The influence of phytoplankton community composition on primary productivity along the riverine to freshwater tidal continuum in the San Joaquin River,California

Differences in phytoplankton community composition along a riverine to, freshwater tidal continuum was an important factor affecting the primary productivity and quantity of phytoplankton biomass available to the San Francisco Estuary food web downstream. The relative contribution of riverine and freshwater tidal phytoplankton was determined using measurements of primary productivity, respiration, and phytoplankton species composition along a riverine to freshwater tidal gradient in the San Joaquin River, one of two major rivers that flow into, the San Francisco Estuary. Chla-specific net primary productivity was greater in the freshwater tidal habitat and was correlated with both a higher growth efficiency and maximum growth potential compared with the river upstream. Cluster analysis indicated these differences in growth parameters were associated with differences in species composition, with greater percent diatom and green algal species biomass upstream and flagellate biomass downstream. Correlation between the chla specific net productivity and phytoplankton species composition suggested the downstream shift from riverine diatom and green algal species to flagellate species contributed to the seaward increase in net primary productivity. Environmental conditions, such as specific conductance and water transparency, may have influenced primary productivity along the riverine to freshwater tidal continuum through their effect on both species composition and growth rate. Data suggest light was not the sole controlling factor for primary productivity in this highly turbid estuary; phytoplankton growth rate did not increase when riverine plankton communities from low light conditions upstream were exposed to higher light conditions downstream. This study suggests that the availability of phytoplankton biomass to the estuarine food web may be influenced by management of both phytoplankton growth and community composition along the riverine to freshwater tidal continuum.     

Photosynthesis and respiration ofSpartina andJuncus salt marshes in North Carolina: Some models

In situ ecosystem gas exchange measurements were taken monthly for a 15-month period during low tide forJuncus roemerianus Scheele and short, medium, and tall height forms ofSpartina alterniflora Loisel. in three salt marshes near Southport, North Carolina. Multiple regression analysis was used to obtain empirical relationships betwen gas exchange values and the physical and biotic variables measured. Preliminary models for net ecosystem photosynthesis, ecosystem respiration, and respiration of aboveground standing crop were developed. Validation of models was carried out in the following manner: (1) net primary productivity of aboveground standing crop was calculated from model data and compared with harvest estimates of net primary productivity for the same year; and (2) carbon exchange and energy efficiency values were compared with literature values. In general, theSpartina models, because of their larger data base, were more useful than theJuncus models. Annual primary productivity of aboveground standing crop calculated from gas exchange values was 1.8 to 3.6 times greater forSpartian than values calculated from harvest data by Smalley's method.Juncus values were approximately equal. Since values calculated from carbon data and harvest data are not entirely equivalent, required adjustments to the carbon values are discussed. Both species have two growth periods—one in ths pring and one in the fall—with the spring growth in excess of that in the fall. Net ecosystem productivity was highest in the spring and lowest in the summer. Ecosystem respiration amounted to 71% of gross annual photosynthesis. The aboveground standing crop contributed approximately 35% to this ecosystem respiration and the soil, the remaining 36%. Efficiency for gross photosynthesis per unit of solar radiation ranged from 0.22 to 1.11%. Efficiencies for net primary production of aboveground standing crop ranged from 0 to 0.82% and those of net ecosystem production from 0 to 0.56%.     

Declines in Plant Productivity Drive Carbon Loss from Brackish Coastal Wetland Mesocosms Exposed to Saltwater Intrusion

Coastal wetlands, among the most productive ecosystems, are important global reservoirs of carbon (C). Accelerated sea level rise (SLR) and saltwater intrusion in coastal wetlands increase salinity and inundation depth, causing uncertain effects on plant and soil processes that drive C storage. We exposed peat-soil monoliths with sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) plants from a brackish marsh to continuous treatments of salinity (elevated (~?20 ppt) vs. ambient (~?10 ppt)) and inundation levels (submerged (water above soil surface) vs. exposed (water level 4 cm below soil surface)) for 18 months. We quantified changes in soil biogeochemistry, plant productivity, and whole-ecosystem C flux (gross ecosystem productivity, GEP; ecosystem respiration, ER). Elevated salinity had no effect on soil CO₂ and CH₄ efflux, but it reduced ER and GEP by 42 and 72%, respectively. Control monoliths exposed to ambient salinity had greater net ecosystem productivity (NEP), storing up to nine times more C than plants and soils exposed to elevated salinity. Submersion suppressed soil CO₂ efflux but had no effect on NEP. Decreased plant productivity and soil organic C inputs with saltwater intrusion are likely mechanisms of net declines in soil C storage, which may affect the ability of coastal peat marshes to adapt to rising seas.     

