Bacterial Residues in Coprolite of Herbivorous Dinosaurs: Role of Bacteria in Mineralization of Feces

Other| December 01, 2001 Bacterial Residues in Coprolite of Herbivorous Dinosaurs: Role of Bacteria in Mineralization of Feces THOMAS C. HOLLOCHER; THOMAS C. HOLLOCHER 1Department of Biochemistry, MS-009, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar KAREN CHIN; KAREN CHIN 2U. S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-975, Menlo Park, CA 94025 * Current address: Colorado University Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 218, Boulder, CO 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar KURT T. HOLLOCHER; KURT T. HOLLOCHER 3Geology Department, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar MICHAEL A. KRUGE MICHAEL A. KRUGE 4Department of Geology, mailcode 4324, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information THOMAS C. HOLLOCHER 1Department of Biochemistry, MS-009, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454 KAREN CHIN * Current address: Colorado University Museum of Natural History, University of Colorado at Boulder, Campus Box 218, Boulder, CO 80309 2U. S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, MS-975, Menlo Park, CA 94025 KURT T. HOLLOCHER 3Geology Department, Union College, Schenectady, NY 12308 MICHAEL A. KRUGE 4Department of Geology, mailcode 4324, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 26 May 2001 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2001) 16 (6): 547–565. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2001)016<0547:BRICOH>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 26 May 2001 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation THOMAS C. HOLLOCHER, KAREN CHIN, KURT T. HOLLOCHER, MICHAEL A. KRUGE; Bacterial Residues in Coprolite of Herbivorous Dinosaurs: Role of Bacteria in Mineralization of Feces. PALAIOS 2001;; 16 (6): 547–565. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2001)016<0547:BRICOH>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract The Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of northwestern Montana has yielded blocky, calcareous coprolites that contain abundant fragments of conifer wood and were produced by large herbivorous dinosaurs. The coprolites are generally dark gray to black in color due to a dark substance confined chiefly within what originally were the capillaries of tracheid and ray cells of xylem. This substance is a kerogen that consists in part of thin-walled vesicles 0.1–1.3 μm in diameter. Pyrolysis products of this kerogen are diagnostic of a bacterial origin with a possible contribution from terrestrial plants. The vesicular component is interpreted as the residue of bacterial cells, whereas a second filamentous component, closely associated with the vesicles, may be the residue of an extracellular binding material, such as glycocalyx.At least two episodes of calcification of the coprolite are recognized by manganous cathodoluminescence. The earlier of these infilled the capillary channels of the conifer fragments. Wood cell walls, voids, cracks, and small burrows were filled during the later episode. Microprobe data confirm these results and show that phosphate is sequestered in the capillaries. These observations suggest that bacteria within the capillaries induced initial mineralization of the coprolite, and, in so doing, created barriers that protected organic residues from subsequent destruction. Early onset of mineralization is consistent with the degree of preservation of woody xylem found in the coprolites. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.