Volcanism is a Greater Driver of Evolution in the Oceanic Environment than Previously Assumed
A new study by a team of international researchers has discovered that volcanism may have been a much larger driver of evolution in the oceans than previously thought. By studying the fossil record from the early part of the Neoproterozoic Era (1,000 to 540 million years ago), the team found that the rapid and intense cycle of eruptions and cooling may have been responsible for the rapid diversification and evolution of oceanic life. The research findings suggest that volcanism may have triggered a rapid burst of evolutionary changes in the oceans, leading to the emergence of complex multi-cellular life. This is the first time that volcanism has been linked to the emergence of complex life in the ocean, and it could have major implications for our understanding of the evolution of life on Earth.
source: Phys.org