Quantifying the rise of animals during the Ediacaran–Cambrian using ichnodissimilarity

The trace fossil record provides important insights into the evolution of early animals during the Ediacaran–Cambrian transition, with changes in ichnodiversity through time and between environments informing on the diversification of major body plans, behaviours and niches. To quantify variation in the diversity of trace fossils across this critical interval, we propose a measure of trace fossil dissimilarity (ichnodissimilarity) based on vector calculation. Furthermore, by comparing discrepancies between the angular bisector and mean vector of two sets of vectorized fossil data, we are able to weigh the relative importance of increases and decreases in the variation of occurrences of taxa. We used this metric to analyze an expansive dataset of Ediacaran–Cambrian trace fossils. The results allowed us to quantify the diversification of traces across this transition, informing on the timing of first appearance of different behaviours (e.g. foraging, grazing and resting) and functional groups. By interpreting the results in the context of environmental changes and advancements in motility and sensory capabilities, we were able to pinpoint the onset and sequence of the Fortunian Diversification Event, Cambrian Information Revolution and Agronomic Revolution, shedding light on the evolution of organismal body plans, behaviours and locomotion during the Ediacaran and Cambrian transition. We identified two phases of origination and expansion during the divergence of early animal traces. Furthermore, by analyzing shallow and deep marine trace fossils, we were able to uncover evidence for a more rapid diversification of traces in shallow marine environments, with progressive niche partitioning through the Ediacaran to Cambrian.