Taphonomic challenges: deciphering fossil assemblages of different natures and ages.

• Grant number: 23/16631-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: October 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Geosciences - Geology
• Principal Investigator: Fresia Soledad Ricardi Torres Branco
• Grantee: Fresia Soledad Ricardi Torres Branco
• Host Institution: Instituto de Geociências (IG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Bruno Belila Rusinelli ; Laura Kimie Onofre Tomaoka ; Marcelo Adorna Fernandes ; Marcilene dos Santos ; Nora Katharina Noffke ; Pábulo Matheus Domiciano ; Ticiano José Saraiva dos Santos ; Tito Aureliano Neto ; Vinícius José Maróstica Paio

Abstract

The study of fossil assemblages is a challenge, especially when they are associated with differentiated depositional events that condensed the record, in those with excellent preservation of the bioclasts or even generated in desert environments. Multiproxy studies offer the possibility of carrying out innovative and differentiated research in the field of Brazilian paleontology. Thus, the objectives of this project are (i) to extract information not always accessed by paleontological studies, such as changes in faunal composition associated with environmental stresses based on the succession of coprolite assemblages from the Corumbataí Formation; (ii) evolution of physiology in non-avian dinosaurs and fossildiagenesis of vertebrate bones in continental environments; (iv) the influence of microbial mats on the preservation of ichnofossils in desert environments and plant, with comparison based on actuotaphonomy; and (v) describing bioinclusions in amber from the Romualdo Formation and the influence of regional geology and pedogenesis on their elemental constitution and comparison with current resins. To this end, units with diverse assemblages were selected, whether or not they were associated with the influence of microbial communities at the beginning of diagenesis (e.g. ichnofossils from the Botucatu Formation, or assemblages containing scales, bones, teeth and coprolites from the Passa Dois and Bauru groups, among others). For the studies, field campaigns will be carried out to characterize the fossil and current assemblages in situ, geological description and sample collection, as well as analysis of previously collected samples. The fossils will then be studied, including their macro and microscopic description, petrography and geochemistry using a variety of techniques. Once the results are in, a multiproxy analysis can be carried out, contributing to knowledge of the biodiversity, genesis, mineralogical characterization and fossil genesis of these fossil assemblages from a different point of view from the traditional one, as well as disseminating palaeontological themes to the general public. (AU)