Discussion and reply : the Cambrian System in Northwestern Argentina : stratigraphical and palaeontological framework Discussion

As part of the Special Issue on "Advances in the knowledge of the Cambrian System" edited by himself, Aceñolaza (2003) attempted to summarize present knowledge on the Cambrian of northwest Argentina. Althoughhe is congratulated for tackling such a complex topic, wewould like to take advantage of Geologica Acta as aforum for discussion to address some issues that remain unclear and to advance alternative ideas, providing pertinent additional literature. We will discuss these aspects by referring to the three most important stratigraphic units thatinclude Cambrian rocks in northwest Argentina, the Puncoviscana Formation, the Mesón Group and the Santa Rosita Formation. Aspects addressed are tectonic setting, stratigraphic relations, age and depositional environment. Trace fossil data included in the appendix are briefly reviewed

A novel tool to untangle the ecology and fossil preservation knot in exceptionally preserved biotas

Understanding the functioning of extinct ecosystems is a complicated knot of ecological, evolutionary, and preservational strands that must be untangled. For instance, anatomical and behavioral differences can profoundly alter fossilization pathways. This is particularly true in exceptionally preserved soft-bodied biotas that record the earliest phases of animal evolution during the Cambrian Explosion and the Ordovician Radiation. Herein, a novel method of data partitioning based on probabilistic modelling is developed to examine these processes for the Walcott Quarry, Burgess Shale, Canada (510Ma), and the Fezouata Shale, Morocco (c. 475Ma). The modelling shows that the mechanism for soft-tissue preservation in the Walcott Quarry is ecologically selective, favoring the endobenthos. This is not found in the Fezouata Shale. Taken in concert with bioturbation data, a new model of comparative preservation is developed based on sedimentary flow dynamics. This suggests that during the Cambrian Explosion and Ordovician Radiation the most exceptional fossils sites must still be calibrated against each other to understand the unfolding evolutionary events and the ecological structuring of ancient animal communities

Trilobite expansion into estuarine environments during the Ordovician radiation

Trilobites have traditionally been considered fully marine. Through the integration of ichnological, palaeobiological and sedimentological datasets within a sequence-stratigraphic and strati­graphic palaeobiology framework, we challenge this assumption. This analysis is based on the study of incised fluvio-estuarine valley deposits from the Furongian Tilcara Member (TM) and the latest Furongian Pico de Halcón Member (PHM) of the Santa Rosita Formation, the early late Tremadocian Cardonal Formation (CF), and the DapingianâDarriwilian Alto del Cóndor Formation (ACF), from Cordillera Oriental of northwest Argentina. These valleys were incised into wave-dominated shallow-marine strata and filled with transgressive deposits that accumulated in tide-dominated estuaries. Whereas the TM lacks any body or trace fossil evidence of the presence of trilobites in estuarine settings, the other three units reveal that trilobites were able to inhabit these settings. The PHM and CF are host to trilobite trace fossils in outer estuarine facies, both containing various ichnospecies of Cruziana (e.g., C. omanica and C. semiplicata in the TM) and Rusophycus (e.g., R. latus in both units). In addition, the PHM also contains body fossils of the olenid trilobite Neoparabolina frequens argentina in the same deposits in which the trace fossils are preserved, as well as from middle estuarine facies. The ACF displays trilobite trace fossils of the C. rugosa group in inner, middle, and outer estuarine deposits, illustrating further landward incursions. This unit also contains body fossils of the asaphid trilobite Ogyginus sp. Accordingly, our data indicate two attempts of landward exploration via brackish water: phase 1 in which the outer to middle portion of estuaries were colonized by olenids (Furongianâearly late Tremadocian) and phase 2 involving exploration of the inner, middle, and outer estuarine zones by asaphids (DapingianâDarriwilian). Our study indicates that these trilobites were tolerant to salinity stress and able to make use of the ecological advantages offered by marginal-marine environments migrating up-estuary, following salt wedges either reflecting amphidromy or as euryhaline marine wanderers. It is suggested that tolerance to salinity stress arose independently among different trilobite groups as a result of the broad array of behaviors and adaptations of trilobites during the Ordovician radiation. We speculate that the assumption that all trilobites were stenohaline may have resulted in the misinterpretation of some tide-dominated estuarine deposits as fully marine

Microbially induced pseudotraces from a Pantanal soda lake, Brazil : Alternative interpretations for Ediacaran simple trails and their limits

Despite the absence of metazoans, structures resembling animal traces are common in a soda lake from the western Brazil Pantanal wetland. Pantanal soda lakes are ecologically extreme environments that preclude complex life, allowing extremophiles to flourish. Direct observation indicates that these structures are pseudotraces, representing groove marks that result from the interaction of wave-transported floating rafts of epibenthic microbial mat fragments with the substrate. Variations in wind/wave direction and intensity result in marks of different size and morphology. The most common pseudotraces are simple and slightly curved, narrow grooves (type 1), whereas others are straight and present raised lateral ridges (type 2). Both are V-shaped in cross section. Type 3 comprises long, sinuous, shallow grooves, displaying internal crescentic laminated infill and U-shaped cross section. The similarity of these pseudotraces to Ediacaran structures usually interpreted as animal trace fossils suggests that care should be exercised in their analysis. A set of criteria is proposed to differentiate microbially induced pseudotraces from trace fossils. Analysis of Ediacaran structures needs to be performed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account morphology, orientation, and preservation style of the structure, sedimentary environment, and presence or absence of microbial mats.Centro de Investigaciones Geológica

Rise to modern levels of ocean oxygenation coincided with the Cambrian radiation of animals.

