Beghin, J, Guilbaud, R, Poulton, SW orcid.org/0000-0001-7621-189X et al. (5 more authors) (2017) A palaeoecological model for the late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic Atar/El Mreïti Group, Taoudeni Basin, Mauritania, northwestern Africa. Precambrian Research, 299. pp. 1-14. ISSN 0301-9268
Abstract
Reconstructing the spatial distribution of early eukaryotes in palaeoenvironments through Proterozoic sedimentary basins provides important information about their palaeocology and taphonomic conditions. Here, we combine the geological context and a reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental redox conditions (using iron speciation) with quantitative analysis of microfossil assemblages (eukaryotes and incertae sedis), to provide the first palaeoecological model for the Atar/El Mreïti Group of the Taoudeni Basin. Our model suggests that in the late Mesoproterozoic – early Neoproterozoic, the availability of both molecular oxygen and nutrients controlled eukaryotic diversity, higher in oxic shallow marginal marine environments, while coccoidal colonies and benthic microbial mats dominated respectively in anoxic iron-rich and euxinic waters during marine highstands or away from shore where eukaryotes are lower or absent.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY-NC-ND/4.0/). |
Keywords: | Palaeoeredox conditions; Iron speciation; Early eukaryotes; Palaeoecology |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Earth Surface Science Institute (ESSI) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 20 Jul 2017 15:39 |
Last Modified: | 17 Jan 2018 07:17 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.precamres.2017.07.016 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:119298 |