Researchers from OIST found that the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction drove an unprecedented richness of vertebrate life, with gnathostomes dominating all others. The study linked the mass extinction pulses to increased speciation after millions of years, highlighting their role in shaping the evolution of vertebrates.
SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalScience Advances·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateJan 9, 2026
A new study suggests that violent supernovae caused at least two mass extinction events in Earth's history, including the late Devonian and Ordovician extinctions. Researchers believe a nearby supernova could have stripped the planet's atmosphere of ozone, sparking acid rain and exposing life to harmful ultraviolet radiation.
SourceRoyal Astronomical Society·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateMar 12, 2025
Researchers used pyrite to study the relationship between sediment mixing and oxygen levels in ancient oceans. They found that small amounts of sediment mixing can expose buried minerals to enough oxygen to start oxygen buildup. This challenges conventional wisdom about the role of oxygen in oxygen accumulation.
SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalGeochimica et Cosmochimica Acta·DateJun 1, 2024
The Cabrières Biota, a new fossil site in southern France, has revealed unprecedented information on polar ecosystems during the Ordovician period. The discovery of over 400 fossils provides insights into the composition of southernmost ecosystems and serves as a refuge for species that escaped high temperatures.
SourceUniversity of Lausanne·JournalNature Ecology & Evolution·DateFeb 9, 2024
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Researchers uncover 10 new trilobite species in Thai sanctuary, shedding light on Cambrian-Ordovician period and connecting Thailand to parts of Australia. The discovery helps date the age of fossils and better understand global geography.
SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalPapers in Palaeontology·DateNov 21, 2023
A new Ordovician eurypterid, Archopterus anjiensis, has been found in the Wenchang Formation of Anji County, Zhejiang Province. The discovery is significant for understanding early evolution of eurypterids in Gondwana.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalJournal of Paleontology·DateMay 16, 2023
A new fossil site in Morocco has revealed giant arthropods that were up to 2m long and played a unique role in ancient ecosystems. The discovery opens new avenues for paleontological research and provides insights into the evolution of early animal life on Earth.
SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalScientific Reports·DateDec 13, 2022
A new study suggests that rapid changes in marine oxygen levels coincided with the Late Ordovician mass extinction, which eliminated 85% of marine species. The research team found that oxygen levels fluctuated rapidly, leading to a decline and eventual recovery, affecting marine ecosystems.
SourceFlorida State University·JournalScience Advances·DateNov 18, 2022
Two new specimens, Mieridduryn bonniae, have been discovered in a Welsh fossil deposit, providing insights into the evolution of arthropods. The fossils feature striking similarities to Opabinia, suggesting that they may be related to modern arthropod larvae.
SourceHarvard University, Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 15, 2022
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Researchers found that ancient marine invasions in the Midwestern US, 446 million years ago, did not cause widespread extinctions. Instead, native generalist species adapted to accommodate newcomers. This ancient phenomenon can inform modern strategies for wildlife conservation.
Researchers identified favorable reservoir-forming conditions and modes in the Ordovician buried hills of the Jizhong depression. The study found that three sets of source rocks from the Carboniferous-Permian and Paleogene geologic periods provide adequate quantities of hydrocarbons required for oil and gas reserves.
SourceCactus Communications·JournalEarth Science Frontiers·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 14, 2022
The Liexi Fauna discovery provides new evidence for the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event, featuring a rich array of biomineralized fossils and non-mineralized tissues. The fauna reveals a flourishing Early Ordovician marine ecosystem with diverse organisms and varied lifestyles.
SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalProceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences·DateJul 17, 2022
Researchers found that reducing conditions, including low oxygen and hydrogen sulfide levels, played a greater role in the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction. The study used geochemical proxies to examine ocean conditions, finding evidence of higher oxygen levels in some areas, which supported life.
