Processes leading to exceptional soft-tissue preservation in Mazon Creek (Carboniferous) concretions: A combined palaeontological, organic and inorganic geochemical approach

This thesis used lipid biomarkers, combined with a range of multidisciplinary techniques, to characterise molecular preservation in Carboniferous fossil samples, from the renowned Mazon Creek fossil Lagerstätte. Overall, it was demonstrated that rapid encapsulation of organic matter within carbonate concretions promotes not only soft tissue fossil preservation, but the preservation of source-derived organic molecules, such as dietary cholesteroid compounds in coprolites, and fern-derived hopanoid molecules, providing important palaeoecological and organic geochemical insights

Fossil Biomarkers and Biosignatures Preserved in Coprolites Reveal Carnivorous Diets in the Carboniferous Mazon Creek Ecosystem

The reconstruction of ancient trophic networks is pivotal to our understanding of ecosystem function and change through time. However, inferring dietary relationships in enigmatic ecosystems dominated by organisms without modern analogues, such as the Carboniferous Mazon Creek fauna, has previously been considered challenging: preserved coprolites often do not retain sufficient morphology to identify the dietary composition. Here, we analysed n = 3 Mazon Creek coprolites in concretions for dietary signals in preserved biomarkers, stable carbon isotope data, and macromolecular composition. Cholesteroids, metazoan markers of cholesterol, show an increased abundance in the sampled coprolites (86 to 99% of the total steranes) compared to the surrounding sediment, indicating an endogenous nature of preserved organics. Presence of unaltered 5α-cholestan-3β-ol and coprostanol underline the exceptional molecular preservation of the coprolites, and reveal a carnivorous diet for the coprolite producer. Statistical analyses of in situ Raman spectra targeting coprolite carbonaceous remains support a metazoan affinity of the digested fossil remains, and suggest a high trophic level for the coprolite producer. These currently oldest, intact dietary stanols, combined with exquisitely preserved macromolecular biosignatures in Carboniferous fossils offer a novel source of trophic information. Molecular and biosignature preservation is facilitated by rapid sedimentary encapsulation of the coprolites within days to months after egestion

Rapid encapsulation of true ferns and arborane/fernane compounds fossilised in siderite concretions supports analytical distinction of plant fossils

Fossilised true ferns (Pecopteris sp.) preserved in siderite concretions from the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte (Illinois) presented a unique opportunity to characterise the organic signatures of these late Carboniferous plants. Localised analyses of true fern fossils showed several highly abundant phytohopanoids and fernane/arborane derived aromatic products, which were present only negligibly within their siderite matrix, as well as from other types of fossilised plants. These terpenoids had been recognised in some extant ferns, but scarcely in sedimentary organic matter and their exact source remained ambiguous. The present fossil biomarker data confirms an ancient true fern origin. Furthermore, the excellent concretion preservation of a series of related terpenoid products provided a rare insight into their diagenetic formation. The benign properties of carbonate concretions could be exploited further for biomarker evidence of other fossilised organisms, with one important caveat being that biomarker signals attributed to isolated fossils be significantly distinct from background organic matter pervading the concretion matrix. For instance, hydrocarbon profiles of seed ferns (pteridosperms) and articulates (horsetails) also preserved in Mazon Creek concretions were indistinguishable from separate analysis of their concretion matrix, preventing biomarker recognition

Significance of lignin and fungal markers in the Devonian (407 Ma) Rhynie Chert

Abstract The Rhynie Chert (Lower Devonian, Scotland) hosts a remarkably well‐preserved early terrestrial ecosystem. Organisms including plants, fungi, arthropods, and bacteria were rapidly silicified due to inundation by silica‐rich hot spring fluids. Exceptional molecular preservation has been noted by many authors, including some of the oldest evidence of lignin in the fossil record. The evolution of lignin was a critical factor in the diversification of land plants, providing structural support and defense against herbivores and microbes. However, the timing of the evolution of lignin decay processes remains unclear. Studies placing this event near the end of the Carboniferous are contradicted by evidence for fungal pathogenesis in Devonian plant fossils, including from the Rhynie Chert. We conducted organic geochemical analyses on a Rhynie Chert sample, including hydropyrolysis (HyPy) of kerogen and high‐resolution mass spectrometric mapping of a thin section, to elucidate the relationship between lignin and the potential fungal marker perylene. HyPy of kerogen showed an increase in relative abundance of perylene supporting its entrapment within the silicate matrix of the chert. Lignin monomers were isolated through an alkaline oxidation process, showing a distribution dominated by H‐type monomers. G‐ and S‐type monomers were also detected, preserved by rapid silicification. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons including perylene, a known marker for lignin‐degrading fungi, were also concentrated in the kerogen and found to be localized within silicified plant fragments. Our results strongly link perylene in the Rhynie Chert to the activity of phytopathogenic fungi, demonstrating the importance of fungal degradation processes as far back as the Early Devonian.Australian Research Council https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000923Institute for Geoscience Research https://doi.org/10.13039/50110001882

