Ediacaran metazoan reefs from the Nama Group, Namibia

A. M. Penny; Rachel Wood; A. Curtis; F. Bowyer; R. Tostevin; K. H. Hoffman

doi:10.1126/science.1253393

Ediacaran metazoan reefs from the Nama Group, Namibia

A. M. Penny^*, Rachel Wood, A. Curtis, F. Bowyer, R. Tostevin, K. H. Hoffman

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Geosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Reef-building inmetazoans represents an important ecological innovationwhereby individuals collectively enhance feeding efficiency and gain protection from competitors and predation. The appearance of metazoan reefs in the fossil record therefore indicates an adaptive response to complex ecological pressures. In the Nama Group, Namibia, we found evidence of reef-building by the earliest known skeletal metazoan, the globally distributed Cloudina, ∼548 million years ago.These Cloudina reefs formed open frameworks without a microbial component but with mutual attachment and cementation between individuals. Orientated growth implies a passive suspension-feeding habit into nutrient-rich currents.The characteristics of Cloudina support the view that metazoan reef-building was promoted by the rise of substrate competitors and predators.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1504-1506
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	344
Issue number	6191
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1253393
Publication status	Published - 27 Jun 2014

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Ediacaran metazoan reefs_Revised(1)Accepted author manuscript, 84 KB
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https://science.sciencemag.org/content/344/6191/1504

Re-inventing the planet: Neoproterozoic revolution in oxygenation, biogeochemistry and biological complexity
Wood, R.
NERC
1/11/10 → 31/10/14
Project: Research
International Centre for Carbonate Reservoirs
Wood, R., Butler, I. & Wilkinson, M.
Other
1/09/10 → 31/03/20
Project: Research

Rachel Wood
- School of Geosciences - Personal Chair in Carbonate GeoSciences
Person: Academic: Research Active

Cite this

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abstract = "Reef-building inmetazoans represents an important ecological innovationwhereby individuals collectively enhance feeding efficiency and gain protection from competitors and predation. The appearance of metazoan reefs in the fossil record therefore indicates an adaptive response to complex ecological pressures. In the Nama Group, Namibia, we found evidence of reef-building by the earliest known skeletal metazoan, the globally distributed Cloudina, ∼548 million years ago.These Cloudina reefs formed open frameworks without a microbial component but with mutual attachment and cementation between individuals. Orientated growth implies a passive suspension-feeding habit into nutrient-rich currents.The characteristics of Cloudina support the view that metazoan reef-building was promoted by the rise of substrate competitors and predators.",

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AU - Curtis, A.

AU - Bowyer, F.

AU - Tostevin, R.

AU - Hoffman, K. H.

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Ediacaran metazoan reefs from the Nama Group, Namibia

Abstract

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Re-inventing the planet: Neoproterozoic revolution in oxygenation, biogeochemistry and biological complexity

International Centre for Carbonate Reservoirs

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Rachel Wood

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