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Last updated:
2017.06.07
Programme
FP7
Acronym
PALEONANOLIFE
Title
Responses of precambrian life to environmental changes
Project Coordinator
Vanessa DEMANOFF ([email protected])
Coordinator Country
France
Other countries involved
Not available
Funding
1,468,852.00 €
Webpage
-Year of start
2012
Year of conclusion
2017
Project Summary
This multidisciplinary proposal has the objective to enhance our knowledge on the early steps of the evolution of life on Earth by
providing a foundation for better deciphering the molecular fossil record as well as the geochemical signals hidden in ancient rocks.
Based on the multi-scale and multi-technique study of morphologically preserved microorganisms fossilized within ancient siliceous
nodules, I propose to chronologically reconcile the evolution of metabolisms of life forms during the Precambrian with the variation of
(sea)water paleo-temperatures registered by the silica matrix in which the investigated organic microfossils are embedded. Spatiallyresolved information on fossil organic constituent speciation and their structural relationships with the silica matrix will be obtained at
the nanometer scale using a unique combination of spectroscopy and microscopy techniques, notably including STXM and TEM.
Crucial information on paleo-metabolisms will be obtained from NanoSIMS experiments by measuring the stable H-C-N-S isotope
composition of the investigated fossilized objects at the scale of individual cells. In parallel, laboratory experiments will be conducted
to better assess the potential isotopic and molecular evolution of organic molecules during the fossilization process. Estimations of
water paleo-temperatures likely corresponding to oceanic paleo-temperatures will be achieved based on the distribution of the silicon
and oxygen isotopic composition of
©EurOcean 2007
Generated on the European Marine Research Funded Projects info-base at euroceanmrfp.addition.pt.
EurOcean website: www.eurocean.org - Email: [email protected]
Last updated:
2017.06.07
silica closely associated to the fossil cells, measured at the very high spatial resolution of the NanoSIMS. Furthermore, the study of
natural proxies will provide a more profound understanding of the significance of the temperature registered by the isotopic
compositions of Precambrian cherts. In addition to radically change scientific ideas about Precambrian Paleontology, the technical
and scientific developments resulting from this work will be broadly applicable and serve numerous communities.
©EurOcean 2007
Generated on the European Marine Research Funded Projects info-base at euroceanmrfp.addition.pt.
EurOcean website: www.eurocean.org - Email: [email protected]