Community Visioning for Marysville, Kansas: A three-part study comprised of a housing conditions inventory, city-wide brownfield redevelopment concepts, and ideas for transforming the Union Pacific Depot site into a regional destination

The Marysville Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center and the City of Marysville collaborated with Kansas State University’s Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional & Community Planning (LARCP) and K-State’s Technical Assistance to Brownfields (TAB) for the spring and fall semesters in 2019. The intent of the collaboration was threefold: to document housing assets in the community, generate a set of strategic urban design ideas, and develop site planning alternatives for the Union Pacific Depot brownfield site. The effort was co-led by Associate Professor Blake Belanger and Assistant Professor Susmita Rishi. Professor Rishi and her students conducted a housing conditions inventory as part of PLAN650 Housing and Development Programs in the spring semester of 2019. She directed a different group of students to develop a set of urban design strategies in the fall semester of 2019 in PLAN640 Urban Design and Development Seminar. Also, during fall 2019, Professor Belanger led a group of students in LAR442 Site Research and Design Studio to develop design alternatives for the historic Union Pacific Train Depot site and adjacent parcels. Students shared their findings of PLAN640 and LAR442 in a public exhibit and open house on November 6, 2019. The agreement was mutually beneficial. Marysville leaders and decision-makers received fresh ideas, and students had the opportunity to work with external collaborators on a community engagement project. The City of Marysville funded the housing inventory during Phase 1 of the project and K-State TAB funded Phase 2 through an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Small Community Technical Assistance Grant (SCTAG) from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). In addition to the student work, Sustainable Strategies DC prepared a Resource Roadmap and TAB provided a summary of the November 6, 2019 public open house. In total, the contributors included 2 professors, 57 students, and 2 professionals

Type Ia supernova bolometric light curves and ejected mass estimates from the nearby supernova factory

We present a sample of normal type Ia supernovae from the Nearby Supernova Factory dataset with spectrophotometry at sufficiently late phases to estimate the ejected mass using the bolometric light curve. We measure $^{56}$Ni masses from the peak bolometric luminosity, then compare the luminosity in the $^{56}$Co-decay tail to the expected rate of radioactive energy re- lease from ejecta of a given mass. We infer the ejected mass in a Bayesian context using a semi-analytic model of the ejecta, incorporating constraints from contemporary numerical models as priors on the density structure and distribution of $^{56}$Ni throughout the ejecta. We find a strong correlation between ejected mass and light curve decline rate, and consequently $^{56}$Ni mass, with ejected masses in our data ranging from 0.9-1.4 $M_\odot$. Most fast-declining (SALT2 $x_1 < -1$) normal SNe Ia have significantly sub-Chandrasekhar ejected masses in our fiducial analysis.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures, accepted to MNRA

Palaeontology from Australasia and beyond: Abstracts from Palaeo Down Under 3 Perth, Western Australia, July 2023

