An emerging paradigm for the origin and evolution of shelled amoebae, integrating advances from molecular phylogenetics, morphology and paleontology

Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz

article

Daniel JG Lahr¹ 

[1] Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Zoologia

关键词: microbial evolution;    microbial ecology;    microbial palaeontology;    microbial fossils;    ancestral state reconstruction;   

DOI  :  10.1590/0074-02760200620

学科分类：地质学

来源: Bioline International

【 摘 要 】

The phylogenetic paradigm of eukaryotic evolution has changed dramatically over the past two decades, with profound reflections on the understanding of life on earth. Arcellinida testate (shelled) amoebae lineages represent some of the oldest fossils of eukaryotes, and the elucidation of their phylogenetic relationships opened a window to the distant past, with important implications for understanding the evolution of life on earth. This four-part essay summarises advances made in the past 20 years regarding: (i) the phylogenetic relationships among amoebae with shells evolving in concert with the advances made in the phylogeny of eukaryotes; (ii) paleobiological studies unraveling the biological affinities of Neoproterozoic vase-shaped microfossils (VSMs); (iii) the interwoven interpretation of these different sets of data concluding that the Neoproterozoic contains a surprising diversity of organisms, in turn demanding a reinterpretation of the most profound events we know in the history of eukaryotes, and; (iv) a synthesis of the current knowledge about the evolution of Arcellinida, together with the possibilities and pitfalls of their interpretation.

【 授权许可】

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