Re: Article: Complex ecosystems arrived early

in article e6phq7$lum$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, Perplexed in Peoria at
jimmenegay@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote on 6/14/06 10:42 AM:


"Robert Karl Stonjek" <rstonjek@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:e6ms1o$29c9$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Published online: 7 June 2006; | doi:10.1038/news060605-7
Complex ecosystems arrived early
Diversity of oldest fossils could mean extraterrestrial life is more likely.
Michael Hopkin

Researchers studying rock formations shaped by the earliest life on Earth
have found that they harboured a plethora of different microbes. The rocks,
widely regarded as some of the oldest fossils, are evidence of a 'microbial
reef' ecosystem of similar complexity to modern coral reefs, the scientists
say.
[snip remainder]

Complex ecosystem? Give me a break! They looked at some mineral formations
and found some things that they can't explain abiotically. They found no
fossils of cells, no organic biomarkers, and no other evidence of life, other
than the failure to imagine an abiotic explanation. In fact, they found
seven different textures in seven different locations that they couldn't
explain. Ok, now take a leap of faith and assume that all seven textures
were produced by living organisms. Take a second leap and assume these were
seven different species, and not just seven different textures produced by
a single species in slightly different environments. What possible assumption
justifies the third leap to the notion that this constitutes a "complex
ecosystem"? Don't we need some indication that the microorganisms interacted
in some way other than competing for illuminated real estate?

I agree with you, Jim. While is suspect that their speculation is correct,
that it wouldn't take too many millions of years after the origin of life
for complex ecosystems to emerge, these authors prematurely jumped to that
conclusion based on a little tenuous evidence of more than one species.

Guy


.

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