Abstract The terminal Ediacaran fossil record includes microbial mats and body fossils characterized by simple morphologies, which represents a challenge to understand several aspects related to the paleoecology of the emerging complex life. The marine siliciclastic deposits of the Cerro Negro Formation (~560–550 Ma) contain evidence of different styles of microbially induced sedimentary structures (MISS) and discoidal forms associated with them. Different types of MISS, such as Kinneyia and wrinkle structures, elephant skin, and Arumberia, are reported and related to shallow marine depositional environments. These morphologies are commonly associated with the high quality of preservation of body fossils in Ediacaran deposits. The preservation of Aspidella discoidal holdfast is related to biotic and abiotic processes involving substrate sealing by microbial mats, fluidization, and probably organic matter decay. Both abiotic factors (tidal currents and waves, added to liquefaction and sand injection) and biotic factors (substrate biostabilization by microbial mats favoring sediment cohesion) are considered the main ones responsible for the preservation style in the Cerro Negro Formation. This formation constitutes a remarkable example in SW-Gondwana of how preservation dynamics took place on a seabed sealed by microbial mats and is an important deposit conserving diverse Ediacaran forms of life in South America.

Abstract The influence of microbial communities upon sedimentary dynamics is an issue of increasing significance. Over the last decades, studies have revealed a particular class of sedimentary structures and textures produced by the interaction among distinct flows, marine substrate, and benthic microbial communities. We present evidence of the oldest record of microbially-induced sedimentary structures (MISS) in South America, as recorded in low-grade metasedimentary rocks of the Early Mesoproterozoic (∼1536 ± 33 Ma) Tiradentes Formation, state of Minas Gerais, SW Brazil. Types 1, 2, and 3 correspond to wrinkle, pustular, and dome structures related to flat or rippled bed surfaces, preserved in metasandstone deposited in shallow marine settings. Evidence supporting the microbial origin of these structures includes delicate morphology, degree of alignment, presence of original mat cover, and orientation of quartz grains indicating biostabilization. The presence of distinct MISS associated with well-preserved ripple marks, wrinkled surfaces, and flatbeds suggests deposition under varied energy conditions with different potentials for the preservation of surficial structures. Vertical growth of microbial communities influences sediment cohesion and stability. This reduces substrate roughness and, as a consequence, wave and current shear, thereby increasing the preservation potential of bedforms and delicate features of their bedding surfaces.

Abstract The Aptian Crato Formation is world renowned for its well-preserved fossils in microbially-induced laminated limestones, which are regarded as one of the main Cretaceous Konservat-Lagerstätte of the geological record. Detailed stratigraphic investigation and mapping of the up to 90-m-thick Crato Formation at the eastern border of the Araripe Plateau allowed recognition of a regionally persistent fossil-bearing muddy interval, herein defined as the Caldas Bed. At its type locality, it is defined as an up to 2-m-thick coarsening-upward succession of grey/green mudstone and interbedded sandy siltstone and claystone. The 0.85- to 2-m-thick interval was recognized in several localities along the outcrop belt, and it is bounded by sharp, lower (Konservat-Lagerstätte limestone) and upper (sandstone and heterolithic facies) contacts. Despite previous literature data suggesting the presence of marine mollusks, the bed contains freshwater bivalves, small gastropods, spinicaudatans, plant remains, trace fossils, and rare ostracods. The Caldas Bed records benthic paleocommunities representing a short-term isochronous regional freshening event, marked by abrupt changes in sedimentation pattern, bathymetry, salinity, oxygenation and water chemistry.

RESUMO: Após o aparecimento dos metazoários, o início da bioclasticidade e a competição pelo substrato marinho, a saga das esteiras microbiais é marcada por um progressivo declínio. Pontuais aumentos em sua diversidade e na produção de carbonatos durante o Paleozoico em geral estão associados a eventos globais de extinção em massa. Ao longo do Fanerozoico, as colônias microbiais ocuparam nichos ecológicos específicos e ambientes livres de organismos predadores caracterizados por condições ecológicas extremas, como aqueles encontrados em baías hipersalinas, lagos alcalinos e locais sujeitos a hidrotermalismo. Neste trabalho é reportada uma das mais antigas ocorrências de um campo de exudação de metano no registro geológico associado com microbialitos e estruturas sedimentares induzidas por atividade microbial. Nesse sistema, durante a atividade de exalação de metano, instalaram-se condições de extrema anoxia e alta salinidade, proibitivas para a manutenção da vida animal, permitindo, desse modo, o florescimento de colônias microbiais. Por causa das severas imposições do ambiente, os organismos microbiais tornaram-se altamente adaptáveis às condições adversas então vigentes. Nós sustentamos a hipótese de que aumentos na diversidade e na quantidade de colônias microbiais na história da Terra não estão apenas restritos a períodos que sucedem à extinção em massa de organismos predadores de esteiras, mas ocorrem em resposta a condições ambientais localizadas que proporcionam o crescimento de colônias microbiais. De fato, o registro geológico Fanerozoico é pontuado de exemplos semelhantes ao aqui reportado, simulando uma espécie de jogo de esconde-esconde das condições ambientais vigentes no Éon Pré-cambriano.

