Precambrian Columnar Stromatolite Diversity: Reflection of Metazoan Appearance

1971/11/19 by Stanley M. Awramik · 5 citations
Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Paleontology and Stratigraphy of Fossils #Marine and environmental studies #Marine Biology and Ecology Research

paper · doi:10.1126/science.174.4011.825

openalex publication_date 1971/11/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Columnar stromatolites (organosedimentary structures built by bluegreen algae) show a marked decrease in diversity in the Late Precambrian; this decrease in diversity occurs at approximately the same time as the appearance of metazoans, 600 to 700 million years ago.

Cited by

• Dating the Origin of Animals
• Microbialite resurgence after the Late Ordovician extinction
• Microbial carbonate abundance compared with fluctuations in metazoan diversity over geological time
• Fossil [wikipedia]
• Predation [wikipedia]