Precambrian Earth: Co-evolution of life and geodynamics

IF 3.2 2区地球科学 Q2 GEOSCIENCES, MULTIDISCIPLINARY Precambrian Research Pub Date : 2024-11-01 DOI:10.1016/j.precamres.2024.107589

Frances Westall , Shuhai Xiao

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Abstract

The Precambrian covers 80% of the history the Earth. In this timespan, the Earth developed from an anaerobic planet to the oxygenic planet dominated by Wilson-style plate tectonics that we know today. Concomitant with geological evolution, life emerged and evolved, gradually colonising all known aqueous habitats. Until the Palaeoarchaean, life was largely dominated by its geological environment. However, as of the Mesoarchaean, when there were major changes in geodynamics leading to continental erosion and runoff of essential nutrients, the effects of life started to impinge on the geological environment. The interaction of life and Earth was and is reciprocal, hence the term biogeodynamics. In this review, we trace the evolution of geology and life in parallel, thus highlighting the gradual buildup of the importance of life on terrestrial processes, and the importance of changes in the geological environment on the evolution of life. We do not attempt to make an exhaustive review of all the occurrences of life in the Precambrian but use selected examples to illustrate key events and changes. We conclude by addressing certain aspects of the evolution of life that require more in-depth study and show how the finding of extra-terrestrial life would advance our understanding of life on Earth.

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前寒武纪地球：生命与地球动力学的共同进化

前寒武纪占地球历史的 80%。在这一时期，地球从一个厌氧星球发展成为我们今天所知的以威尔逊式板块构造为主的含氧星球。在地质演变的同时，生命也在不断出现和进化，逐渐占据了所有已知的水生栖息地。在古始新世之前，生命主要受地质环境的支配。然而，到了中古生代，地球动力学发生了重大变化，导致大陆侵蚀和基本营养物质流失，生命的影响开始冲击地质环境。生命与地球的相互作用过去是、现在也是相互的，因此被称为生物地球动力学。在这篇综述中，我们将平行追溯地质和生命的演化过程，从而突出生命对地球过程的重要性以及地质环境变化对生命演化的重要性的逐步积累。我们并不试图详尽回顾前寒武纪生命出现的所有情况，而是通过精选的例子来说明关键事件和变化。最后，我们讨论了生命进化过程中需要更深入研究的某些方面，并说明发现地外生命将如何推进我们对地球生命的认识。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Precambrian Research 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

28.90%

发文量

325

审稿时长

12 months

期刊介绍： Precambrian Research publishes studies on all aspects of the early stages of the composition, structure and evolution of the Earth and its planetary neighbours. With a focus on process-oriented and comparative studies, it covers, but is not restricted to, subjects such as: (1) Chemical, biological, biochemical and cosmochemical evolution; the origin of life; the evolution of the oceans and atmosphere; the early fossil record; palaeobiology; (2) Geochronology and isotope and elemental geochemistry; (3) Precambrian mineral deposits; (4) Geophysical aspects of the early Earth and Precambrian terrains; (5) Nature, formation and evolution of the Precambrian lithosphere and mantle including magmatic, depositional, metamorphic and tectonic processes. In addition, the editors particularly welcome integrated process-oriented studies that involve a combination of the above fields and comparative studies that demonstrate the effect of Precambrian evolution on Phanerozoic earth system processes. Regional and localised studies of Precambrian phenomena are considered appropriate only when the detail and quality allow illustration of a wider process, or when significant gaps in basic knowledge of a particular area can be filled.