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SUMMARY:Illuminating the start of complex life: Spatial analysis of Ediaca
 ran ecosystems - Dr Emily Mitchell\, Earth Sciences (University of Cambrid
 ge)
DTSTART:20180515T120000Z
DTEND:20180515T130000Z
UID:TALK103561@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr. Andrea Manica
DESCRIPTION:Ediacaran macro-organisms occupy a crucial position in the his
 tory of life on Earth\, marking the transition between the microbially dom
 inated Proterozoic and the Cambrian explosion of modern animals.   The old
 est Ediacaran macro-organisms exhibit unique anatomies\, making it difficu
 lt to resolve their phylogenetic relationships or their basic ecology.  Ho
 wever\, the sessile nature of Ediacaran macro-organisms\, coupled with the
 ir in-situ preservation\, means that the positions of these fossils on the
  rock surface encapsulate their life-histories.  As a result\, detailed sp
 atial analyses enables the resolution of the biological and ecological pro
 cesses that impacted during their lives. In this talk I will discuss how s
 patial analyses have enabled us to resolve the reproductive mode of key sp
 ecies\, determine the role of competition and local environment on communi
 ty structure\, and investigate the relative balance of stochastic and dete
 rministic within these oldest complex communities. 
LOCATION:Part II Lecture Theatre\, Department of Zoology \, Downing Street
 \, CB2 3EJ
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