New Study Expands Life’s Timeline to Nearly 2 Billion Years

[patricjfrenn]

A new study from Virginia Tech extends the timeline of life on Earth back nearly two billion years, shedding light on the evolution and extinction of ancient species. Published in Science, the research examines fossil records and reveals significant insights into the diversity of life during the Proterozoic Eon, which spanned from 2.5 billion to 539 million years ago.

The study, led by Virginia Tech geobiologist Shuhai Xiao and collaborators, incorporates data on ancient marine eukaryotes—organisms with complex cells. These eukaryotes are believed to have evolved into multicellular life forms, such as animals, plants, and fungi, marking a critical point in the evolution of life.

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Xiao's analysis presents the most comprehensive study of Proterozoic life to date. By using a graphic correlation program, the team achieved greater temporal resolution, allowing them to track the origin, diversification, and extinction of early life forms with greater precision. This extends the "chart of life," a representation of species’ rise and fall, to include nearly 2 billion years of history.

Key findings from the study include:

Eukaryotes likely appeared no later than 1.8 billion years ago, and their diversity stabilized from about 1.45 billion to 720 million years ago during a period known as the "boring billion," characterized by low species turnover.
During this period, eukaryotes may have evolved more slowly and persisted for longer than later species.
A dramatic shift occurred after the Snowball Earth event, when global ice ages between 720 and 635 million years ago sparked a rapid diversification of species once the ice began to thaw.

"The ice ages were a major factor that reset the evolutionary path in terms of diversity and dynamics," Xiao said. "We see rapid turnover of eukaryotic species immediately after glaciation, which is a major finding."

The study raises important questions about why eukaryotic evolution was slow during the "boring billion" and what triggered the acceleration of evolutionary activity after the ice ages. Factors such as climate change, increased oxygen levels, or evolutionary competition may have played a role in these shifts.