ABSTRACT: Following the rise of metazoans, the beginning of bioclasticity and substrate competition, the saga of microbial mats was in a fluctuating decline in the end of the Neoproterozoic era. Increases in diversity during the Phanerozoic and punctual upturns in the microbial carbonate production occured after the events of global mass extinctions. Gradually along the Phanerozoic, the microbial colonies occupied isolated niches and grazers-free environments, characterized by physically and/or geochemically stressful conditions, such as those found in saline bays, alkaline lakes and hydrothermal or cold seep vents. Here we report one of the oldest occurrences of a vent camp coupled with cold seepage of methane in the geologic record, associated with well-preserved microbialites and elephant skin structures. During the seep activity, oxygen depletion and high salinity conditions are prohibitive for complex animal life, clearing the way to microbial colonies to flourish. Due to the co-occurrence of high adaptability and low competitiveness of microbial forms, they became highly specialized in stressful conditions. We argue that the sporadic microbial mat upturns in Earth’s history are not restricted to geological periods, following massive death of metazoan species; they also may occur in response to punctual paleoenvironmental conditions that enable microbial colonies to growth. Indeed, the Phanerozoic geological record is punctuated of these examples, in a kind of hide-and-seek game of Precambrian times.

RESUMO: Bivalves permianos da Bacia do Paraná evoluíram em um imenso mar interior, sob condições de extremo isolamento e estresse ambiental. Embora conhecidos desde 1918, a história evolutiva desses bivalves é ainda obscurecida pelo conhecimento incompleto e enviesado sobre a composição faunística e a distribuição estratigráfica de várias assembleias. Portanto, a descrição da assembleia de Tiaraju, a única conhecida no Grupo Passa Dois do sul do Brasil, contribui com novas informações-chave sobre a composição, biocorrelação e idade dessa fauna de moluscos únicos. Terraia falconeri, Cowperesia emerita, Holdhausiella elongata e Terraia altissima foram registradas e descritas. T. falconeri é a espécie mais comum, seguida por C. emerita, H. elongata e T. altissima. A fauna é maiormente composta por Terrainae, faltando os Pinzonellinae. A assembleia é, desse modo, pobremente diversificada, no que tange à composição faunística e guildas (somente bivalves de infauna, facultativamente móveis, suspensívoros estão presentes). Cowperesia emerita e T. altissima sugerem, fortemente, biocorrelação com assembleias das formações Rio do Rasto e Gai-As, Brasil e Namíbia, indicando idade não mais jovem que o Permiano médio (Wordiano-Capitaniano). À luz dessas informações, o mapa geológico da região de Tiaraju, São Gabriel, e o contato local entre as formações Teresina e Rio do Rasto, requerem, ambos, reavaliação.

ABSTRACT: Permian bivalves of the Paraná Basin evolved in a large inland sea, under conditions of extreme isolation and environmental stress. Although known since 1918, its evolutionary history is still obscure due to the incomplete and biased information on faunal composition and stratigraphic distribution of various assemblages. Hence, the description of the Tiaraju assemblage, the only known bivalve occurrence in the Passa Dois Group from the southernmost Brazil, adds new key information on the composition, biocorrelation and age of this unique molluscan fauna. Terraia falconeri, Cowperesia emerita, Holdhausiella elongata, and Terraia altissima were recorded and described. T. falconeri is the commonest species, followed by C. emerita, H. elongata and T. altissima. The faunule is mainly composed by Terrainae, lacking Pinzonellinae. Assemblage is, thus, poorly diversified, both regarding the faunal composition and guild structure (only infaunal, facultatively motile, unattached, suspension feeders present). Cowperesia emerita and T. altissima strongly indicate biocorrelation with assemblages of the Rio do Rasto and Gai-As formations, Brazil and Namibia, providing an age no younger than the mid-Permian (Wordian-Captianian). On the light of this information, the current geological map of the Tiaraju region, São Gabriel, and the local boundary between the Teresina and Rio do Rasto formations requires reevaluation.