SourceFlorida State University·JournalAGU Advances·DateJan 10, 2022
Researchers found that intense volcanic activity led to a surge in phosphorus levels, driving ocean oxygen levels down and triggering a severe mass extinction. The study suggests that natural weathering of volcanic material may have been responsible for the sudden cooling events.
SourceUniversity of Southampton·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 2, 2021
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Researchers from Syracuse University and UC Berkeley investigate the Late Ordovician mass extinction, finding that climate cooling combined with other factors likely led to the event. The study suggests that temperature change, rather than oxygen depletion, was the primary cause of the mass extinction.
SourceSyracuse University·JournalNature Geoscience·TypeMeta-analysis·DateNov 1, 2021
A new study reconciles the molecular clock with the fossil record of plants by linking older spore-like microfossils to younger plant spores derived from charophyte algae, revealing the evolutionary assembly of the plant regulatory and developmental genome.
SourceBoston College·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2021
Researchers have developed a new method to reconstruct formation paleo-pressure in sedimentary basins by integrating various paleo-pressure calculation methods. The study focuses on three case studies: Sinian strata in the Sichuan Basin, Ordovician strata in the Tarim Basin, and Permian strata in the Sulige Gas Field in the Ordos Basin.
A major impact event around 466 Mya may have triggered cooling and biological diversification, leading to late Ordovician glaciation. Cosmic dust enrichment in the stratosphere is believed to be a key factor in this process.
SourceKazan Federal University·JournalScience Advances·DateOct 3, 2019
The discovery of rare marine fossil specimens in northern Portugal has provided a more detailed picture of biodiversity during the Middle Ordovician period. Soft-bodied specimens have filled a gap in understanding evolution during this time, suggesting that many soft-bodied fossils remain to be discovered.
SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalThe Science of Nature·DateJun 4, 2019
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Marine biodiversity experienced two bursts of accumulation during the Cambrian Explosion and Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. The latter coincided with falling equatorial sea-surface temperatures, suggesting a narrow temperature window was required for marine life.
SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 25, 2019
The study analyzed the criteria and remaining issues in Ordovician System subdivision and correlation in China, identifying problems with boundary definition, stage durations, and isotopic dating. It also highlighted the importance of precise age determination for petroleum exploration and development in China.
SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateJan 2, 2019
A team of researchers led by Maya Elrick found that a global marine anoxic event occurred during the Late Ordovician Mass Extinction, which lasted for at least 1 million years and coincided with the extinction of 85% of marine life. The study suggests that low oxygen concentrations in the ocean were a major driver of the mass extinction.
SourceUniversity of New Mexico·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 21, 2018
Researchers from the University of Leicester have discovered a unique 450-million-year-old fossil of a mysterious creature with soft body parts preserved. The discovery provides new insights into the life of the Ordovician period and expands our understanding of the planet's ancient world.
SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalPalaios·DateJan 23, 2018
Researchers found a three-fold increase in biodiversity during the Ordovician Period, coinciding with a significant rise in oxygen levels. The study suggests that atmospheric oxygen levels did not reach modern levels for millions of years after the Cambrian explosion.
SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Geoscience·DateNov 20, 2017
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A team of scientists suggests that massive volcanic eruptions triggered the first mass extinction event, which occurred at the end of the Ordovician period. The researchers analyzed mercury levels in sedimentary rocks from North America and southern China, finding a correlation between Hg enrichments and the mass extinction.
A new study suggests that the weathering of rocks by early non-vascular plants, such as mosses and lichens, may have contributed to the cooling of the climate during the Late Ordovician period. This process, known as chemical weathering, can draw down atmospheric CO2, leading to global cooling.
SourceStockholm University·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 7, 2016
A study suggests that changes in deep-water ocean circulation, rather than CO2 levels, drove the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event. This finding supports the idea that icehouse conditions, not super-greenhouse periods, are associated with the greatest increase in marine biodiversity in Earth's history.
SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 6, 2016
Researchers discovered a significant drop in CO2 levels at the end of the Ordovician Period, preceding an ice age and mass extinction. This finding can help climatologists predict future environmental changes by understanding past carbon cycles.