Palaeo Down Under 3 (PDU3), the now quadrennial conference of the Australasian Palaeontologists (AAP) association, was held in Perth, Western Australia, from the 10th-14th of July 2023. PDU3 showcased innovative research, outreach and education initiatives being conducted across Australasia and beyond by both local and international scientists. A total of 78 talks, 17 posters and 6 plenaries were presented across the five days, and covered a wide range of topics, geological timeframes, and fossil groups. AAP is proud to publish this compilation of PDU3 abstracts to illustrate the current and ongoing strength of Australasian palaeontology. Sarah K. Martin [ [email protected] ], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Michael Archer [ [email protected] ], School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Heidi J. Allen [ [email protected] ], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Daniel D. Badea [ [email protected] ], Faculty of Geography and Geology, "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University, Bulevard "Carol I", Nr.11, 707006, Iași, Romania; Eleanor Beidatsch [ [email protected] ], Palaeoscience Research Centre, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Marissa J. Betts [ [email protected] ], Palaeoscience Research Centre/LLUNE, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Maria Blake [ [email protected] ], School of Earth, Atmosphere and Environment, Monash University, 9 Rainforest Walk, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Phillip C. Boan [ [email protected] ], University of California, Riverside, Geology 1242, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA 92521, U.S.A.; Tory Botha [ [email protected] ], School of Biological Sciences, Molecular Life Sciences Building, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Glenn A. Brock [ [email protected] ], School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Luke Brosnan [ [email protected] ], WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, The Institute for Geoscience Research, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Jack Castle-Jones [ [email protected] ], School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Jonathan Cramb [ [email protected] ], Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane BC, Queensland 4101, Australia; Vanesa L. De Pietri [ [email protected] ], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Sherri Donaldson [ [email protected] ], School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Grant Institute, The King's Buildings, James Hutton Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FE, Scotland, U.K.; Elizabeth M. Dowding [ [email protected] ], Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Loewenichstraße 28 91054 Erlangen, Germany; Ruairidh Duncan [ [email protected] ], Evans EvoMorph Lab, Room 226, 18 Innovation Walk, School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, Australia; Amy L. Elson [ [email protected] ], WA Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, The Institute for Geoscience Research, School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Building 500, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Roy M. Farman [ [email protected] ], School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia; Mahala A. Fergusen [ [email protected] ], School of Biological Sciences, Benham Building, North Terrace Campus, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia; Alyssa Fjeld [ [email protected] ], School of Biological Sciences, 18 Innovation Walk, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3800, and School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia; David Flannery [ [email protected] ], School of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane, Queensland 4000, Australia; Timothy G. Frauenfelder [ [email protected] ], University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; John D. Gorter [ [email protected] ], PO Box 711, Claremont, Western Australia 6910, Australia; Michelle Gray [ [email protected] ], School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria 3216, Australia; Nigel Gray [ [email protected] ], GPO Box 2902, Brisbane, Queensland 4001, Australia; Peter Haines [ [email protected] ], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Lachlan J. Hart [ [email protected] ], Australian Museum Research Institute, 1 William Street, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Brooke E. Holland [ [email protected] ], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; James D. Holmes [ [email protected] ], Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden; Lars Holmer [ [email protected] ], Department of Earth Sciences, Palaeobiology, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, Uppsala 752 36, Sweden; Ashleigh V.S. Hood [ [email protected] ], School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia; Alexey P. Ippolitov [ [email protected]] , School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences, Victoria University of Wellington | Te Herenga Waka, 21 Kelburn Parade, Wellington 6012, New Zealand; Christine M. Janis [ [email protected] ], Bristol Palaeobiology Group, School of Earth Sciences, University of Bristol, Wills Memorial Building, Bristol, BS8 1RJ, U.K.; Benjamin P. Kear [ [email protected] ], The Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden; Sophie Kelly [ [email protected] ], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; Justin L. Kitchener [ [email protected] ], School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; John R. Laurie [ [email protected] ], Geoscience Australia, Symonston, Australian Capital Territory 2601, and School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia; Lucy G. Leahey [ [email protected] ], The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; John A. Long [ [email protected] ], College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, PO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Daniel Mantle [ [email protected] ], MGPalaeo, Unit 1, 5 Arvida Street, Malaga, Western Australia 6090, Australia; David McB. Martin [ [email protected] ], Geological Survey of Western Australia, Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, 100 Plain St, East Perth, Western Australia 6004, Australia; Chris Mays [ [email protected] ], School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, Environmental Research Institute, University College Cork, Distillery Fields, Cork T23 N73K, Ireland; Matthew R. McCurry [ [email protected] ], Australian Museum, 1 William St, Sydney, New South Wales 2010, Australia; Peter McGoldrick [ [email protected] ], CODES, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 66, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; Corinne L. Mensforth [ [email protected] ], Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia; Rhys D. Meyerkort [ [email protected] ], University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Hwy, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia; Christina Nielsen-Smith [ [email protected] ], School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia; Ryan Nel [ [email protected] ], Geology Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa; Jake Newman-Martin [ [email protected] ], Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Yeongju Oh [ [email protected] ], Division of Earth Sciences, Korea Polar Research Institute, 26 Songdomirae-ro, Yeonsu-gu, 21990 Incheon, Republic of Korea, and Polar Science, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea; John R. Paterson [ [email protected] ], Palaeoscience Research Centre, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales 2351, Australia; Jacob Pears [ [email protected] ], School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Stephen F. Poropat [ [email protected] ], Western Australian Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre, School of Earth and Planetary Science, Curtin University, Kent St, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, and Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Queensland 4735, Australia; Catherine M. Reid [ [email protected] ], School of Earth and Environment, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand; R. Pamela Reid [ [email protected] ], Department of Marine Geosciences, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, U.S.A., and Bahamas Marine EcoCentre, Miami, FL 3315