Looking for the oldest diatoms

Abstract

Paleontological observations of ancient flora and fauna provide powerful insights into past diversity and relationship dynamics between organisms and their environments. Diatoms are globally distributed protists that influence major biogeochemical cycles and sustain oceanic food webs. The fossil diatom record extends 120 million years back to the Early Cretaceous where rare deposits were discovered worldwide and are occasionally represented by diverse communities. However scarce, the taxonomic richness and geographical spread of these diatom communities suggest prior evolutionary events and therefore earlier deposits. To complement the existing fossil information and to discover diatom deposits predating 120 Ma, we examined 33 study sites from cores and outcrops across oceans and continents. These efforts did not generate new fossil discoveries, however. Our assessment suggests biogenic silica that comprises the cell wall of diatoms was likely dissolved from Mesozoic sediments through diagenetic processes. Altogether, the search for the oldest diatoms must continue but should target sediments that experienced shallow burial and concretions.