The emergence of animals : the Cambrian breakthrough

Discusses the appearance of early life on Earth, specifically the emergence of animals at the Cambrian boundary, and the similarities between past and present ecosystems. Contents Preface I The Cambrian Explosion 2. Aliens Here on Earth? 3. The Mudeaters 4. Small Shelly Fossils 5. The Golden Spike 6. The Rifting of Rodinia 7. The Garden of Ediacara 8. Ecological Feedback and Intelligence 9. Precambrian Oxygen 10. Ecological Chaos and Innovation Appendix Glossary References Index