Cambrian Period

Cambrian Period

Characteristics

The Cambrian was a period where no organisms where able to survive on the land. At this time, the ocean had areas of different temperatures. Many organisms could only live in certain ocean temperatures creating pockets according to water temperatures. As oxygen levels rose organisms became more mobile creating a predatory aspect (Fox 1). In addition, features such as limbs, shells and teeth evolved (Fox 1).

56 million year period

The Cambrian Explosion

The Cambrian Explosion began the Cambrian Period around 540 million years ago. The Cambrian Explosion classifies the period when the organisms in the ocean rapidly developed. The oceans experienced an increase of oxygen triggering an emergence of predation and evolution of organisms (Fox 1).

Interesting Facts

Due to the production of oxygen and elements, such as P and Ca, the preservation of animal remains increased during this period (Young 1). There are fossils that point to the presence of bilaterian animals during this period (Young 1). Fossils found from this period reflect how much oxygen was present by comparing the quantity and types of metals also found within (Fox 1).

The Cambrian Ordovician Extinction

The Cambrian Ordovician Extinction brought the Cambrian period to an end around 488 million years ago. The extinction was triggered by a sudden crash in oxygen levels. The change created increased competition and many species died off (Young 1).

Works Cited

Fox, Douglas. "What sparked the Cambrian explosion?" Nature, vol. 530, no. 7590, 18 Feb. 2016, pp. 268+. Gale Academic OneFile, link.gale.com/apps/doc/A443741908/AONE?u=orla57816&sid=bookmark-AONE&xid=38857bbf. Accessed 16 Feb. 2023. Grant M. Young, "Environmental upheavals of the Ediacaran period and the Cambrian “explosion” of animal life,Geoscience Frontiers" 2015, ISSN 1674-987, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gsf.2014.09.00