Biomarker records of phytoplankton productivity and community structure changes in the Japan Sea over the last 166 kyr

Glacial-interglacial sea level changes have caused drastic variations in the surface hydrography, ventilation and ecosystem structure in the Japan Sea. Previous reconstructions using microfossils and geochemical proxies suggested decreased productivity and a more calcareous plankton community during glacial periods. However, the inferred community structure change is not consistent with significantly lower salinity in the Japan Sea during the glacials, which would have had a deleterious effect on calcareous plankton growth. Here, biomarker records of ODP Site 797 are generated to further evaluate phytoplankton productivity and community structure changes in the Japan Sea over the last 166 kyr. Although the contents of the phytoplankton biomarkers changed by two to three orders of magnitude, there were no clear glacial-interglacial patterns as sediment biomarker contents reflected the combined effect of production and water column degradation. The collective assessments of our biomarker records and published records support previous conclusions of decreased productivity in the Japan Sea during the glacials. However, a community structure proxy based on the alkenone/brassicasterol ratio reveals a shift from a diatom-dominated community during the glacials to a coccolithophorid-dominated community during the interglacials, mainly as a result of surface salinity variations in the Japan Sea controlled by sea-level changes. Previous community structure reconstruction using biogenic carbonate/silica ratio could have been complicated by the different environmental factors governing silica and CaCO₃ dissolution in the Japan Sea.     

海洋浮游生物图像观测技术及其应用

浮游生物图像自动识别技术是当前海洋浮游生态学的研究热点。该技术结合水体成像系统和自动识别软件,能够对浮游生物的种类组成和丰度进行快速自动识别和定量分析,从而获得关于浮游生物分布和丰度更及时、更准确的信息,为大尺度、实时、连续地研究浮游生物分类学和生态学特征提供了一种有效手段。重点分析了当前国际上浮游生物图像识别技术研究的最新进展、主要应用领域、存在的问题以及未来的发展方向,旨在进一步推进该技术在我国近海及大洋浮游生态学及相关研究领域中的应用。     

宁东煤炭基地植被生态特征及矿业开发对其的影响

准确评估大型能源基地矿业开发活动对区域植被生态系统影响具有重要的科学意义和实践价值。利用2000—2017年中分辨率成像光谱仪(MODIS)连续观测的生态系统参量,定量研究宁东煤炭基地开发建设以来的植被生态系统时空变化特征,分析矿业开发对植被生态系统的影响。结果表明,随着宁东煤炭基地开采活动的持续,区域植被生态系统的生产力及其与大气之间的水汽交换强度整体增强,归一化植被指数、总初级生产力、净初级净生产力和蒸散的年增长幅度分别为0.0053、5.10g·C/(m2·a-1)、4.10g·C/(m2·a-1)和6.62mm/a;这4种指标在空间像元上也以增长趋势为主,且未来多数像元有持续增强的特征,但生态系统的水分利用效率却在降低。空间分析表明,大尺度植被生态演变受矿业活动影响微弱,其主要受制于气候和区域性的生态治理工程。     

Mechanisms controlling silicon isotope distribution in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific

The distribution of silicon isotopes along a meridional transect at 140°W longitude in the Eastern Equatorial Pacific was used to test the hypothesis that δ³⁰Si of silicic acid in surface waters should correlate with net silica production rates (gross silica production minus silica dissolution) rather than rates of gross silica production due to the opposing Si isotope fractionations associated with silica production and silica dissolution. Variations in δ³⁰Si appeared significantly correlated with net silica production rates in equatorial surface waters and not with gross production rates. Around the Equator, values of δ³⁰Si as low as deep water values occurred in the upper mesopelagic in a zone of net silica dissolution and high detrital biogenic silica content, where the release of low δ³⁰Si silicic acid from opal dissolution would be expected to decrease δ³⁰Si. The δ³⁰Si of the deep water at 140°W appears constant for depths >2000 m and is similar to the deep water at 110°W. This study brings to light the importance of considering Si fractionation during diatom silica dissolution, the biological fractionation during silica production and physical factors such as currents and mixing with adjacent water masses when interpreting silicon isotope distributions.     

