Algal origin of sponge sterane biomarkers negates the oldest evidence for animals in the rock record

Ilya Bobrovskiy; Janet M. Hope; Benjamin J. Nettersheim; John K. Volkman; Christian Hallmann; Jochen J. Brocks

doi:10.1038/s41559-020-01334-7

Algal origin of sponge sterane biomarkers negates the oldest evidence for animals in the rock record

Ilya Bobrovskiy^*, Janet M. Hope, Benjamin J. Nettersheim, John K. Volkman, Christian Hallmann, Jochen J. Brocks^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The earliest fossils of animal-like organisms occur in Ediacaran rocks that are approximately 571 million years old. Yet 24-isopropylcholestanes and other C₃₀ fossil sterol molecules have been suggested to reflect an important ecological role of demosponges as the first abundant animals by the end of the Cryogenian period (>635 million years ago). Here, we demonstrate that C₃₀ 24-isopropylcholestane is not diagnostic for sponges and probably formed in Neoproterozoic sediments through the geological methylation of C₂₉ sterols of chlorophyte algae, the dominant eukaryotes at that time. These findings reconcile biomarker evidence with the geological record and revert the oldest evidence for animals back into the latest Ediacaran.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	165-168
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nature Ecology and Evolution
Volume	5
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01334-7
Publication status	Published - Feb 2021

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title = "Algal origin of sponge sterane biomarkers negates the oldest evidence for animals in the rock record",

abstract = "The earliest fossils of animal-like organisms occur in Ediacaran rocks that are approximately 571 million years old. Yet 24-isopropylcholestanes and other C30 fossil sterol molecules have been suggested to reflect an important ecological role of demosponges as the first abundant animals by the end of the Cryogenian period (>635 million years ago). Here, we demonstrate that C30 24-isopropylcholestane is not diagnostic for sponges and probably formed in Neoproterozoic sediments through the geological methylation of C29 sterols of chlorophyte algae, the dominant eukaryotes at that time. These findings reconcile biomarker evidence with the geological record and revert the oldest evidence for animals back into the latest Ediacaran.",

author = "Ilya Bobrovskiy and Hope, {Janet M.} and Nettersheim, {Benjamin J.} and Volkman, {John K.} and Christian Hallmann and Brocks, {Jochen J.}",

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T1 - Algal origin of sponge sterane biomarkers negates the oldest evidence for animals in the rock record

AU - Bobrovskiy, Ilya

AU - Hope, Janet M.

AU - Nettersheim, Benjamin J.

AU - Volkman, John K.

AU - Hallmann, Christian

AU - Brocks, Jochen J.

PY - 2021/2

Y1 - 2021/2

N2 - The earliest fossils of animal-like organisms occur in Ediacaran rocks that are approximately 571 million years old. Yet 24-isopropylcholestanes and other C30 fossil sterol molecules have been suggested to reflect an important ecological role of demosponges as the first abundant animals by the end of the Cryogenian period (>635 million years ago). Here, we demonstrate that C30 24-isopropylcholestane is not diagnostic for sponges and probably formed in Neoproterozoic sediments through the geological methylation of C29 sterols of chlorophyte algae, the dominant eukaryotes at that time. These findings reconcile biomarker evidence with the geological record and revert the oldest evidence for animals back into the latest Ediacaran.

AB - The earliest fossils of animal-like organisms occur in Ediacaran rocks that are approximately 571 million years old. Yet 24-isopropylcholestanes and other C30 fossil sterol molecules have been suggested to reflect an important ecological role of demosponges as the first abundant animals by the end of the Cryogenian period (>635 million years ago). Here, we demonstrate that C30 24-isopropylcholestane is not diagnostic for sponges and probably formed in Neoproterozoic sediments through the geological methylation of C29 sterols of chlorophyte algae, the dominant eukaryotes at that time. These findings reconcile biomarker evidence with the geological record and revert the oldest evidence for animals back into the latest Ediacaran.

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DO - 10.1038/s41559-020-01334-7

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SP - 165

EP - 168

JO - Nature Ecology and Evolution

JF - Nature Ecology and Evolution

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Algal origin of sponge sterane biomarkers negates the oldest evidence for animals in the rock record

Abstract

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