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Opening up a window into ecosystems with Ediacara-type organisms: preservation of molecular fossils in the Khatyspyt Lagerstätte (Arctic Siberia)

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Abstract

The Khatyspyt Formation in Arctic Siberia is one of only two carbonate settings with Ediacara-type fossils. As a potential hydrocarbon source rock, it contains abundant molecular fossils that may help to expand our understanding of these ecosystems. Unfortunately, however, the molecular fossil record in geological materials is commonly biased by secondary processes such as thermal maturation, migration of bitumen compounds or surface contamination. In this study, we evaluate the preservation of molecular fossils in a sample from the Khatyspyt Formation and elucidate their paleobiological meaning. Our results reveal that the organic matter is remarkably immature (oil window maturity) and shows little effect of biodegradation. Petrographic observations, exterior/interior experiments, and the similarity between free bitumen, mineral-occluded bitumen, and kerogen pyrolysate point to the syngeneity of the molecular fossils. Abundant hopanes, cyclohexylalkanes, and methyl-branched alkanes indicate a bacterial source of the organic matter, likely including cyanobacteria and anaerobic bacteria. At the same time, a carbonaceous compression fossil on top of the sample and abundant steranes indicate the presence of eukaryotes. The steranes show typical distributions for the Ediacaran (i.e., dominance of stigmastane). Given the exceptional preservation of the body fossils, trace fossils, and molecular fossils, the Khatyspyt Formation can be considered a fossil lagerstätte sensu Seilacher (1970: Begriff und Bedeutung der Fossil-Lagerstätten. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte: 34–39). The combined analysis of sedimentary facies, paleontology (body, trace, and molecular fossils), and biogeochemistry will provide a more complete understanding of ecosystems with Ediacara-type fossils.

Kurzfassung

Die Khatyspyt-Formation im arktischen Sibirien ist eines von lediglich zwei karbonatischen Ablagerungsräumen mit Ediacara-Fossilien. Gleichzeitig ist sie auch ein potentielles Kohlenwasserstoff-Muttergestein. Nicht zuletzt aufgrund der daher reichlich enthaltenen molekularen Fossilien birgt sie das Potential, unser Verständnis dieser Ökosysteme zu verbessern. Das Inventar an in geologischen Materialien erhaltenen molekularen Fossilien ist jedoch häufig durch diverse sekundäre Prozesse, wie z. B. thermische Maturierung, die sekundäre Migration von Kohlenwasserstoffen oder Oberflächen-Kontamination, verfälscht. In dieser Studie evaluieren wir die Erhaltung molekularer Fossilien in einer Probe der Khatyspyt-Formation und diskutieren ihre paläobiologische Bedeutung. Unsere Ergebnisse zeigen, dass das organische Material eine bemerkenswert niedrige Reife aufweist (Ölfenster) und kaum durch Biodegradation beeinflusst wurde. Petrographische Beobachtungen, Exterieur/Interieur-Experimente, und die Gleichheit zwischen freiem Bitumen, mineral-gebundenem Bitumen und Kerogen-Pyrolysat unterstreichen die Syngenität der enthaltenen molekularen Fossilien. Hopane, Cyclohexane, und and methylverzweigte Alkane deuten auf die Anwesenheit von Bakterien, wahrscheinlich inklusive Cyanobakterien und anaeroben Bakterien. Gleichzeitig belegen ein organisch erhaltenes Makrofossil auf der Probenoberseite und häufige Sterane, welche ein für das Ediacarium typisches Verteilungsmuster aufweisen (Dominanz von Stigmastan), die Existenz von Eukaryoten. Aufgrund der außergewöhnlichen Erhaltung von Körper-, Spuren- und molekularen Fossilien kann die Khatyspyt-Formation als Fossillagerstätte sensu Seilacher (1970: Begriff und Bedeutung der Fossil-Lagerstätten. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie, Monatshefte: 34–39) interpretiert werden. Die zukünftig gemeinschaftliche Analyse von sedimentärer Fazies, Paläontologie (Körper-, Spuren- und molekulare Fossilien) und Biogeochemie wird ein kompletteres Bild von Ökosystemen mit Ediacara-Fossilien ermöglichen.

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Acknowledgments

This study is dedicated to Adolf Seilacher (1925–2014), a visionary paleontologist and renowned expert on the Ediacara biota. We thank C. Conradt, W. Dröse, A. Hackmann, A. Kral, M. Reinhardt, B. Röring, and A. Reimer for their technical and analytical support. We are indebted to J. Peckmann, M. Rohrssen, and M. Reich, whose comments and suggestions greatly improved the paper. The study was financially supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant DU 1450/3-1; SPP 1833 “Building a Habitable Earth”), the Research Department of the University of Göttingen, and the Russian Science Foundation (Grant 14-17-00409 “Mechanisms behind Ediacaran and Terreneuvian ecosystem functioning: stability and dynamic processes” to DG). This is publication number 3 of the Early Life Research Group (Department of Geobiology, University of Göttingen; Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities).

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  1. Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Centre, Georg-August-University Göttingen, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 37077, Göttingen, Germany

    Jan-Peter Duda, Volker Thiel & Joachim Reitner

  2. ‘Origin of Life’ Group, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Theaterstr. 7, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Jan-Peter Duda & Joachim Reitner

  3. Trofimuk Institute of Petroleum Geology and Geophysics, Siberian Branch Russian Academy of Sciences, prospekt Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

    Dmitriy Grazhdankin

  4. Novosibirsk State University, ulitsa Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090, Russia

    Dmitriy Grazhdankin

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  1. Jan-Peter Duda
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  2. Volker Thiel
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Correspondence to Jan-Peter Duda.

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Duda, JP., Thiel, V., Reitner, J. et al. Opening up a window into ecosystems with Ediacara-type organisms: preservation of molecular fossils in the Khatyspyt Lagerstätte (Arctic Siberia). PalZ 90, 659–671 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12542-016-0317-5

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