Decoupled evolution of soft and hard substrate communities during the Cambrian Explosion and Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event

The majority of body plans were established during the Cambrian Explosion (CE), whereas the significant taxonomic increases during the Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event (GOBE) were manifest at lower taxonomic levels. Data on the diversity and disparity of bioturbation and bioerosion indicate that soft and hard substrate communities experienced decoupled evolution. Ichnofossil data indicate that rapid diversification of bioturbation occurred during the early early Cambrian (Fortunian) rather than during the late early Cambrian as indicated by shelly fossils. The first rapid increase in bioerosion took place during the GOBE approximately 80 My after the CE in bioturbation.