Скачать или смотреть Unlocking Earth's Past: Wonders of the Cambrian Seas |

#CambrianExplosion #SnowballEarth #AncientLife

After the "Snowball Earth" glaciations, Earth's oceans transformed into a nutrient-rich, oxygenated environment, setting the stage for an unparalleled biological revolution. This post-glacial period saw the rise of the enigmatic Ediacaran biota, soft-bodied organisms that represented early multicellular life. The massive influx of minerals and a significant increase in oxygen levels created a primordial soup ripe for complexity, enabling the metabolic demands of larger, more active animals.

Beginning approximately 541 million years ago, the Cambrian Explosion witnessed an astonishing diversification of complex life forms over just 20-25 million years. Nearly all major animal body plans emerged, driven by factors like sustained oxygen, sophisticated genetic toolkits (Hox genes), and intense ecological feedback loops, particularly a brutal "arms race" between predators like Anomalocaris and prey such as armored trilobites. Iconic fauna including Wiwaxia and Hallucigenia populated these ancient seas, establishing complex food webs and laying the foundation for virtually all subsequent animal life on Earth. Research continues to unravel the precise triggers and intricate dynamics of this pivotal era.

#prehistoricanimals #Trilobites #Anomalocaris #OceanLife #ScienceDocumentary #Geology