Preserving the rise of complex life
Early Life, Earth History, Geobiology, Palaeobiology, Taphonomy
The emergence and diversification of complex life is the most fundamental biological transition in the history of the Earth. My lab uses exceptional fossils to chart the evolution of eukaryotes (those organisms with membrane-bounded organelles), multicellularity, cellular differentiation, and animals, through the Proterozoic Eon (2.5-0.5 billion years ago). Understanding how changing fossil diversity correlates to environmental changes—and the Proterozoic Eon sees some of the largest in Earth history—is vital to determining evolutionary drivers.
Not only do we seek new fossils that provide this important palaeobiological information, we critically interrogate the nature of the fossil record. Before the terminal Proterozoic advent of biomineralisation, fossilisation is confined to poorly understood and unusual circumstances that preserve organic remains. My lab uses novel analytical techniques on fossiliferous strata to understand the conditions conducive to preservation, with a specific focus on microbe-mineral interactions. Such research is crucial to our ability to robustly interpret the temporal and ecological range of fossil organisms. It can also provide new insights into their original chemistry and biology.
My lab, based in the Museum of Natural History, is always looking for talented and motivated students. If you are interested in joining our group as a doctoral student or post-doctoral researcher, please contact me via email.
For more details see: Oxford Palaeobiology Group
View Selected Publications
7. Anderson, R.P., Woltz, C.R., Tosca, N.J., Porter, S.M., Briggs, D.E.G., 2023. Fossilisation processes and our reading of animal antiquity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 38 (11), 1060–1071. (Link)
6. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Saupe, E.E., Wade, J., Briggs D.E.G., 2021. Early formation and taphonomic significance of kaolinite associated with Burgess Shale fossils. Geology 49 (4), 355–359. (Link)
5. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J, Cinque, G., Frogley, M.D., Lekkas, I., Akey, A., Hughes, G.M., Bergmann, K.D., Knoll, A.H., Briggs, D.E.G., 2020. Aluminosilicate haloes preserve complex life approximately 800 million years ago. Interface Focus 10, 20200011. (Link)
4. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Gaines, R.R., Mongiardino Koch, N., Briggs, D.E.G., 2018. A mineralogical signature for Burgess Shale-type fossilization. Geology 46 (4), 347–350. (Link)
3. Anderson, R.P., Macdonald, F.A., Jones, D.S., McMahon, S., Briggs, D.E.G., 2017. Doushantuo-type microfossils from latest Ediacaran phosphorites of northern Mongolia. Geology 45 (12), 1079–1082. (Link)
2. McCoy, V.E., Saupe, E.E., Lamsdell, J.C., Tarhan, L.G., McMahon, S., Lidgard, S., Mayer, P., Whalen, C.D., Soriano, C., Finney, L., Vogt, S., Clark, E.G., Anderson, R.P., Petermann, H., Locatelli, E.R., Briggs, D.E.G., 2016. The ‘Tully Monster’ is a vertebrate. Nature 532, 496–499. (Link)
1. McMahon, S., Anderson, R.P., Saupe, E.E., Briggs, D.E.G., 2016. Experimental evidence that clay inhibits bacterial decomposers: Implications for preservation of organic fossils. Geology 44 (10), 867–870. (Link)
View Extended Publications
25. Morton-Hayward, A.L., Anderson, R.P., Saupe, E.E., Larson, G., Cosmidis, J.G., 2024. Human brains preserve in diverse environments for at least 12,000 years. Proceedings of the Royal Society B – Biological Sciences 291, 20232606. (Link)
24. Etemad-Saeed, N., Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Bergmann, K.D., Knoll, A.H., 2024. Stratigraphic occurrence and taphonomy of Sabellidites in Terreneuvian rocks of the Soltanieh Formation, Soltanieh Mountains, Northern Iran. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 639, 112084. (Link)
23. Woltz, C.R., Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Porter, S.M., 2023. The role of clays in the preservation of Precambrian organic-walled microfossils. Geobiology 21 (6), 708–724. (Link)
22. Anderson, R.P., Woltz, C.R., Tosca, N.J., Porter, S.M., Briggs, D.E.G., 2023. Fossilisation processes and our reading of animal antiquity. Trends in Ecology and Evolution 38 (11), 1060–1071. (Link)
21. Jing, Y., Chen, Z.-Q., Anderson, R.P., Wang, X., Zheng, Z., 2022. Microscopic and geochemical analyses of the Tonian Longfengshan biota from the Luotuoling Formation (Hebei Province, North China) with taphonomic implications. Precambrian Research 382, 106899. (Link)
