Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.

<h4>Background</h4>Mineralized and permineralized bone is the most common form of fossilization in the vertebrate record. Preservation of gross soft tissues is extremely rare, but recent studies have suggested that primary soft tissues and biomolecules are more commonly preserved within...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales:	Joseph E Peterson, Melissa E Lenczewski, Reed P Scherer
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2010
Materias:	Medicine R Science Q
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/852e754b075349c393a1e85af9a4a134
Etiquetas:	Agregar Etiqueta Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!

id	oai:doaj.org-article:852e754b075349c393a1e85af9a4a134
record_format	dspace
spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:852e754b075349c393a1e85af9a4a1342021-11-18T07:03:28ZInfluence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.1932-620310.1371/journal.pone.0013334https://doaj.org/article/852e754b075349c393a1e85af9a4a1342010-10-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20967227/?tool=EBIhttps://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203<h4>Background</h4>Mineralized and permineralized bone is the most common form of fossilization in the vertebrate record. Preservation of gross soft tissues is extremely rare, but recent studies have suggested that primary soft tissues and biomolecules are more commonly preserved within preserved bones than had been presumed. Some of these claims have been challenged, with presentation of evidence suggesting that some of the structures are microbial artifacts, not primary soft tissues. The identification of biomolecules in fossil vertebrate extracts from a specimen of Brachylophosaurus canadensis has shown the interpretation of preserved organic remains as microbial biofilm to be highly unlikely. These discussions also propose a variety of potential mechanisms that would permit the preservation of soft-tissues in vertebrate fossils over geologic time.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>This study experimentally examines the role of microbial biofilms in soft-tissue preservation in vertebrate fossils by quantitatively establishing the growth and morphology of biofilms on extant archosaur bone. These results are microscopically and morphologically compared with soft-tissue extracts from vertebrate fossils from the Hell Creek Formation of southeastern Montana (Latest Maastrichtian) in order to investigate the potential role of microbial biofilms on the preservation of fossil bone and bound organic matter in a variety of taphonomic settings. Based on these analyses, we highlight a mechanism whereby this bound organic matter may be preserved.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Results of the study indicate that the crystallization of microbial biofilms on decomposing organic matter within vertebrate bone in early taphonomic stages may contribute to the preservation of primary soft tissues deeper in the bone structure.Joseph E PetersonMelissa E LenczewskiReed P SchererPublic Library of Science (PLoS)articleMedicineRScienceQENPLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 10, p e13334 (2010)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	Medicine R Science Q
spellingShingle	Medicine R Science Q Joseph E Peterson Melissa E Lenczewski Reed P Scherer Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
description	<h4>Background</h4>Mineralized and permineralized bone is the most common form of fossilization in the vertebrate record. Preservation of gross soft tissues is extremely rare, but recent studies have suggested that primary soft tissues and biomolecules are more commonly preserved within preserved bones than had been presumed. Some of these claims have been challenged, with presentation of evidence suggesting that some of the structures are microbial artifacts, not primary soft tissues. The identification of biomolecules in fossil vertebrate extracts from a specimen of Brachylophosaurus canadensis has shown the interpretation of preserved organic remains as microbial biofilm to be highly unlikely. These discussions also propose a variety of potential mechanisms that would permit the preservation of soft-tissues in vertebrate fossils over geologic time.<h4>Methodology/principal findings</h4>This study experimentally examines the role of microbial biofilms in soft-tissue preservation in vertebrate fossils by quantitatively establishing the growth and morphology of biofilms on extant archosaur bone. These results are microscopically and morphologically compared with soft-tissue extracts from vertebrate fossils from the Hell Creek Formation of southeastern Montana (Latest Maastrichtian) in order to investigate the potential role of microbial biofilms on the preservation of fossil bone and bound organic matter in a variety of taphonomic settings. Based on these analyses, we highlight a mechanism whereby this bound organic matter may be preserved.<h4>Conclusions/significance</h4>Results of the study indicate that the crystallization of microbial biofilms on decomposing organic matter within vertebrate bone in early taphonomic stages may contribute to the preservation of primary soft tissues deeper in the bone structure.
format	article
author	Joseph E Peterson Melissa E Lenczewski Reed P Scherer
author_facet	Joseph E Peterson Melissa E Lenczewski Reed P Scherer
author_sort	Joseph E Peterson
title	Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
title_short	Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
title_full	Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
title_fullStr	Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
title_full_unstemmed	Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
title_sort	influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.
publisher	Public Library of Science (PLoS)
publishDate	2010
url	https://doaj.org/article/852e754b075349c393a1e85af9a4a134
work_keys_str_mv	AT josephepeterson influenceofmicrobialbiofilmsonthepreservationofprimarysofttissueinfossilandextantarchosaurs AT melissaelenczewski influenceofmicrobialbiofilmsonthepreservationofprimarysofttissueinfossilandextantarchosaurs AT reedpscherer influenceofmicrobialbiofilmsonthepreservationofprimarysofttissueinfossilandextantarchosaurs
_version_	1718423989058011136

Influence of microbial biofilms on the preservation of primary soft tissue in fossil and extant archosaurs.

Ejemplares similares