Environmental and ecological drivers of early animal evolution

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• Ilya Bobrovskiy (Organic Geochemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences)
• Thursday 06 March 2025, 11:00-12:00
• Battcock, Room F17.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Paul B. Rimmer.

In-person

The circumstances surrounding the origin and early evolution of animals have long been a controversial topic, hinging on a mismatch between molecular clock estimates and the fossil record for the timing of animal diversification, the enigmatic appearance of the oldest known complex macroscopic fossils, and the potentially biased and incomplete fossil record of the Precambrian. In recent years, the timing of the origin and early diversification of animals has become much clearer, as molecular clock estimates have largely converged with macrofossil, microfossil, and biomarker records. This alignment now allows for a much more focused search for ecological or environmental factors that may have triggered the rise of animals.

The stable carbon isotope record serves as the ultimate reflection of the interaction between ancient life and the environment, as well as perturbations in the carbon cycle. However, interpreting stable carbon isotope signatures in both carbonate minerals and organic matter within ancient rocks is fraught with uncertainties arising from biological processes, sedimentological conditions, and diagenetic influences. Consequently, our understanding of ancient palaeoenvironments and the carbon cycle remains significantly constrained by these uncertainties.

Rather than measuring bulk isotopic signals from rock samples, we can directly infer the signatures of specific groups of organisms that inhabited ancient palaeobasins by analysing the isotopic composition of their unique biomarkers. For instance, the isotopic composition of hopanes and steranes closely reflects that of bacteria and eukaryotic algae, respectively. Leveraging this approach, we can gain an unprecedented level of detail about both the composition of ancient ecosystems and past environmental changes.

This talk is part of the LCLU Coffee Meetings series.

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• Battcock, Room F17
• LCLU Coffee Meetings

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