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Researchers reconstruct Pangea's plate thickness before its break-up, finding a boomerang-shaped arc formed by thick plates. The study reveals the boomerang's shape is controlled by plate thickness and deformation.
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateJul 30, 2015
A 450 million-year-old study reveals that an ancient hurricane belt existed in North America, affecting areas now known as New York State and the eastern seaboard. The research team mapped the position of the Ordovician Equator and adjacent tropical zones using fossil distribution and sediments.
A study of ancient graptoloid populations found that they did not rapidly develop new physical traits after a mass extinction event. Instead, the researchers suggest an evolutionary lag occurred, with limited morphological innovation continuing for approximately 2 million years.
SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 13, 2012
Researchers studied sediment transfer from land to deep sea using LiDAR and cosmogenic radionuclide-derived erosion rates. They found that sediment fluxes influence landscape evolution and geochemical cycling. Additionally, unique sedimentary desiccation structures were discovered in Bahamian ooid grainstone.
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateMay 26, 2011
Researchers found fossils dating back 446-444 million years, helping reconstruct the Cordillera Bética's palaeogeography. The discovery also sheds light on the tectonic history and geological history of the region.
SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalTerra Nova·DateDec 13, 2010
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The study identifies the early Katian Age as the commencement of the Kwangsian Orogeny, a significant event in South China's geological evolution. Continuous Ordovician sections in Yongxin and Chongyi Counties display a continuous graptolite sequence, indicating a sharp facies change from deep-water black shales to shallow-water clastics.
SourceScience China Press·JournalScience China Earth Sciences·DateDec 3, 2010
Researchers have reconstructed the Earth's climate belts between 460 and 445 million years ago, finding patterns that suggest ancient carbon dioxide levels were more modest than thought. The study reveals a 'modern-looking' pattern in ancient oceans, emphasizing the stability of the atmosphere and climate through deep time.
SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 9, 2010
Paleontologists discovered over 1,500 exceptionally preserved soft-bodied fossils from the Ordovician period, expanding our understanding of sea creatures and ecosystems. The finds upend a long-held belief that Burgess Shale-type faunas disappeared at the end of the Middle Cambrian epoch.
Early human fossils found in 500-million-year-old rocks show that ancient pioneers may have carried shells on their backs to breathe, providing insights into how they adapted to life on land. Researchers also discovered large perturbations of the carbon and sulfur cycle accompanying a mass extinction event in South China and linked vol...
SourceGeological Society of America·JournalGeology·DateMar 31, 2009
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Researchers at Ohio State University found evidence that the Earth's atmosphere may have supported an oxygen-rich environment half a billion years ago. This oxygen surge could have triggered a rapid diversification of life on Earth during the late Cambrian period.
A study by Ohio State University suggests that the rise of the Appalachian Mountains may have caused a major ice age around 450 million years ago. This phenomenon, known as an 'icehouse' effect, was triggered by the weathering of volcanic rocks and the resulting decrease in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels.
Scientists report that marine benthic diversity in Laurentia recovered to pre-extinction levels within 5 million years, nearly 15 million years sooner than suggested by global compilations. This rapid recovery suggests that the region operated differently from the globe as a whole.
SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 7, 2004
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A Virginia Tech research project suggests that body size may not be directly related to evolutionary or ecological success. Early findings indicate that diversity and body size increased together during the history of life, but this relationship broke down at the end of the Ordovician period, around 440 million years ago.
A team of geologists proposes a new model for the collision and rifting of ancient continents, contradicting a previous theory. The revised model suggests that land masses were broken apart into smaller terrains that attached over time, rather than undergoing a massive collision.
Geologist Arnie Miller's research reveals regional origins of radiations in Ordovician fossils, contradicting the global diversity trend. Localized tectonic activity and emergence of volcanoes triggered diversification on different paleo-continents.