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Taphonomy of tubular fossils (algae) from the deposits of the Late Ediacaran
of Ukraine

Poster · June 2022

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Andrej Martyshyn Olena Shevchuk

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Stockholm University
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 Taphonomy of tubular fossils (algae) from the deposits of
the Late Ediacaran of Ukraine
Andrii Martyshyn,
Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine
E-mail: podolimirus@gmail.com

Olena Shevchuk,
Institute of Geological Sciences of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine;
19 – 22 June, 2022, Institute of Geological
center for Paleogenetics, Stockholm University
Stockholm, Sweden, Sciences of the National
11th EPPC and departament of paleobiology of the Swedish Museum of Natural History
Academy of Sciences of
E-mail: hshevchuk@ukr.net Ukraine
Introduction Material and methods
The Late Ediacaran fossils collection is stored in the Institute of Geological Sciences of More than two hundred slabs with fossils of Harlaniella and carbonaceous compression remains
the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. We have collected more than 1,000 slabs of various algae were collected by us from outcrops of mudstone-siltstone-sandstone rocks of
of fossilized remains of macroalgae, soft-bodied organisms, problematic creatures and the Kanilovka Group (stratigraphic scheme). The study area is located in the valley of the
trace fossils. Our study of the new material and some described species has shown Dniester River and its left tributaries in the area between the cities of Kamenets-Podilskyj and
that a number of fossils can be interpreted differently from their original descriptions. Novodnestrovsk (location maps). Comparative and microscopic methods of research were used
Publications of finds of algae fossil records from other regions confirm the need for a to study various taphonomic variants of Harlaniella fossils and compare these carbonaceous
more thorough study of new and previous finds. compression fossils with remains of algae.

Location maps
1. Late Ediacaran outcrop and fossils Harlaniella
1a. Typical outcrop of Kanilovka Group.
1b. Mass accumulation of Harlaniella sp.
1c. Harlaniella podolica Sok.
1d. Cluster of Harlaniella podolica.
1e. Mass accumulation of Harlaniella sp.

Outcrop Bakota, Dniester river

2. Taphonomic variants of preservation of Harlaniella

2a. Harlaniella (new species).
2b. Harlaniella (new species).
2c. Harlaniella sp. - three-dimensional rods with a carbonized shell.
2d. Harlaniella sp. - a three-dimensional cast with the continuation of the phytoleima.
2e. Harlaniella sp. – three taphonomic forms: a smooth tube, a rod with an oblique surface
texture, and a phytoleim.

Stratigraphic scheme of 3. Carbonaceous compression fossils of algae

the Upper Ediacaran in 3a. Probably carbonaceous compression Harlaniella, species not described.
Podolia. The arrows 3b. Accumulation of algae Vendotaenia antiqua Gnil.
point to layers with 3c. Vendotaenia antiqua Gnil.
algae fossils.
3d. Kanilovia insolita Istch.
3e. Tawuia dalensis Hof.

Results
The material of new species of the previously described Harlaniella
podolica Sokolov in the strata of argillites Kanilovka Group. The species
was originally described as traces of movement of worm-like creatures.
These fossils look like straight or curved rods with oblique hatching on the
lower surface of the rock. There are no trace fossils with similar
morphology in the fossil record of the Phanerozoic. Our new material
shows that the fossils were organic tubes with a smooth surface and an
obliquely transverse sculpture of the inner surface of the wall. We found
specimens with examples of the transition of smooth tubes into hatched
rods and carbonaceous compression fossils (phytoleimas). Similar
phytoleimas are widespread in this stratum and are described as
remnants of probable brown algae Vendotaenia antiqua Gnilovskaja. New
finds demonstrate a morphology different from the holotype: numerous
divided branches, elasticity of deformed tubes.
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Conclusions
Analysis of our findings suggests that some known and new fossils are likely to be algae
remains. The basis for this interpretation are the findings that demonstrate the different
taphonomic states of preservation. We didn't identify fastening bodies to the substrate,
indicating a planktonic way of existence of these probable algae.
References
Gnilovskaya, M.B., Ishchenko, A.A., Kolesnikov et al. Vendotaenids of the East European
Platform. Leningrad: Nauka, 1988, pp. 1–142 [in Russian].
Nesterovsky V.A., Martyshyn A.I., Chupryna A.M. New biocenosis model of Vendian
(Ediacaran) sedimentation basin of Podilia (Ukraine). Journ. Geol. Geograph. Geoecology.
2018. № 27(1), pp. 95-107.
Sokolov, B.S. The Vendian period in the Earth history. Proceedings of XXIV Session Int. Geol.
Congr. Moscow, 1972, pp. 114–125 [in Russian].