Related Experiment Videos
The evolution of early Foraminifera
Jan Pawlowski1, Maria Holzmann, Cédric Berney
1Department of Zoology and Animal Biology, University of Geneva, Sciences III, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. Jan.Pawlowski@zoo.unige.ch
Summary
Early Foraminifera, including naked and testate species, underwent significant evolution before the Carboniferous period. Molecular data reveals a diverse, non-fossilized radiation of these single-chambered organisms, impacting early protistan communities.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Molecular Phylogenetics
- Protistan Ecology
Background:
- Fossil Foraminifera first appear in the Early Cambrian, coinciding with early skeletonized animals.
- The evolution of early foraminifers is poorly understood due to poor fossil preservation and identification challenges of early unilocular (single-chambered) tests.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the poorly understood evolution of early Foraminifera.
- To understand the ecological role of early Foraminifera in Neoproterozoic protistan communities.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of molecular data from extant naked and testate unilocular Foraminifera species.
Main Results:
- A large radiation of nonfossilized unilocular Foraminifera predates the diversification of multilocular lineages in the Carboniferous.
- Convergent evolution of test morphologies and wall types occurred multiple times within this early radiation.
Conclusions:
- Early Foraminifera were a significant part of Neoproterozoic protistan communities.
- The ecological complexity of Neoproterozoic protistan communities was likely underestimated.