The Ediacaran Biota and the development of modern marine ecosystems

The Ediacaran Biota and the development of modern marine ecosystems
A Marine Life Talk at the National Oceanography Centre by Alex Liu

Life in the modern oceans is abundant and diverse, but it hasn't always been that way. For almost three billion years following the initial evolution of life, the only inhabitants of the marine realm were microscopic, and largely microbial. Then, some 580 million years ago, large and complex organisms suddenly appear in the fossil record. Known as the Ediacaran Biota, these enigmatic and unusual life-forms, bearing little resemblance to any organisms seen before or since, seemingly dominated the planet for around 40 million years. This domination ended with the 'Cambrian Explosion' around 540 million years ago, when modern animal groups can first be recognised worldwide, and the Ediacaran organisms disappear from the record.

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