Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/J023426/1
The Geochemistry of Fossil Pigment Preservation
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Professor RA Wogelius, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor WI Sellers, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor PL Manning, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Co-Investigator:
- Professor BE van Dongen, The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- The University of Manchester, Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Environmental Risks and Hazards
- Global Change
- Natural Resource Management
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Geochemistry
- Palaeontology
- Earth & environmental
- Analytical Science
- Abstract:
- The Geochemistry of Fossil Pigment Preservation Principal Investigator: R.A. Wogelius Co-Investigators: P.L. Manning, W.I.Sellers, B.E. van Dongen Summary The University of Manchester Palaeontology and Geochemistry Groups, in collaboration with the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource and other international partners, has recently shown that newly developed analytical techniques can resolve previously undetected chemical information about fossilized tissues. Several publications from this group (Wogelius et al., 2011; Edwards et al., 2011; Barden et al., 2011; Bergmann et al., 2010) have combined state-of-the-art synchrotron rapid scanning x-ray fluorescence imaging (SRS-XRF) with other sensitive techniques in order to show the chemical details of exceptionally preserved bones, feathers, skin, and a range of other soft tissues. Most importantly, this work has shown that patterns of copper distribution in the soft tissues of a number of fossils may successfully be used as biomarkers for the original distribution of eumelanin pigment. This finding was used to restore the eumelanin patterns within the oldest documented bird with a fully derived avian beak, the 120 million year old Confuciusornis sanctus. However, besides eumelanin, there are a number of other pigments that are important for life. In particular, chemical detection of phaeomelanin would provide critical information about the evolution of avian and mammalian species. Building on our successes with identifying and mapping the chemical residues of eumelanin and beta keratin, herein we propose an analytical and experimental plan to enhance our ability to detect and image key components of soft tissue. First of all we will perform a series of experiments with extant soft tissue so that we can monitor and determine the breakdown reactions of organic compounds as a function of host lithology, moisture content, and trace metal inventory. Secondly, we will complete an analytical programme, including SRS-XRF imaging, which will include these experimental run products as well as a series of time-stepped fossil samples of varying ages and host lithology so that we may build up a database which allows us to refine our general understanding of reaction paths during fossil degradation. Because the techniques we have developed are non-destructive we now have opened up the possibility for detailed analysis of extremely rare specimens which hold important information but cannot be destructively sampled. Finally, these experimental and analytical results from fossils and comparable extant species will be combined in order to answer several critically important questions in palaeontology, biology, and geochemistry, such as: 1) What are the key factors that control the breakdown kinetics of eumelanin, and thus what conditions favour exceptional preservation? 2) How does the presence of melanin affect the fossilisation process? 3) Can we reliably detect phaeomelanin as opposed to eumelanin, since the presence of this alternative form will improve our ability to resolve further aspects of fossil colour? 4) Because phaeomelanin is only found in birds and mammals, can it be used as a biomarker for endothermy and/or homeothermy? 5) Finally, can we reliably resolve the residues of other chemical pigments? Project partners: University of Nancy, CNRS, Prof. R. Michels Feather degradation experiments SLAC Linear Accelerator Center, Linac Coherent Light Source, Dr. U. Bergmann SRS-XRF scans of large objects and x-ray spectroscopy SLAC Linear Accelerator Center, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Prof. C. Kao SRS-XRF scans of large objects DIAMOND Lightsource, Prof. Fred Mosselmans XAS spectroscopy
- NERC Reference:
- NE/J023426/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grant (FEC)
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £515,451
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| DI - Other Costs | Exception - Equipment | Indirect - Indirect Costs | DA - Investigators | DI - Staff | DA - Estate Costs | DI - Equipment | DA - Other Directly Allocated | DI - T&S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £35,628 | £9,400 | £111,397 | £46,869 | £90,655 | £41,206 | £50,000 | £64,119 | £66,178 |
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