The Proterozoic Eon is a crucial time in life history on Earth. During the Mesoproterozoic Era (1600-1000 Ma), the evolution of eukaryotic micro-organisms and their biological innovations (e.g. predation, multicellularity, photosynthesis) led to the diversification of major lineages, within redox stratified environments. These innovations, pursued and enhanced in the Neoproterozoic (1000 – 542 Ma), defined and shaped Life, as we know it, in the Phanerozoic. Two successions, located in northwestern Canada, have provided significant insights on the early evolution of eukaryotes. The Dismal Lake Group and Shaler Supergroup record an important diversity of organic-walled microfossils in marine and estuarine environments, spanning over more than 1800 million years of Earth history. The assemblages are rich in ornamented, acanthomorphic (process- bearing vesicles) and multicellular eukaryotes, and preserve the oldest reported evidence for eukaryovory. The recent discovery of 1-0.9 Ga multicellular fungi in the Shaler Supergroup suggests an earlier origin for the common ancestor of fungi and metazoans. Future research questions include: how was their taxonomy and diversity influenced by ecological interactions or biological innovations? How do these assemblages compare with recent discoveries from similar-age rocks in China, India, the U.S. and Africa? Can we complete previous diversity estimates and patterns of diversification for Eukaryote diversification during Proterozoic? And finally, what are the possible biological affinities of these eukaryotes? Exceptionally well preserved, organic-walled microfossils from the Shaler Supergroup and Dismal Lakes Group open a window on life in the Proterozoic, that will considerably improve the understanding of early eukaryote evolution. More broadly, this case study permits to test hypotheses regarding the causes and pattern of diversification of complex life on a rocky habitable planet.

References

Loron, C.C., Rainbird, R.H., Turner, E.C., Greenman, J.W. and Javaux, E.J., 2018. Implications of selective predation on the macroevolution of eukaryotes: evidence from Arctic Canada. Emerging Topics in Life Sciences, 2(2), pp.247-255.

Loron, C.C., Rainbird, R.H., Turner, E.C., Greenman, J.W. and Javaux, E.J., 2019. Organic-walled microfossils from the late Mesoproterozoic to early Neoproterozoic lower Shaler Supergroup (Arctic Canada): Diversity and biostratigraphic significance. Precambrian Research, 321, pp.349-374.

Loron, C.C., François, C., Rainbird, R.H., Turner, E.C., Borensztajn, S. and Javaux, E.J., 2019. Early fungi from the Proterozoic era in Arctic Canada. Nature, 570, pp. 232-235.