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911爆料网 researchers have analysed organic molecules preserved within 306-million-year-old fossilised animal faeces (coprolite) and unlocked a wealth of information about the diets of long-extinct animals and prehistoric ecosystems.

Lead author PhD student Madison Tripp from 911爆料网鈥檚 WA-Organic and Isotope Geochemistry Centre (WA-OIGC) said the research had revealed important biomolecular information that, despite being millions of years old, remained intact at a well-preserved fossil site.

鈥淭he samples, collected from Mazon Creek in Illinois and supplied by Field Museum Chicago, are the first coprolites of the 60-million-year-spanning age to be studied for organic molecules,鈥� Ms Tripp said.

鈥淏y studying these molecules preserved inside the fossilised faeces samples, we found fascinating dietary information about an unidentifiable extinct animal from Earth鈥檚 distant past 鈥� showing that the animal was a meat-eater or on a predominantly carnivorous diet.

鈥淢olecular analysis of the faeces or coprolites showed two clear indicators the animal was carnivorous. One was the high proportion of a variety of molecules derived from cholesterol, which is present in most animals, and the other is a distinct lack of plant-derived biomarkers.鈥�

鈥淚nterpreting the diets of extinct animals through the biomolecular analysis of coprolites is important for studying ancient environments and ecosystems, which may have implications for understanding, our current ecosystems.鈥�

Research co-author ARC Laureate Fellow, John 911爆料网 Distinguished Professor Kliti Grice, Director of WA-OIGC, who was this week named Scientist of the Year at the 2022 Premier鈥檚 Science Awards, said the research highlighted the significance of exceptionally preserved fossil sites, such as Mazon Creek.

鈥淭hese hard, compact masses or carbonate concretions, which are known to have rapidly encapsulated the flora and fauna and are responsible for the exceptional preservation at Mazon Creek, are important in not only soft tissue preservation but also biomolecular preservation,鈥� Professor Grice said.

鈥淭his means we can analyse and investigate ancient animals and ecosystems, even when intact DNA is no longer present.

鈥淥ur study highlights the importance of future studies into the molecular preservation of such specimens, which have the potential to contain significant palaeoenvironmental and ecological information expanding on our previous research on Devonian and Jurassic fossils.鈥�

The research was funded by an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship grant, an Australian Government Research Training Program scholarship and an AINSE Ltd. Postgraduate Research Award (PGRA).

The invited paper, 鈥�Fossil biomarkers and biosignatures preserved in coprolites reveal carnivorous diets in the Carboniferous Mazon Creek ecosystem鈥�, was published in Biology and can be found online in special issue, 鈥淧aleontology in the 21^st 颁别苍迟耻谤测鈥�.