Philip B. Vixseboxse - Taphonomic processes act at all scales of life, from superorganisms to individual proteins. Understanding decay processes on the molecular scale is key to constraining the innate biases of the exceptional fossil record.
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Palaeobiologist
Philip B. Vixseboxse
Philip B. Vixseboxse
BSc (Bris), MSc (Bris)
Understanding decay processes on the molecular scale is key to constraining the innate biases of the exceptional fossil record
Enzymes control the fate of organic matter during decay - both via autolysis within tissues after death, and degradation by microorganisms. However, the specifics of enzyme evolution and proliferation are rarely considered in a taphonomic context. My work aims to bridge this gap; using molecular phylogenetic approaches to elucidate trends in enzyme evolution, and experimental taphonomy, I consider how enzymatic innovations may control the distribution of exceptional preservation in time and space.
Manuscripts
An experimentally-produced bleached reduction spot in ferrihydrite-supplemented sand
Experimental formation of iron reduction spots by microbial cultures
Led by Sev Zielinska, this manucript outlines a series of experiments wherein complex microbial consortia were introduced to ferrihydrite-supplemented quartz sand mixtures, and maintained under anaerobic conditions. Reduction spots were formed in a couple of replicates, with one culture (derived from a soil-inoculated, ferrihydrite-supplemented, and insolated Winogradsky column) demonstrating repeatable and reproducible reduction spot formation.
Zielinska S., Felton N., Vixseboxse P.B. & McMahon S. (2026) Experimental evidence for a microbial origin of reduction spots in red beds on Earth—and Mars? Astrobiology 15311074261464015.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1177/15311074261464015 or 📁
A rippled red sandstone, preserving a Dickinsonia costata specimen (top left)
Ediacaran Impression Fossils (EIFs) within a true substrate framework
Led by Dr William McMahon, this manuscript explores the mechanisms driving near-census-level preservation of Ediacaran communities. These communities were buried by obrution events with negligible erosional scour, and thus the bedding planes upon which these fossils are preserved are often considered "true substrates". Therefore, we propose inclusion of Ediacaran Impression Fossils within a true substrate conceptual framework.
McMahon W.J., Liu A.G., Veenma Y.P., Vixseboxse P.B. & Boddy C.E. (2025) Remarkable fossils on unremarkable bedding planes? The role of true substrates in the fossil record of the Ediacaran macrobiota. Geological Society, London, Special Publication 556(1).
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1144/SP556-2024-108 or 📁
A stabilized decay experiment in quartz sand, showing remobilized iron oxides surrounding an anemone carcass
A new method of taphonomic experiment fixation
Decay processes result in complex redox zonation around carcasses, leading to broadly concentric regions of variable redox state wherein minerals may dissolve, persist, or precipitate. As such, understanding the nature of this zonation has important implications for our interpretation of taphonomic processes leading to exceptional preservation of soft tissues. Here, we describe a new protocol to stabilize taphonomic experiments via buffered solvent replacement - permitting impregnation with water-incompatible resins.
Vixseboxse P.B., McMahon S. & Liu A.G. (2024) Taphonomic experiments fixed and conserved with Paraloid B72 resin via solvent replacement. Lethaia 57(1), 1-11.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.18261/let.57.1.1 or 📁
Photograph of "Seilacher's Corner" from the E Surface, Newfoundland
Photo credit: Dr Alex Liu; ediacaran.org
Ediacaran frond shape controlled survivorship in turbulent flows
Studying the orientations of Ediacaran fossil taxa on the E Surface of Mistaken Point, we found that stemless taxa commonly showed bidirectional distributions, while stemmed taxa showed clear unidirectional felling. We propose that the stemless taxa were less resistant to currents, and were felled during turbulent conditions within the turbulent gravity flow head, whereas stemmed taxa were more resistant to felling, and were felled during higher velocity laminar flow conditions following the gravity flow head.
Vixseboxse P.B., Kenchington C.G., Dunn F.S. & Mitchell E.G. (2021) Orientations of Mistaken Point fronds indicate morphology impacted ability to survive turbulence. Frontiers in Earth Science 9, 762824.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2021.762824 or 📁
PTM of specimen BGS GSM106352, showing large examples of Bradgatia and Charnia
Contains data supplied by permission of the Natural Environment Research Council, 2024
Charnia was a stem-group eumetazoan
Led by Dr Frankie Dunn, this manuscript studied the branching architecture of exceptional three-dimensionally-preserved specimens of Charnia from the White Sea and Charnwood Forest. Producing a matrix of morphological characters that included this new mode of morphological construction, we were able to resolve Charnia as a stem-group eumetazoan, with strong statistical support.
Dunn F.S., Liu A.G., Grazhdankin D.V., Vixseboxse P.B., Flannery-Sutherland J., Green E., Harris S., Wilby P.R. & Donoghue P.C. (2021) The developmental biology of Charnia and the eumetazoan affinity of the Ediacaran rangeomorphs. Science Advances 7(30), eabe0291.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe0291 or 📁
Cover image from Ecology Letters 22(12), featuring Fractofusus and Plumeropriscum
Neutral processes dominated Ediacaran animal communities
Led by Dr Emily Mitchell, we explored the spatial distribution of Ediacaran animals across seven individual Avalonian communities. Spatial point process analyses reveal that niche processes had little effect on palaeocommunity structuring, with neutral processes dominating - in contrast to modern niche-structured communities. This suggests a fundamental transition in community structure at the Ediacaran-Cambrian boundary.
Mitchell E.G., Harris S., Kenchington C.G., Vixseboxse P.B., Roberts L., Clark C., Dennis A., Liu A.G. & Wilby P.R. (2019) The importance of neutral over niche processes in structuring Ediacaran early animal communities. Ecology Letters 22(12), 2028-2038.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1111/ele.13383 or 📁
Applying Polynomial Texture Mapping to Charnwood fossils
Led by Dr Charlotte Kenchington, this manuscript provides a synopsis of ongoing work on fossils from the Charnwood Forest area. We provide an overview of the geology, and explore the palaeobiology of this novel assemblage. Additionally, we describe the use of Polynomial Texture Mapping (also known as Reflectance Transformation Imaging) as a powerful approach for the digitization and interpretation of Ediacaran fossils.
Kenchington C.G., Harris S.J., Vixseboxse P.B., Pickup C. & Wilby, P.R. (2018) The Ediacaran fossils of Charnwood Forest: shining new light on a major biological revolution. Proceedings of the Geologists' Association 129(3), 264-277.
Read more here: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pgeola.2018.02.006 or 📁
Outreach
Leader on Rockwatch Dorset Residential Fieldtrips
As a former "Rockwatcher" of many years, I was delighted to be approached to help lead the annual Rockwatch Dorset Residential trip in 2023, and reprised my role as leader in 2024, 2025, and 2026. This trip allows Rockwatchers to explore key geological concepts over several days - such as the effect of tectonics on environmental facies, climate change over geological timeframes, and the structural geology of southern England.
Television appearance: CBBC WILD 2014
Aired in October 2014, I was fortunate to be approached to present a short five-minute segment on fossil collecting for the CBBC show WILD. With the stunning backdrop of the Blue Lias on the stretch of coastline between Penarth and Lavernock Point (South Wales), I explained the importance of fossil collecting, and how fossil discoveries revolutionize our understanding of past environments and ecosystems. I also provided a short introduction to safe fieldwork practices.
Philip B. Vixseboxse, Updated 13/09/2026
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