Precambrian and lower paleozoic paleontology and stratigraphy

这一长期项目包括寻找、收集、准备、鉴定、分类、描述、说明和解释地球历史早期的化石和可能的化石，称为前寒武纪。它的目的是帮助了解在包含最早88%的地质时间的时期内存在的生命，建立这些古代生命形式的生物亲缘关系和过去的环境条件，并确定可用于重建遥远过去的地理的进化变化的序列。这种方法是广泛的，使用了所有类型的化石(微观化石、大型化石和生物活动产生的结构，如动物遗迹和由微生物建造的层状结构)。尽管加拿大有大量的古老岩石序列，但很少有加拿大人积极研究它们的化石内容。最近在这些古老地形上的发现令人鼓舞，为更高级的生命形式提供了证据。我们1999年在贾斯珀以西的落基山脉发现了加拿大最古老的有壳动物，这将是特别关注的焦点，以帮助我们进一步了解生物最初何时以及为什么发展出这种创新的结构。2003年，地质学家为纽芬兰地质调查局绘制了博纳维斯塔半岛的地图，发现的埃迪卡拉化石与著名的阿瓦隆半岛上的埃迪卡拉错点生物群相似，他们的研究刚刚开始，将极大地提高我们对新元古代巨型生物的认识。

This long-term project comprises the search for, collection, preparation, identification, classification, description, illustration, and interpretation of fossils and possible fossils from the early part of Earth history, referred to as the Precambrian. Its purpose is to contribute to the knowledge about life that existed during the period encompassing the earliest 88% of geologic time, to establish the biological affinities and past environmental conditions for these ancient life forms, and to determine the succession of evolutionary changes that can be used in reconstructing the geography of the distant past. The approach is broadly based, using all types of fossils available (microscopic fossils, large fossils, and structures produced by biological activity, such as animal traces and laminated structures built by microbes). Although Canada has extensive sequences of the old rocks, few Canadians are actively studying their fossil content. Recent discoveries in these older terrains are encouraging, providing evidence for more advanced life forms. Our 1999 discovery of Canada's oldest animals with shells in the Rocky Mountains west of Jasper will be the focus of special attention to help us gain further insight into when and why organisms first developed this innovative structure. Ediacaran fossils discovered by geologists mapping the Bonavista Peninsula for the Newfoundland Geological Survey in 2003 are similar to the well known Ediacaran Mistaken Point biota on the Avalon Peninsula, and their study, which has just begun, will considerably enhance our knowledge of Neoproterozoic megascopic life.