Taphonomic experiments resolve controls on the preservation of melanosomes and keratinous tissues in feathers

• DOI: 10.1111/pala.12445
• Publication Date: 2019-09-19T17:05:51Z
• Authors: Tiffany S. Slater; Maria E. McNamara; Patrick J. Orr; Tara B. Foley; Shosuke Ito; Kazumasa Wakamatsu
• Keywords: Taphonomy; Melanosome

Fossils are a key source of data on the evolution feather structure and function through deep time, but their ability to resolve macroevolutionary questions is compromised by an incomplete understanding taphonomy. Critically, relative preservation potential two components, melanosomes keratinous tissue, not fully resolved. Recent studies suggesting that preferentially preserved conflict with observations preserve in fossil feathers as external moulds organic matrix. To date, there no model explain latter mode melanosome preservation. We addressed these issues degrading systematic taphonomic experiments incorporating decay, maturation oxidation isolation combination. Our results reveal production mouldic requires interactions oxidant most likely occur prior substantial maturation. This constrains conditions under which be fossilized. our also confirm structures have higher than range diagenetic conditions, supporting hitherto controversial hypotheses can retain degraded structures.