The paleoenvironmental distribution of Phanerozoic wrinkle structures

Biodiversity and taphonomy of the Early Cambrian Guanshan biota, eastern Yunnan

“…The presence of photosynthetic green algae in the Guanshan biota indicates that the basin is within the photic zone with water depth less than 100 m. Recent studies [23] show that cyanobacteria-induced wrinkle structures are restricted primarily to offshore transition and tidal flats. Common graded siltstone with directional sole marks in the Wulongqing Formation indicates that the basin is influenced by storms, suggesting the basin is on an offshore transition between fair-weather wave base and storm wave base, with a water depth about 40-50 m [24,25].…”

Microbial proliferation coinciding with volcanism during the Permian–Triassic transition: New, direct evidence from volcanic ashes, South China

“…Previous studies have pointed out that increased temperatures, decreased oxygen contents, and enhanced organic inputs, could dramatically reduce the dissolved O 2 levels and result in hypoxic/anoxic environments (Chu et al, 2015;Yu et al, 2015). Cyanobacterial blooms have been recently reported in a hypoxic and warm lagoon from Venezuela (Gingras et al, 2011), suggesting that cyanobacteria can thrive in inhospitable terrestrial settings, even under conditions of extreme temperature, salinity, and low oxygen, only if the sunlight were sufficient (Jiang et al, 2008;Mata and Bottjer, 2009b). It is noteworthy that cyanobacteria and SRB are not necessarily opposite products, but can coexist in many cases (e.g.…”

“…Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microbes, and are one of the most commonly reported microbial types in the PTB biosediments (Kershaw et al, 2012;Kershaw, 2015). However, they are restricted to shallow-water photic zone with enough nutrient availability, because this setting affords sufficient light to photosynthesize and generate fix carbon and adenosine triphophste (ATP) (Mata and Bottjer, 2009b;She et al, 2013). The inference that the microbial textures from the deep-water sections were formed due to cyanobacteria activities, could thus be readily denied.…”

“…Of all microbialites, stromatolites and MISS are the most common forms (Noffke et al, 2003;Mata and Bottjer, 2009a;Noffke and Awramik, 2013). Stromatolites form primarily in carbonate-dominated environments, whereas MISS occur mainly in siliciclastic settings, where translucent and clean quartz sands deposit (Noffke et al, 2003;Mata and Bottjer, 2009b). Both microbialites have microbial mats as the principle constructors, and the microbial mats are defined as carpet-like layers that consist of trillions of microorganisms plus their EPS (Noffke and Awramik, 2013).…”

Lower Triassic anachronistic facies capping the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau seamount: Implications for the extension of extraordinary oceanic conditions deep into the interior Tethys Ocean

“…However, these special carbonate deposits are frequently widespread in the aftermath of several major Phanerozoic mass extinctions (Sepkoski et al, 1991;Whalen et al, 2002;Sheehan and Harris, 2004), and are particularly well-known in the wake of the Permian-Triassic mass extinction (e.g., Pruss et al, 2005;Woods, 2009Woods, , 2013. Examples of anachronistic facies include thrombolites, stromatolites, unusually large ooids, flat pebble conglomerates, and vermicular limestones (e.g., Pruss et al, 2004;Wang et al, 2005;Baud et al, 2007;Kershaw et al, 2007;Mata and Bottjer, 2009;Li et al, 2013;Woods et al, 1999;Woods, 2013;Wu et al, 2014).…”