Editing Taphonomy (section)

=== Microbial Mats ===
Modern experiments have been conducted on post-mortem invertebrates and vertebrates to understand how [[microbial mat]]s and microbial activity influence the formation of fossils and the preservation of soft tissues.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Iniesto |first1=M. |last2=Villalba |first2=I. |last3=Buscalioni |first3=A. D. |last4=Guerrero |first4=M. C. |last5=López-Archilla |first5=A. I. |date=May 2017 |title=The Effect Of microbial Mats In The Decay Of Anurans With Implications For Understanding Taphonomic Processes In The Fossil Record |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=7 |issue=1 |pages=45160 |doi=10.1038/srep45160 |pmid=28338095 |pmc=5364532 |bibcode=2017NatSR...745160I |issn=2045-2322}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Iniesto |first1=Miguel |last2=Buscalioni |first2=Ángela D. |last3=Carmen Guerrero |first3=M. |last4=Benzerara |first4=Karim |last5=Moreira |first5=David |last6=López-Archilla |first6=Ana I. |date=2016-05-10 |title=Involvement of microbial mats in early fossilization by decay delay and formation of impressions and replicas of vertebrates and invertebrates |journal=Scientific Reports |language=en |volume=6 |issue=1 |pages=25716 |doi=10.1038/srep25716 |issn=2045-2322 |pmc=4861970 |pmid=27162204|bibcode=2016NatSR...625716I }}</ref> In these studies, microbial mats entomb animal carcasses in a sarcophagus of microbes—the sarcophagus entombing the animal's carcass delays decay.<ref name=":4" /> Entombed carcasses were observed to be more intact than non-entombed counter-parts by years at a time. Microbial mats maintained and stabilized the articulation of the joints and the skeleton of post-mortem organisms, as seen in frog carcasses for up to 1080 days after coverage by the mats.<ref name=":4" /> The environment within the entombed carcasses is typically described as anoxic and acidic during the initial stage of decomposition.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last1=INIESTO |first1=MIGUEL |last2=LAGUNA |first2=CELIA |last3=FLORIN |first3=MAXIMO |last4=GUERRERO |first4=M. CARMEN |last5=CHICOTE |first5=ALVARO |last6=BUSCALIONI |first6=ANGELA D. |last7=LÓPEZ-ARCHILLA |first7=ANA I. |title=The Impact of Microbial Mats and Their Microenvironmental Conditions in Early Decay of Fish |date=2015 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44708731 |journal=PALAIOS |volume=30 |issue=11/12 |pages=792–801 |doi=10.2110/palo.2014.086 |jstor=44708731 |bibcode=2015Palai..30..792I |s2cid=73644674 |issn=0883-1351|url-access=subscription }}</ref> These conditions are perpetuated by the exhaustion of oxygen by aerobic bacteria within the carcass creating an environment ideal for the preservation of soft tissues, such as muscle tissue and brain tissue.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" /> The anoxic and acidic conditions created by that mats also inhibit the process of autolysis within the carcasses delaying decay even further.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Butler |first1=Aodhán D. |last2=Cunningham |first2=John A. |last3=Budd |first3=Graham E. |last4=Donoghue |first4=Philip C. J. |date=2015-06-07 |title=Experimental taphonomy of Artemia reveals the role of endogenous microbes in mediating decay and fossilization |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences |volume=282 |issue=1808 |pages=20150476 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2015.0476 |pmc=4455810 |pmid=25972468}}</ref>  Endogenous gut bacteria have also been described to aid the preservation of invertebrate soft tissue by delaying decay and stabilizing soft tissue structures.<ref name=":7" /> Gut bacteria form pseudomorphs replicating the form of soft tissues within the animal. These [[pseudomorph]]s are possible explanation for the increased occurrence of preserved guts impression among invertebrates.<ref name=":7" /> In the later stages of the prolonged decomposition of the carcasses, the environment within the sarcophagus alters to more oxic and basic conditions promoting [[biomineralization]] and the precipitation of [[calcium carbonate]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":5" />

Microbial mats additionally play a role in the formation of molds and impressions of carcasses. These molds and impressions replicate and preserve the [[Integumentary system|integument]] of animal carcasses.<ref name=":4" /> The degree to which has been demonstrated in frog skin preservation. The original morphology of the frog skin, including structures such as warts, was preserved for more than 1.5 years. The microbial mats also aided in the formation of the mineral [[gypsum]] embedded within the frog skin.<ref name=":4" /> The microbes that constitute the microbial mats in addition to forming a sarcophagus, secrete an exopolymeric substances (EPS) that drive biomineralization. The EPS provides a nucleated center for biomineralization.<ref name=":5" /> During later stages of decomposition heterotrophic microbes degrade the EPS, facilitating the release of calcium ions into the environment and creating a Ca-enriched film. The degradation of the EPS and formation of the Ca-rich film is suggested to aid in the precipitation of calcium carbonate and further the process of biomineralization.<ref name=":6" />