Sponges In The New York Times!

[piranha]

Here is a great article about sponges as the catalyst of ocean oxygenation. This hypothesis contradicts the long-held theory that atmospheric oxygen led to the oxygenation of the ocean, subsequently giving rise to the evolution of animals.

 

Who's your Sponge-Daddy?!?

 

Take a Breath and Thank a Sponge

 

Lenton, T.M., Boyle, R.A., Poulton, S.W., Shields-Zhou, G.A., & Butterfield, N.J. (2014)

Co-evolution of eukaryotes and ocean oxygenation in the Neoproterozoic era.

Nature Geoscience,  7:257-265

 

ABSTRACT LINK

[Oxytropidoceras]

A related article is:

Theory on origin of animals challenged: Some animals

need extremely little oxygen, ScienceDaily, February 17, 2014

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/02/140217161110.htm

The paper is:

Mills, D. B., L. M. Ward, C.A. Jones, B. Sweeten, M. Forth,

A. H. Treusch and D. E. Canfield. The oxygen requirements

of the earliest animals. Proceedings of the National Academy

of Sciences. Early Edition, February 17, 2014

http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/02/13/1400547111.abstract

Another article is:

First animals oxygenated Earth's oceans, study suggests

ScienceDaily, March 9, 2014

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140309150540.htm

Paul H.

[NZ_Fossil_Collecta]

It seems this could have been a contributing factor to the Cambrian explosion.