The temporal and environmental context of early animal evolution: considering all the ingredients of an ‘explosion’

Abstract

Animals originated and evolved during a unique time in Earth history—the Neoproterozoic Era. This paper aims to discuss 1) when landmark events in early animal evolution occurred, and 2) the environmental context of these evolutionary milestones, and how such factors may have affected ecosystems and body plans. With respect to timing, molecular clock studies—utilizing a diversity of methodologies—agree that animal multicellularity had arisen by ∼800 million years ago (Ma) (Tonian period), the bilaterian body plan by ∼650 Ma (Cryogenian), and divergences between sister phyla occurred ∼560-540 Ma (late Ediacaran). Most purported Tonian and Cryogenian animal body fossils are unlikely to be correctly identified, but independent support for the presence of pre-Ediacaran animals is recorded by organic geochemical biomarkers produced by demosponges. This view of animal origins contrasts with data from the fossil record, and the taphonomic question of why animals were not preserved (if present) remains unresolved, although Neoproterozoic environments demanding small, thin body plans and lower abundance/rarity in populations may have played a role. Considering environmental conditions, geochemical data suggest that animals evolved in a relatively low-oxygen ocean. Here, we present new analyses of sedimentary total organic carbon contents in shales suggesting that the Neoproterozoic ocean may also have had lower primary productivity—or at least lower quantities of organic carbon reaching the seafloor—compared to the Phanerozoic. Indeed, recent modeling efforts suggest that low primary productivity is an expected corollary of a low-O₂ world. Combined with an inability to inhabit productive regions in a low-O₂ ocean, earliest animal communities would likely have been more food limited than generally appreciated, impacting both ecosystem structure and organismal behavior. In light of this, we propose the 'fire triangle' metaphor for environmental influences on early animal evolution. Moving towards consideration of all environmental aspects of the Cambrian radiation (fuel, heat, and oxidant) will ultimately lead to a more holistic view of the event.