Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa
Abstract Fossils from the deep-sea Ediacaran biotas of Newfoundland are among the oldest architecturally complex soft-bodied macroorganisms on Earth. Most organisms in the Mistaken Point–type biotas of Avalonia—particularly the fractal-branching frondose Rangeomorpha— have been traditionally interpr...
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Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2023
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Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.2 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0094837323000027 |
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/pab.2023.2 2024-09-30T14:38:56+00:00 Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa Pérez-Pinedo, Daniel Neville, Jenna M. Pasinetti, Giovanni McKean, Christopher Taylor, Rod McIlroy, Duncan 2023 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.2 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0094837323000027 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Paleobiology volume 49, issue 3, page 471-492 ISSN 0094-8373 1938-5331 journal-article 2023 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.2 2024-09-04T04:04:27Z Abstract Fossils from the deep-sea Ediacaran biotas of Newfoundland are among the oldest architecturally complex soft-bodied macroorganisms on Earth. Most organisms in the Mistaken Point–type biotas of Avalonia—particularly the fractal-branching frondose Rangeomorpha— have been traditionally interpreted as living erect within the water column during life. However, due to the scarcity of documented physical sedimentological proxies associated with fossiliferous beds, Ediacaran paleocurrents have been inferred in some instances from the preferential orientation of fronds. This calls into question the relationship between frond orientation and paleocurrents. In this study, we present an integrated approach from a newly described fossiliferous surface (the “Melrose Surface” in the Fermeuse Formation at Melrose, on the southern portion of the Catalina Dome in the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark) combining: (1) physical sedimentological evidence for paleocurrent direction in the form of climbing ripple cross-lamination and (2) a series of statistical analyses based on modified polythetic and monothetic clustering techniques reflecting the circular nature of the recorded orientation of Fractofusus misrai specimens. This study demonstrates the reclining rheotropic mode of life of the Ediacaran rangeomorph taxon Fractofusus misrai and presents preliminary inferences suggesting a similar mode of life for Bradgatia sp. and Pectinifrons abyssalis based on qualitative evidence. These results advocate for the consideration of an alternative conceptual hypothesis for position of life of Ediacaran organisms in which they are interpreted as having lived reclined on the seafloor, in the position that they are preserved. Article in Journal/Newspaper Newfoundland Cambridge University Press Catalina ENVELOPE(-59.633,-59.633,-62.333,-62.333) Mistaken Point ENVELOPE(-55.774,-55.774,53.478,53.478) Paleobiology 1 22 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract Fossils from the deep-sea Ediacaran biotas of Newfoundland are among the oldest architecturally complex soft-bodied macroorganisms on Earth. Most organisms in the Mistaken Point–type biotas of Avalonia—particularly the fractal-branching frondose Rangeomorpha— have been traditionally interpreted as living erect within the water column during life. However, due to the scarcity of documented physical sedimentological proxies associated with fossiliferous beds, Ediacaran paleocurrents have been inferred in some instances from the preferential orientation of fronds. This calls into question the relationship between frond orientation and paleocurrents. In this study, we present an integrated approach from a newly described fossiliferous surface (the “Melrose Surface” in the Fermeuse Formation at Melrose, on the southern portion of the Catalina Dome in the Discovery UNESCO Global Geopark) combining: (1) physical sedimentological evidence for paleocurrent direction in the form of climbing ripple cross-lamination and (2) a series of statistical analyses based on modified polythetic and monothetic clustering techniques reflecting the circular nature of the recorded orientation of Fractofusus misrai specimens. This study demonstrates the reclining rheotropic mode of life of the Ediacaran rangeomorph taxon Fractofusus misrai and presents preliminary inferences suggesting a similar mode of life for Bradgatia sp. and Pectinifrons abyssalis based on qualitative evidence. These results advocate for the consideration of an alternative conceptual hypothesis for position of life of Ediacaran organisms in which they are interpreted as having lived reclined on the seafloor, in the position that they are preserved. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Pérez-Pinedo, Daniel Neville, Jenna M. Pasinetti, Giovanni McKean, Christopher Taylor, Rod McIlroy, Duncan |
spellingShingle |
Pérez-Pinedo, Daniel Neville, Jenna M. Pasinetti, Giovanni McKean, Christopher Taylor, Rod McIlroy, Duncan Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
author_facet |
Pérez-Pinedo, Daniel Neville, Jenna M. Pasinetti, Giovanni McKean, Christopher Taylor, Rod McIlroy, Duncan |
author_sort |
Pérez-Pinedo, Daniel |
title |
Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
title_short |
Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
title_full |
Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
title_fullStr |
Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
title_full_unstemmed |
Frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several Ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
title_sort |
frond orientations with independent current indicators demonstrate the reclining rheotropic mode of life of several ediacaran rangeomorph taxa |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.2 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0094837323000027 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-59.633,-59.633,-62.333,-62.333) ENVELOPE(-55.774,-55.774,53.478,53.478) |
geographic |
Catalina Mistaken Point |
geographic_facet |
Catalina Mistaken Point |
genre |
Newfoundland |
genre_facet |
Newfoundland |
op_source |
Paleobiology volume 49, issue 3, page 471-492 ISSN 0094-8373 1938-5331 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/pab.2023.2 |
container_title |
Paleobiology |
container_start_page |
1 |
op_container_end_page |
22 |
_version_ |
1811641511768489984 |