安徽巢湖地区二叠系瓜德鲁普统孤峰组古环境演化

二叠纪瓜德鲁普世是古海洋条件发生重大变化的转折期。瓜德鲁普世古海洋、古环境的演化对古生代底栖无脊椎动物灭绝的影响仍然是个谜。利用元素地球化学,分析瓜德鲁普统孤峰组的陆源碎屑供应、海洋表层水体的初级生产力以及底部水体的氧化还原条件。结果表明:瓜德鲁普世早期和晚期分别发生了一次陆源碎屑输入的高峰期。瓜德鲁普世早期海洋初级生产力最高,中期海水初级生产力较低,而晚期稍有升高。瓜德鲁普世古海水主要为缺氧至硫化环境。瓜德鲁普世早期以贫氧至缺氧环境为主,间歇性出现硫化环境;中晚期则以硫化环境为主,间歇性出现缺氧环境。这些氧化还原环境的演化主要受到水动力条件的影响。瓜德鲁普世深水环境水体的持续缺氧硫化引发浅水台地底部水体的持续贫氧甚至缺氧,造成海洋生态系统变得脆弱,引发生物危机事件。     

Hydrological Conditions Control P Loading and Aquatic Metabolism in an Oligotrophic, Subtropical Estuary

Using high-resolution measures of aquatic ecosystem metabolism and water quality, we investigated the importance of hydrological inputs of phosphorus (P) on ecosystem dynamics in the oligotrophic, P-limited coastal Everglades. Due to low nutrient status and relatively large inputs of terrestrial organic matter, we hypothesized that the ponds in this region would be strongly net heterotrophic and that pond gross primary production (GPP) and respiration (R) would be the greatest during the “dry,” euhaline estuarine season that coincides with increased P availability. Results indicated that metabolism rates were consistently associated with elevated upstream total phosphorus and salinity concentrations. Pulses in aquatic metabolism rates were coupled to the timing of P supply from groundwater upwelling as well as a potential suite of hydrobiogeochemical interactions. We provide evidence that freshwater discharge has observable impacts on aquatic ecosystem function in the oligotrophic estuaries of the Florida Everglades by controlling the availability of P to the ecosystem. Future water management decisions in South Florida must include the impact of changes in water delivery on downstream estuaries.     

3S技术在神农架滑雪场生态环境影响评价中的应用

神农架滑雪场位于国家级自然保护区的边缘地带。运用景观生态学原理和方法,采用3S技术,对滑雪场景观生态体系的结构和功能状况进行评价,通过景观多样性指数、景观聚集度指数等指标量化计算及比较分析,预测了项目建成后对所在区域生态完整性的影响程度及将造成的敏感生态问题。结果表明,评价区自然系统的生物量将减少430.26 t,平均净生产力降低为881.55 g/m2.a,项目建设不会改变林地的模地地位,其对生态环境质量仍有较强的调控能力。3S技术结合景观生态学方法将生态环境影响评价由定性评价转向定量预测,为建设项目生态影响评价研究作了有益的探索。     

生物硅早期成岩作用研究进展

硅质浮游生物是海洋初级生产力的主要提供者,其死亡后所产生的硅质残骸(生物硅)向海底的传输,是保持海洋硅循环动态平衡的重要环节。由于海洋沉积物中的硅质微体生物化石记录了古海洋初级生产力的变化及其时空分布,因而生物硅也成为古环境重建的重要替代指标。本文对生物硅在水柱沉降和表层沉积物埋藏过程中所发生的早期成岩转变及其主要影响因素进行了综述,为全面了解最近几十年来该领域的研究进展提供参考。     

Climate forcing,primary production and the distribution of Holocene biogenic sediments in the Gulf of California

