重建一个Ediacaran宏观生物的繁殖模式
Emily G Mitchell1, Charlotte G Kenchington1,2, Alexander G Liu3
1Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EQ, UK.
Nature
|August 4, 2015
概括
这项研究揭示了Fractofusus,一个古老的爱迪卡生物体,通过 stolons 和水中传播的propagules 无性繁殖. 这种复杂的生命历史使得当地快速殖民和扩散到新的环境.
科学领域:
- 古生物学
- 发育生物学
- 生态学
背景情况:
- 晚期埃迪亚卡的宏观化石代表了最早的复杂生物,弥合了微生物生态系统和坎布里亚爆炸.
- 形生物是神秘的,模块化的,自我相似的分支生物,具有静止式的底层习惯.
- 在现场化石种群提供了利用空间分析研究它们的生物学机会.
研究的目的:
- 为了研究Fractofusus的繁殖策略和生命史.
- 了解Fractofusus的生殖方式的生态影响.
- 记录早期复杂生命中的发育生物学复杂性.
主要方法:
- 应用到现场化石范围型群体的空间点处理技术.
- 在Fractofusus化石中反复聚类模式的分析.
- 在化石证据的基础上重建生命历史.
主要成果:
- 在Fractofusus中识别反复发生的集群模式.
- 有证据表明多代无性繁殖.
- 发现了通过水传播的传播.
结论:
- 它具有复杂的生命历史,具有双重的繁殖模式 (基于的和传播的).
- 这种繁殖策略促进了快速殖民和长距离的分散.
- 这些发现突显了埃迪卡伦时期早期复杂生命形式的先进发育生物学.
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