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Paleoecological implications of Lower-Middle Triassic stromatolites and microbe-metazoan build-ups in the Germanic Basin: Insights into the aftermath of the Permian – Triassic crisis

Yu Pei, Hans Hagdorn, Thomas Voigt, Jan-Peter Duda, Joachim Reitner
doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.12.452070
Yu Pei
1Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Center, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Lower Saxony, Germany
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  • For correspondence: yu.pei@geo.uni-goettingen.de
Hans Hagdorn
2Muschelkalkmuseum, Ingelfingen 74653, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Thomas Voigt
3Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Jena 07749, Thuringia, Germany
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Jan-Peter Duda
4Sedimentology & Organic Geochemistry Group, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen, Tübingen 72076, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
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Joachim Reitner
1Department of Geobiology, Geoscience Center, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Lower Saxony, Germany
5‘Origin of Life’ Group, Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Göttingen 37073, Lower Saxony, Germany
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Abstract

The aftermath of the Permian – Triassic crisis is characterized by ubiquitous occurrences of microbial sediments around the world. For instance, Triassic deposits of the Germanic Basin have shown to provide a rich record of stromatolites as well as of microbe-metazoan build-ups with non-spicular demosponges. Despite their paleoecological significance, however, all of these microbialites have only rarely been studied. This study aims to fill this gap by examining and comparing microbialites from the Upper Buntsandstein (Olenekian, Early Triassic) and the lower Middle Muschelkalk (Anisian, Middle Triassic). By combining analytical petrography (optical microscopy, micro X-ray fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy) and geochemistry (δ13Ccarb, δ18Ocarb), we show that all studied microbialites formed in hypersaline lagoons to sabkha environments. Olenekian deposits in Jena and surroundings and Anisian strata at Werbach contain stromatolites. Anisian successions at Hardheim, in contrast, host microbe-metazoan build-ups. Thus, the key-difference is the absence or presence of non-spicular demosponges in microbialites. After the Permian – Triassic crisis, the widespread microbialites (e.g., stromatolites/microbe-metazoan build-ups) possibly resulted from suppressed ecological competition and occupied the vacant ecological niche. It seems plausible that microbes and non-spicular demosponges had a mutualistic relationship and it is tempting to speculate that the investigated microbial-metazoan build-ups reflect an ancient evolutionary and ecologic association. Furthermore, both microbes and non-spicular demosponges may benefit from elevated salinities. Perhaps it was minor differences in salinities that controlled whether or not non-spicular demosponges could develop.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

  • Abbreviations

    μ-XRF
    Micro X-ray fluorescence
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    Posted July 12, 2021.
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    Paleoecological implications of Lower-Middle Triassic stromatolites and microbe-metazoan build-ups in the Germanic Basin: Insights into the aftermath of the Permian – Triassic crisis
    Yu Pei, Hans Hagdorn, Thomas Voigt, Jan-Peter Duda, Joachim Reitner
    bioRxiv 2021.07.12.452070; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.12.452070
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    Paleoecological implications of Lower-Middle Triassic stromatolites and microbe-metazoan build-ups in the Germanic Basin: Insights into the aftermath of the Permian – Triassic crisis
    Yu Pei, Hans Hagdorn, Thomas Voigt, Jan-Peter Duda, Joachim Reitner
    bioRxiv 2021.07.12.452070; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.07.12.452070

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