Precambrian lifeforms, reconstructed - Akshay Mehra - University of Washington

Precambrian lifeforms, reconstructed
- Akshay Mehra
University of Washington
Since Darwin published Origin of Species, recognizing and interpreting the remains of Precambrian life has been challenging. Careful quantitative and comparative analyses of the textures and morphologies embedded within rocks can be invaluable in generating insights into ancient life. Here, I undertake such analyses to describe two Ediacaran putative biomineralizers: Cloudina and Namapoikia. I combine sedimentological observations with three-dimensional reconstructions to evaluate the proposed affinities and lifestyles of both organisms. I then consider where to go next in the study of enigmatic Precambrian fossils, such as those built by microbes.