The Gulf of California is a marginal seaway under the influence of a monsoon climate that produces cool, dry winters and warm, humid summers. Winds, tidal mixing and coastal-trapped waves forced by climate and the Pacific Ocean control nutrient advection and primary productivity (PP). Strong northwest winds from the subtropical East Pacific High Pressure system begin in November and last until April and drive coastal upwelling along the mainland margin, especially in the central and southern Gulf. In the northern Gulf, particularly around the midrift island, tidal mixing and turbulence occurs year round, advecting nutrients into the mixed layer and high productivity. During summer and early fall months, winds are variable, of less intensity and mainly blow cross-basin except in the most northern Gulf. Summer PP is generally low in the central and southern Gulf except along the mainland where coastal-trapped waves associated with tropical surges and hurricanes generate mixing over the continental shelf. Mesoscale eddies or gyres often associated with jets and filaments extend to depths of 1000 m and transport nutrient-enriched upwelled waters and plankton detritus across the Gulf. The largest and most persistent gyres rotate in an anti-cyclonic direction (east to west) and are a principal source of the plankton export to the peninsula margin.Two major biogenic sediment patterns are present in core-top sediments. Hemipelagic biosiliceous-rich muds are accumulating beneath upwelling areas of high productivity in the central Gulf and along the mainland margin. Calcium carbonate- and organic carbon-rich (OC) sediments are concentrated along the peninsula margin, generally beneath lower productivity waters with the highest OC content in areas with the lowest productivity. The high, uniform biosiliceous content in Guaymas basin, extending southward into Carmen basin reflects the redistribution by mesoscale gyres of phytoplankon debris produced in mainland coastal upwelling and tidally forced areas around the midrift islands.Holocene biogenic patterns are similar to the present day with the major difference in rates of accumulation. Phytoplankton production prior to about 8200 yr BP was significantly higher in the central and southern Gulf, decreased though the mid-Holocene and has been reasonably steady for the past 2500 yr. The strong north–south and east–west gradients in present-day phytoplankton productivity patterns are also reflected in the Holocene sediment record. A series of depositional cycles occur in the biogenic record with the strongest peaks of variability at about 150 (144±18), 200 (198±5) and 350 (350±40) yrs. Longer periodicities are present prior to 3200 yr BP but the 350 yr cycle dominates in the late Holocene where it is best expressed as productivity/dissolution cycles in the carbonate record.     

Ecosystem Responses of a Tidal Freshwater Marsh Experiencing Saltwater Intrusion and Altered Hydrology

Tidal freshwater marshes exist in a dynamic environment where plant productivity, subsurface biogeochemical processes, and soil elevation respond to hydrological fluctuations over tidal to multi-decadal time scales. The objective of this study was to determine ecosystem responses to elevated salinity and increased water inputs, which are likely as sea level rise accelerates and saltwater intrudes into freshwater habitats. Since June 2008, in situ manipulations in a Zizaniopsis miliacea (giant cutgrass)-dominated tidal freshwater marsh in South Carolina have raised porewater salinities from freshwater to oligohaline levels and/or subtly increased the amount of water flowing through the system. Ecosystem-level fluxes of CO₂ and CH₄ have been measured to quantify rates of production and respiration. During the first 20 months of the experiment, the major impact of elevated salinity was a depression of plant productivity, whereas increasing freshwater inputs had a greater effect on rates of ecosystem CO₂ emissions, primarily due to changes in soil processes. Net ecosystem production, the balance between gross ecosystem production and ecosystem respiration, decreased by 55% due to elevated salinity, increased by 75% when freshwater inputs were increased, and did not change when salinity and hydrology were both manipulated. These changes in net ecosystem production may impact the ability of marshes to keep up with rising sea levels since the accumulation of organic matter is critical in allowing tidal freshwater marshes to build soil volume. Thus, it is necessary to have regional-scale predictions of saltwater intrusion and water level changes relative to the marsh surface in order to accurately forecast the long-term sustainability of tidal freshwater marshes to future environmental change.     

Paläoklima und paläoozeanische Verhältnisse im SW-Pazifik während der letzten 6 Millionen Jahre (DSDP - Site 594, Chatham Rücken, östlich Neuseeland)

Detailed sedimentological investigations were performed on sediments from DSDP-Site 594 (Chatham Rise, east of New Zealand) in order to reconstruct the evolution of paleoclimate and paleoceanographic conditions in the Southwest Pacific during the last 6 million years. The results can be summarized as follows:

1. High accumulation rates of biogenic opal and carbonate and the dominance of smectites in the clay fraction suggest increased oceanic productivity and an equable dominantly humid climate during the late Miocene.
2. During Pliocene times, decreasing contents of smectites and increasing feldspar/quartz ratios point to an aridification in the source area of the terrigenous sediments, culmunating near 2.5 Ma. At that time, accumulation rates of terrigenous components distinctly increased probably caused by increased sediment supply due to intensified atmospheric and oceanic circulation, lowered sea level, and decreased vegetation cover.
3. A hiatus (1.45 to 0.73 Ma) suggests intensified intermediate-water circulation.
4. Major glacial/interglacial cycles characterize the upper 0.73 Ma. During glacial times, oceanic productivity and terrigenous sediment supply was distinctly increased because of intensified atmospheric and oceanic circulations and lowered sea level, whereas during interglacials productivity and terrigenous sediment supply were reduced.
5. An increased content of amphibols in the sediments of Site 594 indicates increased volcanic activities during the last 4.25 Ma.

