Armstorff, Genevieve: A 320 MA Multi-Sphere Record of Biodiversity and Geodynamics Through Fungal Biomarkers [dataset]. PANGAEA, https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.993935 (dataset in review)
Abstract:
This study presents a high-resolution geochemical reconstruction of terrestrial biomarkers spanning the 320 Ma Carboniferous to 2026 AD Anthropocene. Utilizing a unified 800-sample matrix, I evaluated the evolutionary trajectory of wood-degrading fungal lineages—specifically the Paleancistrus-Phanerochaete transition—through the lens of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) molecular proxies. I introduce a multidimensional analytical framework that integrates the Combined PAH Flux Index (CPFI) and the Higher Plant Parameter (HPP) with planetary-scale drivers, including Inner Core Compositional Rayleigh Numbers (Rac), the Thermal Maturity Index (Im), and the Mathieu stability characteristic (a).
Our results identify a primary metabolic pulse at 318 Ma, where a surge in the CPFI correlates with a high-energy state characterized by a CPFI of 0.78 and a calculated reflectance (Rc) of 0.87. Time-series analysis reveals that modern geochemical signatures have bypassed Pleistocene stable baselines, exhibiting a rapid regression to Paleozoic thermal maturity levels (Rc ≈ 0.86+). However, 3D surface modeling of Time, CPFI/HPP ratios, and Phylogenetic Diversity Scores (PDS) uncovers a critical high-frequency lag in modern biological complexity compared to the 318 Ma baseline. These findings suggest that contemporary terrestrial metabolism is currently over-revving in response to orbital excitation (q) and intensified geodynamic conductivity, marking a fundamental departure from planetary equilibrium.
Keyword(s):
Biodiversity; biodiversity - ecosystem functioning; Biomarkers; Chemical/biological analysis; geochemical archives; geochemical conditions; geochemical cycles; geodynamic modeling; Geodynamics; Organic-binding ligands; Organic carbon; Paleoclimate; paleoclimate archive; paleoclimate proxy; Paleoclimate reconstructions; paleoclimatology
References:
Boreham, C J; Summons, Roger E (1999): Structure and significance of diterpane biomarkers in Australian Mesozoic and Tertiary sediments and oils. Organic Geochemistry
Flannery, D T; Walter, Malcolm R (2012): Archean tufted microbial mats and the search for life on Mars. Nature
Granitto, Matthew; Goldman, Margaret A; Labay, Keith; San Juan, Carma A; Azain, Jaime S; Rozinek, Toni R (2026): Geochemical data for rock, sediment, soil, and mineral samples, United States and territories, 1962 to 2023 [dataset]. U.S. Geological Survey, https://doi.org/10.5066/P1FXE9GK
Hibbett, David S; Binder, Manfred; Bischoff, Joseph F; Blackwell, Meredith; Cannon, Paul F; Eriksson, Ove E; Huhndorf, Sabine; James, Timothy; Kirk, Paul M; Lücking, Robert; Thorsten Lumbsch, H; Lutzoni, François; Matheny, P Brandon; McLaughlin, David J; Powell, Martha J; Redhead, Scott; Schoch, Conrad L; Spatafora, Joseph W; Stalpers, Joost A; Vilgalys, Rytas; Aime, M Catherine; Aptroot, André; Bauer, Robert; Begerow, Dominik; Benny, Gerald L; Castlebury, Lisa A; Crous, Pedro W; Dai, Yu-Cheng; Gams, Walter; Geiser, David M; Griffith, Gareth W; Gueidan, Cécile; Hawksworth, David L; Hestmark, Geir; Hosaka, Kentaro; Humber, Richard A; Hyde, Kevin D; Ironside, Joseph E; Kõljalg, Urmas; Kurtzman, Cletus P; Larsson, Karl-Henrik; Lichtwardt, Robert; Longcore, Joyce; Miądlikowska, Jolanta; Miller, Andrew; Moncalvo, Jean-Marc; Mozley-Standridge, Sharon; Oberwinkler, Franz; Parmasto, Erast; Reeb, Valérie; Rogers, Jack D; Roux, Claude; Ryvarden, Leif; Sampaio, José Paulo; Schüßler, Arthur; Sugiyama, Junta; Thorn, R Greg; Tibell, Leif; Untereiner, Wendy A; Walker, Christopher; Wang, Zheng; Weir, Alex; Weiss, Michael; White, Merlin M; Winka, Katarina; Yao, Yi-Jian; Zhang, Ning (2007): A higher-level phylogenetic classification of the Fungi. Mycological Research, 111(5), 509-547, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mycres.2007.03.004
Knoll, A (2014): The quality of the fossil record: Populations, species, and communities. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences
