Abstract

In Person

ABSTRACT :

The Ediacaran period represents one of the most significant biological transitions in Earth’s history, marking a profound shift from microbially dominated ecosystems to those ruled by animals. During this time, the Ediacara biota emerged, comprising large and morphologically diverse organisms, including both stem and crown group animals, alongside enigmatic forms that vanished from the fossil record during the Cambrian explosion of bilaterians. To investigate the connections between the decline of the Ediacara biota and the Cambrian diversification event, our team has concentrated on terminal Ediacaran units in Namibia and Iran. We revisited classic Ediacaran sections and explored previously unknown sites. These field studies have broadened the temporal and geographic distribution of well-known Ediacara biota, such as Dickinsonia and Kimberella. Additionally, we identified key biostratigraphic taxa, including Corrumbella, which may aid in subdividing the Ediacaran period. Notably, our findings reveal a rapid increase in animal behaviors, evidenced by trace fossils, coinciding with a significant decline in Ediacaran diversity.

BIO : Prof. Marc Laflamme’s research interests center on the classification and preservation of the Ediacara biota, which represent the oldest large and complex organisms in the rock record. These globally distributed, soft-bodied organisms made a sudden appearance in the fossil record approximately 578 million years ago, dominating early ecosystems until their demise in response to the Cambrian explosion of animals.

Prof. Laflamme’s work delves into the evolutionary hierarchy and relationships among the Ediacara biota and their relationship to animals. His studies focus on the growth and function in closely related species, while also applying modeling techniques to assess feeding strategies in these enigmatic organisms. His research further concerns the geobiological interactions that allow for the fossilization of soft tissues, integrating laboratory decay experiments with extensive field studies in Newfoundland, South Australia, Namibia, and Iran. This fieldwork highlights how growth, feeding, reproduction, and inter-species competition can be elucidated through the examination of the oldest animal communities.