A individualização e o mapeamento da Formação Serra Alta no Estado de São Paulo sempre foi motivo de controvérsia na comunidade geológica. Apesar de apresentar extensão comparável à Formação Irati em subsuperfície, a unidade ainda carece de estudos mais acurados acerca de seu posicionamento estratigráfico, conteúdo fossilífero, sistema deposicional e idade. Na região centro-leste do Estado de São Paulo, a Formação Serra Alta sucede estratigraficamente a Formação Irati, sendo constituída por depósitos pelíticos cinza escuros. A unidade é mapeada desde o limite sul do estado até o Domo de Gibóia, no Município de Rio das Pedras. Neste local, as formações Serra Alta e Teresina são substituídas pelos depósitos pelíticos da Formação Corumbataí, que se estende para norte, além do limite do Estado de São Paulo, e pode ser considerada unidade correlata a estas. Neste estudo, são apresentadas seções colunares e caracterizados os contatos da Formação Serra Alta com as formações permianas verticalmente contíguas. É apresentada também detalhada análise de fácies, com a finalidade de caracterizar o sistema deposicional. A análise de perfis de sondagem possibilitou também melhor compreensão dos padrões arquiteturais da Formação Serra Alta, auxiliando na determinação de sua real distribuição e posição estratigráfica na porção centro-sul do estado. A integração das informações obtidas permitiu identificar tendências de empilhamento transgressivo particulares, contribuindo para o detalhamento da sucessão predominantemente regressiva em que se depositaram as unidades permianas da Bacia do Paraná.

The delimitation and mapping of the Serra Alta Formation in the São Paulo State, Brazil, has always been a focus of controversy in the Brazilian geological community. Despite its large extension in subsurface, which may be comparable to the Irati Formation, the Serra Alta Formation still needs more detailed studies on its stratigraphic position, fossil content, depositional systems and age. In the east-central portion of the São Paulo State, the Serra Alta Formation overlies the Irati Formation and is predominantly composed of dark grey pelitic facies. The unit is mapped from the southern boundary of the São Paulo State to the Gibóia Dome, located in the county of Rio das Pedras. In this place, the Serra Alta and Teresina formations are replaced by the red colored pelites of the Corumbataí Formation, unit that extends to north beyond the state boundaries and may be considered correlated to these units. In this work, we present columnar sections and describe the contacts of the Serra Alta Formation with vertically adjacent Permian units. We also present the detailed facies analysis, in order to characterize the depositional system. The investigation of subsurface profiles also enabled a better understanding of the architectural patterns of the succession, helping to determine its real distribution and stratigraphic position in the central-south of São Paulo State. The integration of the data allowed identifying a particular transgressive stacking pattern, contributing to detail the late Permian regressive cycle in the Paraná Basin.

This study analyzes taphonomic alteration of brachiopod shells, i.e., Bouchardia rosea (Mawe) from Ubatuba Bay, northern coast of São Paulo State, Brazil. The average age of the studied shell deposits is 674 years BP. The underlying hypothesis is that taphonomic signatures are not uniformly distributed along a bathymetric gradient. Assemblages were sampled using a Van Veen grab sampler (31 x 40cm) along transect of fourteen stations from zero (beach) to 35 m water depth. Four sedimentary environments were recognized: (a) beach, (b) protected bay with clay bottom, (c) protected bay with sandy bottom, and (d) inner shelf with sandy bottom. All brachiopod shells (i.e., total fraction including fragments) from each of the five stations with appreciable accumulations (up to 1607 shells) were investigated following a protocol of ten taphonomic signatures. Six of these ten taphonomic signatures (articulation, fragmentation, edge alteration, color alteration, bioerosion, and encrustation) were homogeneously distributed among studied environments, indicating that these general types of taphonomic signatures per se are not sensitive to environmental conditions in this case. On the other hand, shell surface texture varied along the bathymetric gradient, thus showing a high potential to be used in taphofacies analyses. Several examples of taphonomic generalizations available in the literature are neither applicable nor comparable to our results, which further confirm that overgeneralizations should be avoided in taphonomic studies.