The early diversification of animals (∼630 Ma), and their development into both motile and macroscopic forms (∼575-565 Ma), has been linked to stepwise increases in the oxygenation of Earth's surface environment. However, establishing such a linkage between oxygen and evolution for the later Cambrian 'explosion' (540-520 Ma) of new, energy-sapping body plans and behaviours has proved more elusive. Here we present new molybdenum isotope data, which demonstrate that the areal extent of oxygenated bottom waters increased in step with the early Cambrian bioradiation of animals and eukaryotic phytoplankton. Modern-like oxygen levels characterized the ocean at ∼521 Ma for the first time in Earth history. This marks the first establishment of a key environmental factor in modern-like ecosystems, where animals benefit from, and also contribute to, the 'homeostasis' of marine redox conditions

Coupling of ocean redox and animal evolution during the Ediacaran-Cambrian transition

The late Ediacaran to early Cambrian interval witnessed extraordinary radiations of metazoan life. The role of the physical environment in this biological revolution, such as changes to oxygen levels and nutrient availability, has been the focus of longstanding debate. Seemingly contradictory data from geochemical redox proxies help to fuel this controversy. As an essential nutrient, nitrogen can help to resolve this impasse by establishing linkages between nutrient supply, ocean redox, and biological changes. Here we present a comprehensive N-isotope dataset from the Yangtze Basin that reveals remarkable coupling between δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C, and evolutionary events from circa 551 to 515 Ma. The results indicate that increased fixed nitrogen supply may have facilitated episodic animal radiations by reinforcing ocean oxygenation, and restricting anoxia to near, or even at the sediment–water interface. Conversely, sporadic ocean anoxic events interrupted ocean oxygenation, and may have led to extinctions of the Ediacaran biota and small shelly animals

Discussion and reply : the Cambrian System in Northwestern Argentina : stratigraphical and palaeontological framework Discussion

As part of the Special Issue on "Advances in the knowledge of the Cambrian System" edited by himself, Aceñolaza (2003) attempted to summarize present knowledge on the Cambrian of northwest Argentina. Althoughhe is congratulated for tackling such a complex topic, wewould like to take advantage of Geologica Acta as aforum for discussion to address some issues that remain unclear and to advance alternative ideas, providing pertinent additional literature. We will discuss these aspects by referring to the three most important stratigraphic units thatinclude Cambrian rocks in northwest Argentina, the Puncoviscana Formation, the Mesón Group and the Santa Rosita Formation. Aspects addressed are tectonic setting, stratigraphic relations, age and depositional environment. Trace fossil data included in the appendix are briefly reviewed

Disappeared almost without a trace : Taphonomic pathways and the recognition of hidden bioturbation events in Eocene storm deposits (Paují Formation, Lake Maracaibo, Venezuela)

Shallow-marine deposits, included in the “Basal Sands” of the Eocene Paují Formation of the Maracaibo Basin in western Venezuela, record deposition in fore shore to lower off shore settings. These deposits are stacked in coarsening-upward parasequences that reflect variable intensities and frequencies of storms. Of particular interest are sharp-based, amalgamated, hummocky cross-stratified and rippled, very fine-grained sandstone beds, observed in the core MOT-X from the Motatán Field. These beds record storm deposition, under purely oscillatory to combined flows in an offshore-transition setting. The amalgamated nature of the sand stone interval indicates repeated erosion, due to multiple storm events. The ichnofabrics in these tempestites result from a distinctive taphonomic pathway, reflecting the interplay between bioturbation events and storm erosion and deposition. The storm-related trace-fossil suite is represented by Diplocraterion parallelum and local occurrences of Palaeophycus tubularis, Bergaueria isp. and Thalassinoides isp., which is consistent with the relatively high energy of formation of these deposits. Fair-weather deposits are absent from the sand stone interval. However, high densities of Chondrites isp. are present in the infills of Diplocraterion parallelum and, more rarely, Thalassinoides isp. providing the sole evidence of the establishment of a resident fauna during inter-storm intervals. Deposits containing the fair-weather suites were erosionally removed during the subsequent storm. The deep-tier emplacement of Chondrites and the ability of its producer to rework other biogenic structures favour preservation, allowing recognition of a “hidden” bioturbation event that otherwise might have remained undetected

Paleoenvironmental reinterpretation of the Rio Bonito Formation (Permian, Paraná Basin) in the Iruí Coal Mine, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil: Integration of facies analysis, ichnology and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy

The Permian Rio Bonito Formation of the Parana Basin, southern Brazil, has been traditionally interpreted in terms of a fluvio-dominated deltaic model. Integration of facies analysis, ichnology, and high-resolution sequence stratigraphy suggests that this unit represents deposition in a tide-dominated, fluvio-estuarine valley system. The overlying Palermo Formation records deposition in open-marine environment

Skimming the surface with Burgess Shale arthropod locomotion

The first arthropod trackways are described from the Middle Cambrian Burgess Shale Formation of Canada. Trace fossils, including trackways, provide a rich source of biological and ecological information, including direct evidence of behaviour not commonly available from body fossils alone. The discovery of large arthropod trackways is unique for Burgess Shale-type deposits. Trackway dimensions and the requisite number of limbs are matched with the body plan of a tegopeltid arthropod. Tegopelte, one of the rarest Burgess Shale animals, is over twice the size of all other benthic arthropods known from this locality, and only its sister taxon, Saperion, from the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang biota of China, approaches a similar size. Biomechanical trackway analysis demonstrates that tegopeltids were capable of rapidly skimming across the seafloor and, in conjunction with the identification of gut diverticulae in Tegopelte, supports previous hypotheses on the locomotory capabilities and carnivorous mode of life of such arthropods. The trackways occur in the oldest part (Kicking Horse Shale Member) of the Burgess Shale Formation, which is also known for its scarce assemblage of soft-bodied organisms, and indicate at least intermittent oxygenated bottom waters and low sedimentation rates