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New Study Pinpoints Emergence Of First Animals
A groundbreaking new study has shed light on the emergence of the first complex multicellular animals, which marks a significant turning point in the history of life on Earth. According to the research, the earliest Ediacara-type fossils appeared around 619-587 million years ago, a period that coincides with dramatic changes in the Earth’s climate and oxygen levels.
The study, published in Nature Communications, challenges previous theories about the emergence of complex life during this time period. By using cyclostratigraphy to date the aftermath of the Marinoan glaciation, researchers have been able to reconstruct the history of life on Earth with unprecedented precision.
For millions of years, microorganisms were the only forms of life on our planet. However, around 635 million years ago, complex multicellular animals began to appear, marking a major shift in the evolution of life. The Ediacara fossils are enigmatic and bizarre by modern standards, but they represent an important step towards the evolution of more advanced forms of life.
The study suggests that oxygen pulses played a crucial role in the emergence of these early animals. The rapid deglaciation following the Marinoan ice age led to periodic increases in oceanic oxygen levels. This allowed for the development of body surfaces that could absorb nutrients and oxygen directly from the water, which may have been necessary for their survival.
However, this adaptation came with a cost. These early animals were vulnerable to low oxygen levels, making them susceptible to extinction events. The study proposes that a combination of volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate motion, or even an asteroid impact led to a global drop in oxygen levels around 539-500 million years ago, causing the first mass extinction event.
This event may have played a crucial role in paving the way for the evolution of animals as we know them today. The findings of this study provide significant insights into the early history of life on Earth and have important implications for our understanding of evolutionary processes.
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidbressan/2025/04/06/new-study-pinpoints-emergence-of-first-animals/