En este estudio se analizó la alteración tafonómica del braquiópodo Bouchardia rosea (Mawe), en la bahía de Ubatuba, litoral norte de São Paulo, Brasil. Los depósitos de conchillas de estos braquiópodos registran una edad media de 674 años AP. La hipótesis subyacente al análisis fue que los índices tafonómicos no están uniformemente distribuidos a lo largo del gradiente batimétrico evaluado. Las conchillas se muestrearon mediante una draga puntal tipo Van Veen (31 x 40 cm) a lo largo de un gradiente batimétrico de 0 (playa) a 35 m de profundidad, incluyendo 14 estaciones de muestreo. Se reconocieron cuatro ambientes sedimentarios: (a) playa, (b) bahía protegida de fondo arcilloso, (c) bahía protegida de fondo arenoso, y (d) plataforma interna de fondo arenoso. Los braquiópodos de cada una de las estaciones (incluida la fracción total de fragmentos) fueron investigados siguiendo un protocolo que contiene 10 índices tafonómicos. Seis de estos índices (fragmentación, alteración de borde, alteración del color, bioerosión e incrustación) se distribuyen homogéneamente entre los depósitos de los ambientes estudiados, indicando que estos índices tafonómicos no son sensibles a las condiciones ambientales en este caso. Por otro lado, la textura de la conchilla mostró un alto potencial para la interpretación ambiental, pareciendo útiles como una herramienta de análisis de tafofacies. Varios ejemplos de generalizaciones tafonómicas disponibles en la literatura no son comparables ni aplicables a nuestros resultados, confirmando además que las generalizaciones de las normas y modelos aplicables a todos los casos sin restricción deben evitarse en los estudios tafonómicos.

Renewed interest in conulariids has resulted in clarification of problems in the paleobiology of this group. Discoveries of skeletal structures and specimens preserved in situ, coupled with cladistic analyses, have led to a revival of Kiderlen's (1937) hypothesis that conulariids were polypoid scyphozoans or a sister taxon of this class. Until 1979, research on conulariids centered on the description of new species and on the erection of subgroups using phenetic approaches. Few papers addressed the paleobiology and phylogenetic affinities of conulariids, and none employed cladistics. In contrast, the 1980's saw the publication of major papers on the paleoecology of conulariids, and during this decade the hypothesis that conulariids were benthic organisms was corroborated. Also, new ideas concerning the affinities of conulariids, including the proposal that conulariids represent an extinct phylum, were presented. During the 1990's, the problem of conulariid affinities was widely debated, with authors advocating either that conulariids represent a separate phylum or that they were cnidarians. Near the close of that decade, certain advocates of a cnidarian affinity argued that conulariids were most closely related to Cnidaria. Taphonomic evidence indicates that conulariids were benthic animals originally oriented with their aperture opening upward and that they attached to or were embedded in hard and soft substrates. To understand unresolved problems we recommend that (1) conulariid specialists develop a standard morphological nomenclature based on rigorous definitions; and (2) studies on conulariid paleoecology be carried out using a sequence stratigraphy approach.

El renovado interés en los conuláridos ha dado como resultado la clarificación de los problemas sobre su paleobiología. Descubrimientos sobre la morfología del peridermo y especímenes preservados in situ, juntamente con la aplicación de la teoría cladística en el análisis de afinidades de los conuláridos, contribuyeron a revivir las ideas de Kiderlen (1937), de que los conuláridos fueron afines a los Scyphozoa. Hasta 1979, las investigaciones sobre los conuláridos estuvieron concentradas en la descripción y propuesta de nuevas especies, fundamentadas en criterios fenéticos. Pocos trabajos abarcaron la paleobiología y afinidades filogenéticas de los conuláridos. En los años 80, el enfoque cambió y se publicaron artículos sobre la paleoecología, siendo ampliamente aceptada la hipótesis de que este grupo fue formado por organismos sésiles. En ese período se presentaron ideas sobre sus afinidades evolutivas, incluyendo la propuesta de que los conuláridos representaban un linaje evolutivo independiente. Durante la década de 90, el problema de las afinidades de los conuláridos fue intensamente debatido. En ese período, muchos autores obtuvieron nuevas evidencias que reforzaron conclusivamente la idea de que los conuláridos son afines a los Cnidaria. Evidencias tafonómicas indicaron que los conuláridos fueron organismos bentónicos fijados o anclados al substrato. Sin embargo, varios problemas permanecen aún no resueltos por lo que recomendamos (1) los especialistas en conuláridos deben aclarar los diversos términos morfológicos y (2) la estratigrafía secuencial debe ser integrada a los estudios sobre la paleoecología de los conuláridos.