PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - McILROY, DUNCAN
AU  - BRASIER, MARTIN D.
AU  - LANG, ANDREW S.
TI  - Smothering of microbial mats by macrobiota: implications for the Ediacara biota
AID  - 10.1144/0016-76492009-073
DP  - 2009 Dec 01
TA  - Journal of the Geological Society
PG  - 1117--1121
VI  - 166
IP  - 6
4099  - http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/166/6/1117.short
4100  - http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/content/166/6/1117.full
SO  - Journal of the Geological Society2009 Dec 01; 166
AB  - Recent advances in understanding the preservation of the soft-bodied Neoproterozoic Ediacara biota have centred upon the role of microbes in casting the morphologies of static or dead macrobiota on the Precambrian sea floor. This experimental study explores the preservational effects brought about by the passive movement of dead macro-organisms upon a pre-established marine microbial mat under laboratory conditions. This demonstrates the potential for making multiple impressions of body tissues on the surface of microbial mats by means of passive transport alone. This throws doubt on the evidence for active feeding in Ediacaran fossils such as Dickinsonia and Yorgia.Supplementary material: Methods are available at http://www.geolsoc.org.uk/SUP18375.