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Geobiological Events in the Ediacaran Period

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 July 2017

Shuhai Xiao
Shuhai Xiao*
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 3061B Derring Hall Blacksburg, VA 24061
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Abstract

The Ediacaran Period represents a critical transition in Earth history. Major perturbations and innovations occurred in the Ediacaran climate, ocean, and biosphere systems. This paper reviews recent advances in Ediacaran glaciations, oxidation events, and biological evolution. There were one or more glaciations in the Ediacaran Period. Ediacaran successions also record multiple negative δ13Ccarb excursions in addition to the excursion associated with basal Ediacaran cap dolostones. These negative δ13Ccarb excursions possibly represent pulses of ocean oxidation events. The Ediacaran Period is also distinguished by two unique biotas—the Doushantuo-Pertatataka acritarchs and classical Ediacara biota—that characterize, respectively, the early and late part of the period. These two biotas appear to be separated by a glaciation and by a major negative δ13Ccarb excursion, although the exact temporal relationship among the climatic, geochemical, and biotic events is far from resolved. Future research should focus on improving geochronological, paleoenvironmental, and paleontological data from key Ediacaran successions in order to test the apparent and tantalizing couplings between evolutionary and environmental events.

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Research Article
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The Paleontological Society Papers , Volume 14: From Evolution to Geobiology: Research Questions Driving Paleontology at the Start of a New Century , October 2008 , pp. 85 - 104
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Copyright © by the Paleontological Society 

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