20. Gibson, T.M., Millikin, A.E.G., Anderson, R.P., Myrow, P.M., Rooney, A.D., Strauss, J.V., 2021. Tonian deltaic and storm-influenced marine sedimentation on the edge of Laurentia: The Veteranen Group of northeastern Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Sedimentary Geology 426, 106011. (Link)
19. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Saupe, E.E., Wade, J., Briggs D.E.G., 2021. Early formation and taphonomic significance of kaolinite associated with Burgess Shale fossils. Geology 49 (4), 355–359. (Link)
18. Wen, B., Evans, D.A.D., Anderson, R.P., McCausland, P.J.A., 2020. Late Ediacaran paleogeography of Avalonia and the Cambrian assembly of West Gondwana. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 552, 116591. (Link)
17. Cohen, P.A., Vizcaíno, M., Anderson, R.P., 2020. Oldest fossil ciliates from the Cryogenian glacial interlude reinterpreted as possible red algal spores. Palaeontology 63 (6), 941–950. (Link)
16. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J, Cinque, G., Frogley, M.D., Lekkas, I., Akey, A., Hughes, G.M., Bergmann, K.D., Knoll, A.H., Briggs, D.E.G., 2020. Aluminosilicate haloes preserve complex life approximately 800 million years ago. Interface Focus 10, 20200011. (Link)
15. Anderson, R.P., 2020. Intrinsic iron may have promoted ancient nervous tissue fossilization. BioEssays 42, 2000070. (Link)
14. Wiemann, J., de Queiroz, K., Rowe, T.B., Planavsky, N.J., Anderson, R.P., Gogarten, J.P., Turner, P.E., Gauthier, J.A., 2020. Biota in Phylonyms: A companion to the Phylocode, eds. De Quieroz, K., Cantino, P., Gauthier, J.A., CRC Press. (Link)
13. Wiemann, J., de Queiroz, K., Rowe, T.B., Planavsky, N.J., Anderson, R.P., Gogarten, J.P., Turner, P.E., Gauthier, J.A., 2020. Pan-Biota in Phylonyms: A companion to the Phylocode, eds. De Quieroz, K., Cantino, P., Gauthier, J.A., CRC Press. (Link)
12. Anderson, R.P., McMahon, S., Macdonald, F.A., Jones, D.S., Briggs, D.E.G., 2019. Palaeobiology of latest Ediacaran phosphorites from the upper Khesen Formation, Khuvsgul Group, northern Mongolia. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 17 (6), 501–532. (Link)
11. Fairchild, I.J., Spencer, A.M., Ali, D.O., Anderson, R.P., Anderton, R., Boomer, I., Dove, D., Evans, J. D., Hambrey, M.J., Howe, J., Sawaki Y., Shields, G.A., Skelton, A., Tucker, M.E., Wang, Z., Zhou, Y., 2018. Tonian–Cryogenian boundary sections of Argyll, Scotland. Precambrian Research 319, 37–64. (Link)
10. Anderson, R.P., Tosca, N.J., Gaines, R.R., Mongiardino Koch, N., Briggs, D.E.G., 2018. A mineralogical signature for Burgess Shale-type fossilization. Geology 46 (4), 347–350. (Link)
9. Anderson, R.P., Macdonald, F.A., Jones, D.S., McMahon, S., Briggs, D.E.G., 2017. Doushantuo-type microfossils from latest Ediacaran phosphorites of northern Mongolia. Geology 45 (12), 1079–1082. (Link)
8. Anderson, R.P., McMahon, S., Bold, U., Macdonald, F.A., Briggs, D.E.G., 2017. Palaeobiology of the early Ediacaran Shuurgat Formation, Zavkhan Terrane, south-western Mongolia. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 15 (11), 947–968. (Link)
7. McMahon, S., Anderson, R.P., Saupe, E.E., Briggs, D.E.G., 2016. Experimental evidence that clay inhibits bacterial decomposers: Implications for preservation of organic fossils. Geology 44 (10), 867–870. (Link)
6. Anderson, R.P., Tarhan, L.G., Cummings, K.E., Planavsky, N.J., Bjørnerud, M., 2016. Macroscopic structures in the 1.1 Ga continental Copper Harbor Formation: Concretions or fossils? Palaios 31 (7), 327–338. (Link)
5. Darroch, S.A.F., Locatelli, E.R., McCoy, V.E., Clark, E.G., Anderson R.P., Tarhan, L.G., Hull, P., 2016. Taphonomic disparity in foraminifera as a paleo-indicator for seagrass. Palaios 31 (5), 242–258. (Link)
4. McCoy, V.E., Saupe, E.E., Lamsdell, J.C., Tarhan, L.G., McMahon, S., Lidgard, S., Mayer, P., Whalen, C.D., Soriano, C., Finney, L., Vogt, S., Clark, E.G., Anderson, R.P., Petermann, H., Locatelli, E.R., Briggs, D.E.G., 2016. The ‘Tully Monster’ is a vertebrate. Nature 532, 496–499. (Link)
3. McCoy, V.E., Lamsdell, J.C., Poschmann, M., Anderson, R.P., Briggs, D.E.G., 2015. All the better to see you with: Eyes and claws reveal the evolution of divergent ecological roles in giant pterygotid eurypterids. Biology Letters 11, 20150564. (Link)
2. Anderson, R.P., McCoy, V.E., McNamara, M.E., Briggs, D.E.G., 2014. What big eyes you have: The ecological role of giant pterygotid eurypterids. Biology Letters 10, 20140412. (Link)
1. Anderson, R.P., Fairchild, I.J., Tosca, N.J., Knoll, A.H., 2013. Microstructures in metasedimentary rocks from the Neoproterozoic Bonahaven Formation, Scotland: Microconcretions, impact spherules, or microfossils? Precambrian Research 233, 59–72. (Link)