Biomarker indicators of bacterial activity and organic fluxes during end Triassic mass extinction event

Dan Jiao; Randall S. Perry; Mike H. Engel; Mark A. Sephton

doi:10.1117/12.796160

28 August 2008 Biomarker indicators of bacterial activity and organic fluxes during end Triassic mass extinction event

Dan Jiao, Randall S. Perry, Mike H. Engel, Mark A. Sephton

Proceedings Volume 7097, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI; 709709 (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796160
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Lipid biomarker analyses of sedimentary organic matter from a marine Triassic-Jurassic (T-J) section at Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia reveal significant bacterial activity and microbial community changes that coincide with faunal extinctions across the T-J boundary. Bacterial activity is indicated by the 25-norhopane biodegradation index (25-norhopanes / 25-norhopanes+regular hopanes). Microbial community changes is revealed by variations in relative abundance of 2-methylhopane which is mainly generated from cyanobacteria. The 2-methylhopane index (2-methyl hopane/ C₃₀ hopane + C₂₉ 25-norhopane) increases above the radiolarian based T-J boundary, and coincides with changes in the 25-norhopane index. The data reveal a complex microbial event involving both autotrophic and heteorotrophic bacteria responding to variations in allochthonous organic matter and nutrient supply.

Citation Download Citation

Dan Jiao, Randall S. Perry, Mike H. Engel, and Mark A. Sephton "Biomarker indicators of bacterial activity and organic fluxes during end Triassic mass extinction event", Proc. SPIE 7097, Instruments, Methods, and Missions for Astrobiology XI, 709709 (28 August 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.796160

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available