     

从有孔虫分析西藏南部白垩纪海平面升降

白垩纪是地质历史中的最大海侵时期。海平面的升降改变了海洋的物理、化学及生物因素,从而影响了有孔虫的演化与发展。根据对有孔虫丰度、分异度及演化类型的研究,认为西藏白垩纪最大海侵时期形成于赛诺曼期与土仑期的界线附近。此后海平面总的处于下降趋势,只是在康尼亚克期至三冬期海平面又有回升。马斯特里赫特末期有孔虫的大量灭绝反映了白垩纪与第三纪界线事件的影响。     

Oceanic events and biotic effects of the Cenomanian-Turonian anoxic event, Tarfaya Basin, Morocco

Profound biotic changes accompanied the late Cenomanian δ¹³C excursion and OAE2 in planktic foraminifera in the Tarfaya Basin of Morocco. Planktic foraminifera experienced a severe turnover, though no mass extinction, beginning with the rapid δ¹³C excursion and accelerating with the influx of oxic bottom waters during the first peak and trough of the excursion. Species extinctions equaled the number of evolving species, though only the disaster opportunists Guembelitria and Hedbergella thrived along with a low oxygen tolerant benthic assemblage. The succeeding δ¹³C plateau and organic-rich black shale deposition marks the anoxic event and maximum biotic stress accompanied by a prolonged drop in diversity to just two species, the dominant (80–90%) low oxygen tolerant Heterohelix moremani and surface dweller Hedbergella planispira. After the anoxic event other species returned, but remained rare and sporadically present well into the lower Turonian, whereas Heterohelix moremani remained the single dominant species. The OAE2 biotic turnover suggests that the stress to calcareous plankton was related to changes in the watermass stratification, intensity of upwelling, nutrient flux and oxic levels in the water column driven by changes in climate and oceanic circulation. Results presented here demonstrate a 4-stage pattern of biotic response to the onset, duration, and recovery of OAE2 that is observed widely across the Tethys and its bordering epicontinental seas.     

Sea-level changes,facies changes and the late Precambrian—Early cambrian evolutionary explosion

An explosive increase in the fossil record coincided with a major rise in sea level during latest Precambrian—early Cambrian times. The artefactual and real effects of an onshore—offshore environmental gradient upon taxonomic diversity are considered, with particular reference to 14 fossiliferous sections from around the world. Within-taxon and within-habitat evolution through the early Cambrian are also discussed. The evidence suggests that evolution was a diversity-dependent (i.e. kinetic) growth process, made possible by the colonisation and gradual filling of habitats that were growing both in variety and area. Archaeocyatha diversified rapidly at first but may have suffered later decline and extinction because facies changes in late early Cambrian times reduced their area of habitat.     

Phosphorus burial as a function of paleoproductivity and redox conditions in Arabian Sea sediments

In this study the response of sedimentary phosphorus (P) burial to changes in primary productivity and bottom water oxygen concentrations during the Late Quaternary is investigated, using two sediment cores from the Arabian Sea, one recovered from the continental slope and the other from the deep basin. The average solid-phase P speciation in both cores is similar, authigenic and biogenic (fish debris) apatite make up the bulk of the P inventory (ca. 70%);whereas P adsorbed to iron oxides, organic P, and detrital apatite constitute minor fractions. Postdepositional redistribution has not significantly altered the downcore distribution of total solid-phase P. Phosphorus burial efficiencies are generally lower during periods of increased paleoproductivity. This is caused by (a) partial decoupling of the P export flux, consisting primarily of particulate organic P, and the P burial flux, consisting primarily of biogenic and authigenic apatite; and (b) the lack of increased rates of authigenic CFA formation during periods of higher P deposition. In addition, fluctuations in bottom water oxygen concentrations may have affected P burial in continental slope sediments. The results of this study indicate that higher primary productivity induces more efficient P cycling. On time scales exceeding the oceanic P residence time, this process may induce higher surface water productivity, thus creating a positive feedback loop. In the Arabian Sea, this feedback mechanism may have contributed to changes in sea surface productivity on sub-Milankovitch time scales because P, regenerated on the continental slopes of the Oman and Somalian coastal upwelling zones, is reintroduced into the photic zone relatively fast.     