Kradolfer, J J (1995): Stability of the Mathieu Equation and its applications in parametric resonance. Journal of Mathematical Physics
Peters, K E; Walters, C C; Moldowan, J M (2004): The Biomarker Guide. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781107326040
Radke, Matthias (1988): Application of aromatic compounds as maturity indicators in source rocks and crude oils. Marine and Petroleum Geology, 5(3), 224-236, https://doi.org/10.1016/0264-8172(88)90003-7
Rayleigh, F R S (1916): LIX. On convection currents in a horizontal layer of fluid, when the higher temperature is on the under side. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science, 32(192), 529-546, https://doi.org/10.1080/14786441608635602
Schoene, Blair; Eddy, Michael P; Samperton, Kyle M; Keller, C Brenhin; Keller, Gerta; Adatte, Thierry; Khadri, Syed F R (2019): U-Pb constraints on pulsed eruption of the Deccan Traps across the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Science, 363(6429), 862-866, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau2422
Torsvik, Trond H; Van der Voo, Rob; Preeden, Ulla; Niocaill, Conall M; Steinberger, Bernhard; Doubrovine, Pavel V; van Hinsbergen, Douwe J J; Domeier, Mathew; Gaina, Carmen; Tohver, Eric; Meert, Joseph G; McCausland, Phil J A; Cocks, L Robin M (2012): Phanerozoic polar wander, palaeogeography and dynamics. Earth-Science Reviews, 114(3-4), 325-368, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2012.06.007
Further details:
Armstorff, Genevieve: ReadMe - A 320 MA Geochemical and Geodynamic Record Through Fungal PAH Biomarkers. ReadMe - A 320 MA Multi-Sphere Record of Biodiversity and Geodynamics Through Fungal Biomarkers.pdf
Parameter(s):
| # | Name | Short Name | Unit | Principal Investigator | Method/Device | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Age | Age | Ma | Armstorff, Genevieve | ||
| 2 | AGE | Age | ka BP | Armstorff, Genevieve | Geocode | |
| 3 | Mathieu function | a | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | Stability Characteristic | |
| 4 | Orbital excitation function | q | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 5 | Periodic forcing function | cos(2t) | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 6 | Fungi | Fungi | Armstorff, Genevieve | Modern | ||
| 7 | Uniform resource locator/link to reference | URL ref | Armstorff, Genevieve | |||
| 8 | Fungi | Fungi | Armstorff, Genevieve | Ancient | ||
| 9 | Carbon, organic, total | TOC | % | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | |
| 10 | Retene | Retene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 11 | Cadinene | Cadinene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 12 | Higher plant parameter index | HPP index | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 13 | Higher plant parameter index | HPP index | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 14 | Higher plant parameter, magnitude | HPP magnitude | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 15 | Stability status | Stability | Armstorff, Genevieve | |||
| 16 | Conductivity, electrical | EC | S/m | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 17 | Phosphorus | P | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 18 | 1-Methylphenanthrene | 1-Methylphenanthrene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 19 | 2-Methylphenanthrene | 2-Methylphenanthrene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 20 | 3-Methylphenanthrene | 3-Methylphenanthrene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 21 | 9-Methylphenanthrene | 9-Methylphenanthrene | µg/g | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | |
| 22 | Methylphenanthrene Index | Methylphenanthrene I | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, see abstract | MPI-1 | |
| 23 | Rayleigh number | Ra | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) | ||
| 24 | Vitrinite reflectance | Ro | % | Armstorff, Genevieve | Calculated, according to Armstorff (2026) |
License:
Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC-BY-4.0) (License comes into effect after moratorium ends)
Status:
Curation Level: Enhanced curation (CurationLevelC)
Size:
18400 data points
Download Data (login required; moratorium until 2028-06-15)
View dataset as HTML (shows only first 2000 rows)
