Northernmost (Subarctic) and deepest record of Paleodictyon: paleoecological and biological implications

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Míguez Salas, Olmo, Rodríguez Tovar, Francisco J.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Nature 2023
• Subjects: Margarita; Salas; Subarctic
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10481/82827; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34050-w

The data were collected in the framework of the AleutBio project of BMBF grant 03G0293A to Prof. Dr. Angelika Brandt, Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum Frankfurt, Germany. The research of O. Miguez-Salas was funded by a Humboldt Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Humboldt Foundation and a Margarita Salas Fellowship from the Ministry of Spain and EU Next Generations projects. The research of F.J. Rodríguez-Tovar was supported by grant PID2019- 104625RB-100 funded by MCIN/AEI/ https://doi.org/10.13039/501100011033. The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-34050-w Paleodictyon is one of the most iconic and widespread of trace fossils in the geological record. However, modern examples are less well known and restricted to deep-sea settings at relatively low latitudes. Here, we report the distribution of Paleodictyon at six abyssal sites near the Aleutian Trench. This study reveals for the first time the presence of Paleodictyon at Subarctic latitudes (51°–53°N) and at depths over 4500 m, although the traces were not observed at stations deeper than 5000 m suggesting that there is some bathymetric constraint for the trace maker. Two small Paleodictyon morphotypes were recognized (average mesh size of 1.81 cm), one having a central hexagonal pattern, the other being characterized by a non-hexagonal pattern. Within the study area, Paleodictyon shows no apparent correlation with local environmental parameters. Finally, based on a worldwide morphological comparison, we conclude that the new Paleodictyon specimens represent distinct ichnospecies that are associated with the relatively eutrophic conditions in this region. Their smaller size may reflect this more eutrophic setting in which sufficient food can be obtained from a smaller area in order to satisfy the energetic requirements of the tracemakers. If so, then Paleodictyon size may provide some assistance when interpreting paleoenvironmental conditions. EU Next Generations ...