Erik Tihelka

PhD thesis: Was there a Cambrian explosion on land?

What propelled the transition from a once barren, Mars-like planet dominated by microbes to one teeming with the complex life we know today? My project focuses on the exploration and discovery of new fossil deposits that shed light on life on Earth's continents from the Cambrian to the Devonian. Unambiguous terrestrial fossils from this era are few and problematic, owing to their antiquity, leaving many open questions about the evolution of the atmosphere and the carbon cycle on our planet. An integration of new paleontological and geochemical techniques is being used to detect hidden evidence of ancient life where it was not previously suspected.

Who or what inspired you to pursue your research interests?

The history of life on Earth is written in stone. However, the rock record is woefully incomplete and irrevocably distorted, with no consensus on how far back in time it can be read before it becomes illegible. Converting this fragmentary and biased Earth archive into a narrative of the evolution of life is essential for reconstructing the history of life on our planet. Furthermore, understanding nuances of how biology influences the geological record and is reflected in it is key to reconstructing the history of life on Earth, as well as learning to recognize signs of past life on other planets.