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Chapter 17: The Cambrian Explosion and Beyond Destinations

Explore key concepts and research through these links to additional web resources.

17.1 Nature of the Fossil Record

• Ediacaran Fossils
  This site, from the Miller Museum of Geology, Queen's University, Canada, describes the significance of the Ediacaran fauna and provides pictures of representative fossils. Read Fossil discovery rewrites early history for a description of the work of Mary Droser, University of Cambridge, extending the dates of this fauna into the Cambrian.
  Keywords: ediacaran fossils, research, Cambrian

• Burgess Shale Fossils
  Andrew MacRae, at the University of Calgary, provides descriptions of the Burgess Shale site as well as pictures of a variety of its fossils and links to additional information.
  Keywords: burgess shale, fossils, discovery

17.2 The Cambrian Explosion

• Cambrian Period
  At the University of California, Berkeley's Museum of Paleontology website, you can read an overview of the Cambrian Period and provides links to more information on its stratigraphy, tectonics, early life, and more.
  Keywords: Cambrian period, tectonics, early life

• Questioning the Cambrian Explosion
  At this website you can read an article describing the molecular evidence challenging the timing of the Cambrian Explosion.
  Keywords: Cambrian explosion, genetics, research

17.3 Macroevolutionary Pattern

• Adaptive Radiation- Darwin's Finches
  At the Biology Online site, you can read about the most well known example of adaptive radiation in the finches of the Galapagos Islands.
  Keywords: finches, adaptive radiation, Darwin

• Punctuated Equilibrium
  Dr. Donald Prothero reviews the hypothesis of punctuated equilibrium in this article from the journal Skeptic.
  Keywords: punctuated equilibrium, hypothesis, research

17.4 Mass Extinctions

• The Extinction Files
  Part of the BBC's excellent evolution web site, this page links you to summary information about each of the "Big Five" mass extinction events.
  Keywords: mass extinctions, evolution, BBC

• Permian Extinction
  Discussion of Andrew Knoll's work on the causes of the Permian extinction.
  Keywords: mass extinction, Permian extinction, research

• World Conservation Union
  The World Conservation Union website offers a huge variety of information about biodiversity conservation, including a searchable on-line version of the Red Book of sensitive, threatened and endangered species.
  Keywords: species, conservation, extinction