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Proterozoic and Living Cyanobacteria

  • Chapter
Early Organic Evolution

Abstract

The satisfactory systematic and functional interpretation of any fossil requires that its features be comparable to those of living organisms. A conundrum facing paleontologists who study Proterozoic microfossils is that many of the cyanobacteria-like remains that are so abundant in microbial mat assemblages have multiple morphological analogues in the modern biota -organisms that range from oxygenic photoautotrophs (the cyanobacteria) to anaerobic heterotrophs. Interpretation, therefore, requires that careful attention be paid to paleoenvironmental, behavioral, and taphonomic considerations, as well as morphology. Analyses of Proterozoic microfossil populations, including species of Eoentophysalis, Polybessurus, Eohyella, and others, demonstrate how paleobiological interpretation is maximized when careful observations on ancient populations are combined with complementary studies of modern morphological, developmental, and behavioral counterparts living in comparable physical environments.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA

    Andrew H. Knoll

  2. Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Stejepko Golubic

Authors
  1. Andrew H. Knoll
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  2. Stejepko Golubic
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. IGCP Project 157, Max-Planck-Institut für Chemie (Otto-Hahn-Institut), Saarstr. 23, W-6500, Mainz, Germany

    Manfred Schidlowski (Chairman) (Chairman)

  2. Biological Science Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA

    Stjepko Golubic

  3. Dept. of Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, 27695-8208, USA

    Michael M. Kimberley

  4. Department of Geology & Geophysics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, S.A., 5001, Australia

    David M. McKirdy Sr. (Lecturer) (Lecturer)

  5. Division of Continental Geology, Bureau of Mineral Resources, GPO Box 378, Canberra, A.C.T., 2601, Australia

    Philip A. Trudinger

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© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Knoll, A.H., Golubic, S. (1992). Proterozoic and Living Cyanobacteria. In: Schidlowski, M., Golubic, S., Kimberley, M.M., McKirdy, D.M., Trudinger, P.A. (eds) Early Organic Evolution. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76884-2_35

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-76884-2_35

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-76886-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-76884-2

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