Paleoecology vs taphonomy: Unraveling the molecular fossil record of the Mesoproterozoic Lakhanda Lagerstätte (SE Siberia, Russia)

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Volker Thiel, since 9/2020
• Subject Area: Palaeontology ; Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
• Term: from 2017 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 388478912

The terminal Mesoproterozoic Lakhanda Lagerstätte (1025-1010 Ma; SE Siberia, Russia) provides a rare glimpse into early eukaryotic ecosystems. It contains abundant body fossils of eukaryotic affinity and syngeneitic molecular fossils, allowing for detailed paleoecological investigations. Despite the apparent body fossil record, molecular fossils of eukaryotes (steranes) are rare, a typical characteristic of the mesoproterozoic record. As yet it is not clear whether this reflects a paleoecological signal or is due to a taphonomic bias. This project aims at investigating the paleoecology and taphonomy of the Lakhanda Lagerstätte by conducting detailed analyses of molecular fossil assemblages (bitumen and kerogen). Together with sedimentological and paleontological evidence, the obtained data will provide important background information on the geological record of early eukaryotes, and shed new light on their ecosystems.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Russia
• Partner Organisation: Russian Foundation for Basic Research
• Cooperation Partners: Dr. Pavel Parkhaev; Professor Dr. Andrey Zhuravlev
• Ehemaliger Antragsteller: Professor Dr. Jan-Peter Duda, until 9/2020