Early evolution of ecosystem and biotic diversity revealed from Archean large microfossils

对西澳皮尔巴拉克拉通3.4 Ga Strelley Pool组（SPF）的4个地点和3.0 Ga Farrel石英岩（FQ）的多个地点采集的太古宙微化石进行了详细研究。SPF微化石的形态组合在不同的地区并不相同。此外，SPF透镜状微化石的菌落习性与FQ透镜明显不同。前者仅由透镜组成，而后者在大多数情况下与小球体有关。透镜状微化石的HF-HCl提取是成功的，并显示偶尔存在小液泡，纤维状结构，和/或网状结构在其法兰。这些结果表明，在早太古宙和中太古宙浅水生态系统中存在着令人惊讶的多样化和复杂的微生物。

We performed detailed studies on Archean microfossils collected from 4 localities in the 3.4 Ga Strelley Pool Formation (SPF) and multiple localities in the 3.0 Ga Farrel Quartzite (FQ) in the Pilbara Craton, Western Australia. Morphological assemblages of SPF microfossils are not identical between localities. Furthermore, habit of colony of SPF lenticular microfossils is distinct form that of FQ lenses. The former is comprised only of lenses, whereas the latter is in most cases associated with small spheroids. HF-HCl extraction of the lenticular microfossils was successful and revealed the occasional presence of small vacuoles, fibrillar structures, and/or reticulation in their flanges. These results indicate the presence of surprisingly diverse and complex microorganisms in the Early and Mesoarchean shallow water ecosystem.