Macroscopic Carbonaceous Compressions in a Terminal Proterozoic Shale: A Systematic Reassessment of the Miaohe Biota, South China

Early fossil record of Euarthropoda and the Cambrian Explosion

“…Carbonaceous fossils are also abundant in Proterozoic mudrocks, and although detailed investigations of the depositional and diagenetic regimes of these localities are lacking, their preservation appears to be very similar to the Cambrian BSTs. Proterozoic carbonaceous compression fossils are seen, for example, in the Miaohe and Lantian biotas of South China (70,71), Jinxian biota of North China (72), Pusa Shale of Spain (73,74), Chopoghlu Shale of Iran (75), Khatyspyt Formation of Siberia (76), and Zuun-Arts biota of western Mongolia (77) (Fig. 1).…”

“…1 and SI Appendix). Numerous Precambrian BSTs (70)(71)(72)(73)(74)(75)(76)(77) contain disk-shaped fossils of prokaryote colonies (71), such as Beltanelloides (73), or various carbonaceous ribbons and filaments interpreted as algae (14,71). Over 15 algal taxa are known from the Miaohe assemblage of the Doushantuo Formation of China (71) and the Lantian Formation, a basinal equivalent of the Doushantuo Formation (70).…”

Fossils, Feeding, and the Evolution of Complex Multicellularity

“…Experiments (e.g., Boraas et al 1998, see also Hessen and van Donk 1993) show that protistan predators can induce multicellularity in previously unicellular algal populations -there is strong selection pressure because the predators are not capable of phagocytosing the larger, multicellular individuals. The late Neoproterozoic-Cambrian expansion of complex multicellularity and complex macroscopic coenocytes in both green and red algae (Butterfield 2009a;Xiao et al 2002;Yuan et al 2011) might also reflect both eukaryovory and the subsequent radiation of animal grazers. Alegado et al (2012) have hypothesized that simple multicellularity could actually enhance capture of prey bacteria in choanoflagellates, and other functional advantages of simple multicellularity are possible (e.g., Knoll 2011; Parfrey and Lahr 2013).…”

International Symposium and Field Workshop on Ediacaran and Cryogenian Stratigraphy

“…The cap carbonate atop the terminal Cryogenian glacial deposit in South China is one of the best studied cap carbonates (Jiang et al, 2003;Jiang et al, 2006;Zhou et al, 2010;Bristow et al, 2011). Ediacaran successions in South China contain exceptionally preserved microand macrofossils, as well as abundant trace fossils, that have the potential to illuminate the early evolutionary history of animals and other multicellular eukaryotes (Xiao et al, 1998;Xiao et al, 2002;Yuan et al, 2011;Chen et al, 2013;Chen et al, 2014;Meyer et al, 2014;Xiao et al, 2014). In addition, Ediacaran successions in South China are characterized by mixed carbonates, phosphorites, and shales, providing opportunities for integrated chemostratigraphic and biostratigraphic…”