Research Interests
My research investigates the interval of geological time encompassing the origin and radiation of animals, between ~700-520 million years ago. Much of my previous work has explored fossils of the Ediacaran Period (635-541 million years ago), particularly the enigmatic Ediacaran macrobiota - a group of soft-bodied organisms with unusual body plans that may include some of the earliest members of extant animal groups. In addition to examining aspects of Ediacaran palaeoecology and taxonomy, I attempt to better understand the biology of Ediacaran organisms by interpreting them within a palaeoenvironmental and geological context. This involves studies into taphonomy, ichnology, sedimentology and geochemistry, in a variety of field areas including Newfoundland (Canada), Brazil, and China. I ultimately hope to determine the causes and consequences of animal evolution, and the wider implications of these for understanding the interplay between evolution and the Earth System.