基于生物硅记录的孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的古生产力变化

基于生物硅含量变化,结合碳酸钙和硅质生物放射虫数据,本文揭示了孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的生产力演变规律及其气候响应。研究区域的古生产力演化大致分为3个阶段,即生产力相对低的末次冰期(56~18 ka)、生产力呈阶段性增加的末次冰消期(18~10 ka)以及高生产力的全新世。进一步地,研究发现末次冰期沉积物中放射虫物种主要是具有硅化程度较高的矢状环形结构的轭环虫/双篮虫属占据绝对优势(约60%)、少见硅化程度轻的纤细结构,推测末次冰期沉积物中硅质生物壳体受到明显溶解作用影响,尽管如此,末次冰期碳酸钙含量约20%、生物硅含量3.5%~4.4%、放射虫丰度1 000~6 000枚·g^-1,表明孟加拉湾东南部末次冰期以来的生产力一直处于相对较高的水平,营养盐物质丰富、生物量较高。该结论得到放射虫群落结构中罩笼虫目高相对丰度(>50%)的数据支持,其被认为是营养盐丰富的指标。此外,末次冰消期生物硅含量的阶段性波动变化现象,可能是受千年尺度气候事件的调控引起的,即Heinrich1(HS1)和新仙女木(YD)时期生产力增高、生物量增加,推测与陆源有机物质的输入带来丰富的营养物质进入上层水体、南极中层水入侵带来中层水通风增强促进硅质生物生产力的升高有关。     

Triggers for the Cambrian explosion: Hypotheses and problems

Abrupt appearance of major bilaterian clades in the fossil record during the first three stages of the Cambrian Period has puzzled the scientific world since 1830s. Many proposed causes including environmental, developmental, and ecological hypotheses, are reviewed. Nutrient availability, oxygenation, and change of seawater composition are commonly supposed to be environmental triggers. The nutrient input, e.g. the enrichment of phosphorus in an environment, would cause excess primary production, but it is neither directly linked with diversity nor disparity. Fluctuating abiotic conditions during the Snowball Earth and the associated oxygenation event may have stimulated the diversification of complex multicellular organisms including diverse of macroscopic and morphologically differentiated algae in the early Ediacaran, but did not lead to the ecological success of metazoan or bilaterian lineages. Further increase of oxygen level and change of seawater composition just before and during early Cambrian are suggested by the high weathering rate of the trans-Gondwana mountains, Great Unconformity, and decline of oceanic salinity. These are potential candidates of environmental triggers for the Cambrian explosion but require future more detailed geochemical studies to confirm. The molecular phylogeny calibrated with the molecular clock data suggested that the developmental system of bilaterians was established before their divergence. This, in turn, suggests that the Cambrian explosion require environmental triggers. However, there still exists the contention between deep or shallow divergence of bilaterian clades, which remains to be solved in the future. The deep divergence model is supported by a majority of molecular clock studies, but is challenged by the paucity of bilaterian fossils before and during the Ediacaran Period. The shallow model is generally consistent with the fossil record, but has to explain the rapidity of increase in diversity, disparity, morphological complexity, acquisition of biomineralized shells, etc. Regardless of deep or shallow model, the conservation of lineage-specific kernels within the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) provides an explanation for the long-term stability of body plans after the Cambrian explosion, and continuous addition of microRNAs into the GRNs seems to correspond well to the increase in morphological complexity. As for ecological causes, some hypotheses (e.g. adaptive radiation after mass extinction, cropping, and geosphere–biosphere feedbacks) cannot explain the uniqueness of the event, some others (such as Cambrian substrate revolution, predator–prey pressure, evolution of zooplankton, and roughening of fitness landscapes) fall into the trap of chicken-and-egg problem because of considering the consequence as a cause. Expansion of ecosystem engineering in the early Cambrian might also be caused by the Cambrian explosion. However, ecosystem engineering associated with Ediacaran ecosystems is likely a pivotal ecological prerequisite for the later ecological success of bilaterian clades, particularly the engineering effect by Ediacaran sponges that ventilated seawater by sponge pumping and removing organic material from the water column. However, the ecological abundance of Ediacaran sponges needs to be further investigated. Finally, a working plan is proposed for future research. For paleontologists, searching for ancestors of early Cambrian faunas is crucial to testify the earlier divergence of bilaterian lineages. Environmentally, precise values on the oxygen level and seawater composition are required during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition.