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. I use fossils to chart the evolution of eukaryotes (those organisms with a membrane-bound cell nucleus), 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 I seek new fossils that provide this important palaeobiological information, I 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. I use novel analytical techniques on fossiliferous strata to understand the conditions conducive to preservation. 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.
Curriculum Vitae
Oxford Palaeobiology Group
Links
When were conditions first right for preserving animal fossils? – The Guardian
New Oxford study sheds light on the origin of animals – Oxford News
Clues in the clay: Scientists narrow the search for the first animals – Yale News
Ross Anderson awarded a Royal Society University Research Fellowship – Oxford Earth Sciences
DPhil student Alexandra Morton-Hayward awarded a Scholarship from the Anglo-Danish Society – Oxford Earth Sciences
Clay-organic bonds exposed as key to fossilisation in the iconic Burgess Shale – Oxford Earth Sciences
Fossil hunting? Clay holds the key – Oxford Earth Sciences
Fossil hunting? Look for the clay halo – Yale News
Clay holes preserve ancient fossil: An Infrared view – Diamond Light Source
A mineral blueprint for finding Burgess Shale-type fossils – Yale News
Scientists shed light on Burgess Shale preservation – Oxford News
Mongolian microfossils point to the rise of animals on Earth – Yale News
Tracking the history of early life on Earth – Yale GSAS News
Solving the mystery of the Tully Monster – Yale News
Alpine Europe Department Field Trip 2015 – Yale Geology and Geophysics
Extinct sea scorpion gets a Yale eye exam – Yale News
Great Britain Department Field Trip 2013 – Yale Geology and Geophysics
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
24. 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)
23. 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)
22. 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)
21. 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)
20. 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)
19. 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)
18. 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)
17. 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)
16. Anderson, R.P., 2020. Intrinsic iron may have promoted ancient nervous tissue fossilization. BioEssays 42, 2000070. (Link)
15. 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)
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. Pan-Biota in Phylonyms: A companion to the Phylocode, eds. De Quieroz, K., Cantino, P., Gauthier, J.A., CRC Press. (Link)
13. 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)
12. 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)
11. 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)
10. 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)
9. 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)
8. 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)
7. 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)
6. 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)
5. 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)
4. 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)
3. 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)
2. Anderson, R.P., 2013. Britain’s oldest eukaryotes? Geoscientist 23 (6), 10-15. (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)