Chemostratigraphic reconstruction of biofacies: Molecular evidence linking cyst-forming dinoflagellates with pre-Triassic ancestors

Research Article| February 01, 1996 Chemostratigraphic reconstruction of biofacies: Molecular evidence linking cyst-forming dinoflagellates with pre-Triassic ancestors J. Michael Moldowan; J. Michael Moldowan 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeremy Dahl; Jeremy Dahl 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-21152Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, A-3126, P.O. Box 5046, San Ramon, California 94583-0946 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Stephen R. Jacobson; Stephen R. Jacobson 3Department of Geological Sciences, Columbus, Ohio State University, Ohio 43210-1397 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bradley J. Huizinga; Bradley J. Huizinga 4ARCO International Oil and Gas Company, 2300 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075-8499 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Frederick J. Fago; Frederick J. Fago 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Rupa Shetty; Rupa Shetty 5Department of Chemistry and Division of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David S. Watt; David S. Watt 5Department of Chemistry and Division of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kenneth E. Peters Kenneth E. Peters 6Mobil Exploration & Producing Technical Center, P.O. Box 650232, Dallas, Texas 75265-0232 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J. Michael Moldowan 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Jeremy Dahl 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-21152Chevron Petroleum Technology Company, A-3126, P.O. Box 5046, San Ramon, California 94583-0946 Stephen R. Jacobson 3Department of Geological Sciences, Columbus, Ohio State University, Ohio 43210-1397 Bradley J. Huizinga 4ARCO International Oil and Gas Company, 2300 West Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas 75075-8499 Frederick J. Fago 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115 Rupa Shetty 5Department of Chemistry and Division of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 David S. Watt 5Department of Chemistry and Division of Pharmaceutics and Medicinal Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506 Kenneth E. Peters 6Mobil Exploration & Producing Technical Center, P.O. Box 650232, Dallas, Texas 75265-0232 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1996) 24 (2): 159–162. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0159:CROBME>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation J. Michael Moldowan, Jeremy Dahl, Stephen R. Jacobson, Bradley J. Huizinga, Frederick J. Fago, Rupa Shetty, David S. Watt, Kenneth E. Peters; Chemostratigraphic reconstruction of biofacies: Molecular evidence linking cyst-forming dinoflagellates with pre-Triassic ancestors. Geology 1996;; 24 (2): 159–162. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)024<0159:CROBME>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract New data from numerous detailed mass-spectrometric studies have detected triaromatic dinosteroids in Precambrian to Cenozoic rock samples. Triaromatic dinosteroids are organic geochemicals derived from dinosterols, compounds known in modern organisms to be the nearly exclusive widely occurring products of dinoflagellates. We observed the ubiquitous occurrence of these dinosteroids in 49 Late Triassic through Cretaceous marine source rocks and the absence of them in 13 Permian-Carboniferous source rocks synergistic with the dinoflagellate cyst record. However, finding dinosteroids in lower Paleozoic and Precambrian strata presents challenging results for molecular paleontologists, evolutionary biologists, palynologists, and especially for those concerned with the food web at various times of biological crisis. Other than the few species known as parasites and symbionts, many other dinoflagellate species are important as primary producers. The presence of Precambrian to Devonian triaromatic dinosteroids gives chemostratigraphic evidence of dinoflagellates (or other organisms with similar chemosynthetic capabilities) in rocks significantly older than the oldest undisputed dinoflagellate fossils (dinoflagellate cysts from the Middle Triassic, ∼ 240 Ma), and older than the putative Silurian ∼ 420 Ma) dinocyst,Arpylorus antiquus (Calandra) Sargent, from Tunisia. This systematic chemostratigraphic approach can shed light not only on lineages of dinoflagellates and their precursors, but potentially on many other lineages, especially bacteria, algae, plants, and possibly some metazoans. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.