The Ediacaran emergence of bilaterians: congruence between the genetic and the geological fossil records

Kevin J. Peterson, James A. Cotton, James G. Gehling, Davide Pisani

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

253 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Unravelling the timing of the metazoan radiation is crucial for elucidating the macroevolutionary processes associated with the Cambrian explosion. Because estimates of metazoan divergence times derived from molecular clocks range from quite shallow (Ediacaran) to very deep (Mesoproterozoic), it has been difficult to ascertain whether there is concordance or quite dramatic discordance between the genetic and geological fossil records. Here, we show using a range of molecular clock methods that the major pulse of metazoan divergence times was during the Ediacaran, which is consistent with a synoptic reading of the Ediacaran macrobiota. These estimates are robust to changes in priors, and are returned with or without the inclusion of a palaeontologically derived maximal calibration point. Therefore, the two historical records of life both suggest that although the cradle of Metazoa lies in the Cryogenian, and despite the explosion of ecology that occurs in the Cambrian, it is the emergence of bilaterian taxa in the Ediacaran that sets the tempo and mode of macroevolution for the remainder of geological time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1435-1443
Number of pages9
JournalPhilosophical Transactions B: Biological Sciences
Volume363
Issue number1496
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 Apr 2008

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Ediacaran emergence of bilaterians: congruence between the genetic and the geological fossil records'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this