Did tiny exoskeleton fragments help ancient microbes colonize the open ocean?
In short: Microscopic life may have relied on discarded insect parts to travel across the sea. This video explores how these ancient hitchhikers used exoskeleton fragments as vessels, potentially altering the course of global history by reaching new environments.
The open ocean was once inaccessible to certain critical microbes. Research suggests that fragments of exoskeletons acted as rafts, providing a mechanism for these tiny organisms to set sail and expand their range.
By colonizing the open ocean, these microbes were able to influence global ecosystems in ways that changed the planet forever. This discovery highlights the unexpected ways that biological debris can facilitate the dispersal of life across vast distances.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: How Ancient Microbes Rode Bug Bits Out to Sea
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