shallow burial of the region (Kirsimäe

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Effects of pre‐treatment, historical age, and sample characteristics on the stable isotope analyses of killer whale (Orcinus orca) bone

Bowen,

Kurle

2024

Rapid Comm Mass Spectrometry

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RationaleStable isotope analysis of bone provides insight into animal foraging and allows for ecological reconstructions over time, however pre‐treatment is required to isolate collagen. Pre‐treatments typically consist of demineralization to remove inorganic components and/or lipid extraction to remove fats, but these protocols can differentially affect stable carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotope values depending on the chemicals, tissues, and/or species involved. Species‐specific methodologies create a standard for comparability across studies and enhance understanding of collagen isolation from modern cetacean bone.MethodsElemental analyzers coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometers were used to measure the δ13C and δ15N values of powdered killer whale (Orcinus orca) bone that was intact (control) or subjected to one of three experimental conditions: demineralized, lipid‐extracted, and both demineralized and lipid‐extracted. Additionally, C:N ratios were evaluated as a proxy for collagen purity. Lastly, correlations were examined between control C:N ratios vs. historical age and control C:N ratios vs. sample characteristics.ResultsNo significant differences in the δ15N values were observed for any of the experimental protocols. However, the δ13C values were significantly increased by all three experimental protocols: demineralization, lipid extraction, and both treatments combined. The most influential protocol was both demineralization and lipid extraction. Measures of the C:N ratios were also significantly lowered by demineralization and both treatments combined, indicating the material was closer to pure collagen after the treatments. Collagen purity as indicated via C:N ratio was not correlated with historical age nor sample characteristics.ConclusionsIf only the δ15N values from killer whale bone are of interest for analysis, no pre‐treatment seems necessary. If the δ13C values are of interest, samples should be both demineralized and lipid‐extracted. As historical age and specimen characteristics are not correlated with sample contamination, all samples can be treated equally.

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Dead, fossil or alive: Bioapatite diagenesis and fossilization

Cited by 12 publications

References 41 publications

Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts

Growth and feeding ecology of coniform conodonts

Early diagenetic transformation stages revealed by micro-analytical studies of shelly phosphorites, Rakvere region

Effects of pre‐treatment, historical age, and sample characteristics on the stable isotope analyses of killer whale (Orcinus orca) bone

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