A new study of modern sea sponges is beginning to tell us how early life forms such as sea sponges found ways to survive in extreme environments prior to the evolution of modern life and the oxygenation of Earth’s oceans between a billion and 541 million years ago.
A new study of modern sea sponges is beginning to tell us how early life forms such as sea sponges found ways to survive in extreme environments prior to the evolution of modern life and the oxygenation of Earth’s oceans between a billion and 541 million years ago.
“Sponges that thrive in low-oxygen environments act like a chimney,” explained Sally Leys, a University of Alberta biologist who led the study. “They have to be very skinny to allow water to be pulled through by this chimney effect. We call this passive filtration.”
As oxygen levels in Earth’s oceans slowly began to rise, the delicate sea sponges began to plump up, growing wider to take in more food and oxygen as they became more available.
The new research shows it is possible for similar, ancient sponges to have lived in the Neoproterozoic Era. The results also give scientists a search profile for what they might look for in fossils, as the investigation of Earth’s oxygenation and the evolution of modern life from our ancient oceans continues.
Continue reading at University of Alberta.
Image via University of Alberta.
