The primeval ocean, full of nothing at first, evolved over time to the state that we have today. How did that development take place?
The primeval ocean, full of nothing at first, evolved over time to the state that we have today. How did that development take place?
The whole story is quite complex, but the evolution of algae played a critical role. Indeed, when algae entered the stage, marked changes took place.
Now a new study shows that it already happened 1,400 million years ago – 600 million years earlier than previously thought.
This means that at least some marine ecosystems 1,400 million years ago functioned in a similar way to those we have today, recalibrating our understanding of ocean evolution, says Don E. Canfield, Professor and Head of Research specialising in ocean chemistry and its interplay with the evolution of life on Earth.
Read more at: University of Southern Denmark
The Xiamaling Formation in China, which contains fossilised algae from primeval times. (Photo Credit: © Don E. Canfield/University of Southern Denmark)
