The Tempo of Ediacaran Evolution

Overview

Journal Sci Adv

Specialties Biology
Science

Date 2021 Nov 3

PMID 34731004

Citations 7

Authors

Chuan Yang

Alan D Rooney

Daniel J Condon

Xian-Hua Li

Dmitriy V Grazhdankin

Fred T Bowyer

Chunlin Hu

Francis A Macdonald

Maoyan Zhu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The rise of complex macroscopic life occurred during the Ediacaran Period, an interval that witnessed large-scale disturbances to biogeochemical systems. The current Ediacaran chronostratigraphic framework is of insufficient resolution to provide robust global correlation schemes or test hypotheses for the role of biogeochemical cycling in the evolution of complex life. Here, we present new radio-isotopic dates from Ediacaran strata that directly constrain key fossil assemblages and large-magnitude carbon cycle perturbations. These new dates and integrated global correlations demonstrate that late Ediacaran strata of South China are time transgressive and that the 575- to 550-Ma interval is marked by two large negative carbon isotope excursions: the Shuram and a younger one that ended ca. 550 Ma ago. These data calibrate the tempo of Ediacaran evolution characterized by intervals of tens of millions of years of increasing ecosystem complexity, interrupted by biological turnovers that coincide with large perturbations to the carbon cycle.

Citing Articles

Causes and consequences of end-Ediacaran extinction: An update.

Darroch S, Smith E, Nelson L, Craffey M, Schiffbauer J, Laflamme M Camb Prism Extinct. 2025; 1:e15.

PMID: 40078676 PMC: 11895755. DOI: 10.1017/ext.2023.12.

Ediacaran origin and Ediacaran-Cambrian diversification of Metazoa.

Carlisle E, Yin Z, Pisani D, Donoghue P Sci Adv. 2024; 10(46):eadp7161.

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Sea level controls on Ediacaran-Cambrian animal radiations.

Bowyer F, Wood R, Yilales M Sci Adv. 2024; 10(31):eado6462.

PMID: 39083611 PMC: 11290527. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ado6462.

Dawn of diverse shelled and carbonaceous animal microfossils at ~ 571 Ma.

Morais L, Freitas B, Fairchild T, Clavijo Arcos R, Guillong M, Vance D Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):14916.

PMID: 38942912 PMC: 11213954. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65671-4.

Developmental biology of and the Ediacaran origin of crown metazoans.

Sun W, Yin Z, Liu P, Zhu M, Donoghue P Proc Biol Sci. 2024; 291(2023):20240101.

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