Poop Might Have Sparked the Cambrian Explosion
TL;DR
Researchers propose that a gradual, ocean-wide buildup of fecal matter redistributed nutrients, spurring the evolution of complex digestive systems and creating a feedback loop where more life produced more poop, contributing to the Cambrian Explosion.
- The Weirdest Theory Yet for Why Life on Earth Suddenly Exploded Gizmodo
- How the 'fecal revolution' changed Earth's ecosystems Phys.org
- How “A Little Bowel Movement” 540 Million Years Ago Sparked An Evolutionary Explosion, Changing The Face Of Earth Forever IFLScience
- On the origin of feces: how animal poo drove Earth’s greatest evolutionary event The Conversation
- An Ancient Poop Explosion Could Have Helped Complex Life Evolve ScienceAlert
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