Rangeomorph classification schemes and intra-specific variation: are all characters created equal?

Kenchington, Charlotte G.; Wilby, Philip R.

doi:10.1144/sp448.19

Cited by 22 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…D, E), and furled branches to appear unfurled (Fig. C), suggests branching characters at higher (third and fourth) orders are not taxonomically conserved (see Kenchington & Wilby ). The rotation of these branches supports the notion that at least fourth order branches, and perhaps third order branches in Charnia masoni , were not conjoined, but free to move and rotate in the axial plane (cf.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…neighbour competition or nutrient availability) by differential growth (cf. Hoyal Cuthill & Conway Morris ; Kenchington & Wilby ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liu et al . ; Kenchington & Wilby ). Determination of whether the specimens represent morphs of the same species, or separate species, is more challenging.…”

Section: Systematic Palaeontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Where there is variation in multiple continuous characters within Ediacaran taxa, it has been proposed that this would be sufficient to indicate species level differences (Liu et al . ), depending on the nature and extent of this variation (Kenchington & Wilby ). However, when considering morphs from different localities, it can be extremely difficult to distinguish between taxonomic and intraspecific variation (Kenchington & Wilby ).…”

Section: Systematic Palaeontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomy of the Ediacaran rangeomorph Charnia masoni

Dunn

Wilby

Kenchington

et al. 2018

Papers in Palaeontology

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The Ediacaran macrofossil Charnia masoni Ford is perhaps the most iconic member of the Rangeomorpha: a group of seemingly sessile, frondose organisms that dominates late Ediacaran benthic, deep‐marine fossil assemblages. Despite C. masoni exhibiting broad palaeogeographical and stratigraphical ranges, there have been few morphological studies that consider the variation observed among populations of specimens derived from multiple global localities. We present an analysis of C. masoni that evaluates specimens from the UK , Canada and Russia, representing the largest morphological study of this taxon to date. We describe substantial morphological variation within C. masoni and present a new morphological model for this species that has significant implications both for interpretation of rangeomorph architecture, and potentially for existing taxonomic schemes. Previous reconstructions of Charnia include assumptions regarding the presence of structures seen in other rangeomorphs (e.g. an internal stalk) and of homogeneity in higher order branch morphology; observations that are not borne out by our investigations. We describe variation in the morphology of third and fourth order branches, as well as variation in gross structure near the base of the frond. The diagnosis of Charnia masoni is emended to take account of these new features. These findings highlight the need for large‐scale analyses of rangeomorph morphology in order to better understand the biology of this long‐enigmatic group.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…neighbour competition or nutrient availability) by differential growth (cf. Hoyal Cuthill & Conway Morris ; Kenchington & Wilby ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Liu et al . ; Kenchington & Wilby ). Determination of whether the specimens represent morphs of the same species, or separate species, is more challenging.…”

Section: Systematic Palaeontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Systematic Palaeontologymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anatomy of the Ediacaran rangeomorph Charnia masoni

Dunn

Wilby

Kenchington

et al. 2018

Papers in Palaeontology

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“…4), including juvenile forms , various taphomorphs (Liu et al 2010a) and several new rangeomorph/frondose taxa -including Beothukis and Vinlandia (Brasier & Antcliffe 2009;) -several repeating morphological elements were determined that could form the basis for a formal taxonomy Liu et al 2016b), with the allowance that there may be some element of ecophenotypism , although the latter is questioned by multivariate statistical analyses using the Brasier descriptive scheme as its basis (Kenchington & Wilby 2017). Through all this careful descriptive work, the group remained open-minded to the possibility that the Ediacarans might not have been animals (Antcliffe et al 2016).…”

Section: Scientific Contributions Of Martin Brasiermentioning

confidence: 99%

Contributions of Professor Martin Brasier to the study of early life, stratigraphy and biogeochemistry

Brasier

McIlroy

McLoughlin

2017

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Understanding early life has been one of the hottest topics in palaeobiology for many years, attracting some of the finest palaeontological minds. Three of the most fundamental innovations in the history of life were the appearance of the first cells, the evolution of multi-cellularity and the evolution of animals. The MOFAOTYOF principle (my oldest fossils are older than your oldest fossils) commonly clouds discussions around the oldest fossil evidence, requiring a rigorous and critical approach to determining which fossils are reliable and should form the basis of our understanding of early life. In addition, evidence for early fossils must be considered within their spatial context; we need to understand the conditions under which they were preserved and how they were preserved. This book summarizes recent progress in the fields of: (1) the cellular preservation of early microbial life; and (2) the early evolution of macroscopic animal life, including the Ediacaran biota. Deciphering the evidence for early life requires some degree of exceptional preservation, employment of state-of-the-art techniques and also an understanding gleaned from Phanerozoic lagerstätte and modern analogues. This integrated approach to understanding fossils, combined with adoption of the null hypothesis that all putative traces of life are abiotic until proved otherwise, characterized the work of Martin Brasier, as is well demonstrated by the papers in this book.

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A quantitative and statistical discrimination of morphotaxa within the Ediacaran genus Palaeopascichnus

Hawco

Kenchington

McIlroy

2019

Papers in Palaeontology

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The palaeopascichnids are a relatively abundant component of the Ediacara biota. The eponymous Palaeopascichnus delicatus consists of serially arranged, millimetre-scale allantoid chambers that have variously been interpreted as evidence of movement, feeding traces, and body fossils of various affinities. Palaeopascichnus has most recently been compared to the deep-marine Xenophyophora, an extant group of large, benthic protists characterized by their greater size and possession of stercomata within their cells. The morphometric variation in palaeopascichnids is assessed using material from the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, Canada. The application of quantitative morphological analysis to the study of over 90 well-preserved specimens of Palaeopascichnus demonstrates considerable variation in chamber shape and size, and in behaviour along the chamber series. The combination of morphometric and multivariate statistical analysis allows the recognition of natural groups within the dataset, thereby demonstrating variability within and between morphospecies. Morphological comparisons of fossil palaeopascichnids with fossil and extant protistan taxa support the proposed protistan affinity of Palaeopascichnus, allowing further resolution regarding the diversity and disparity within this prominent element of the later Ediacara biotas of Gondwana and Baltica.

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Rangeomorph classification schemes and intra-specific variation: are all characters created equal?

Cited by 22 publications

References 36 publications

Anatomy of the Ediacaran rangeomorph Charnia masoni

Anatomy of the Ediacaran rangeomorph Charnia masoni

Contributions of Professor Martin Brasier to the study of early life, stratigraphy and biogeochemistry

A quantitative and statistical discrimination of morphotaxa within the Ediacaran genus Palaeopascichnus

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