A study led by the University of Oxford has edged us closer to unraveling an age-old question that has intrigued naturalists since the time of Charles Darwin: when did the first animals emerge in Earth's history? The findings were recently published in the journal Trends in Ecology & Evolution.
Reconstruction of the Ediacaran seafloor from the Nama Group, Namibia, showing early animal diversity. Credit: Oxford University Museum of Natural History / Mighty Fossilshas edged us closer to unraveling an age-old question that has intrigued naturalists since the time of Charles Darwin: when did the first animals emerge in Earth’s history? The findings were recently published in the journalAnimals first occur in the fossil record around 574 million years ago.
This posed a dilemma for paleontologists: does the molecular clock method overestimate the point at which animals first evolved? Or were animals present during the early Neoproterozoic, but too soft and fragile to be preserved? To investigate this, the research team used a range of analytical techniques on samples of Cambrian mudstone deposits from almost 20 sites, to compare those hosting BST fossils with those preserving only mineral-based remains .
‘The presence of these clays was the main predictor of whether rocks would harbor BST fossils’ added Dr. Anderson. ‘This suggests that the clay particles act as an antibacterial barrier that prevents bacteria and other microorganisms from breaking down organic materials.’
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