The Charnian Supergroup of Central England is a globally significant fossil locality where Precambrian complex life-forms are well preserved.
The Neoproterozoic Ediacaran Period was a seminal time in the evolution of multicellular life. Important among these Precambrian complex organisms were the Rangeomorphs and their possible taphomorphs (ivesheadiamorphs).
Unfortunately, the timing of key biological events relating to the evolution of these organisms is relatively poorly constrained due to a paucity of high-precision dates worldwide. New U-Pb geochronology data presented here by Stephen R. Noble and colleagues contribute significantly to the temporal constraints on these organisms, showing that Charnian fossils (older than 569 to 557 million years) partly overlap in age with the other key Rangeomorph locality in the paleo-region (Mistaken Point, Newfoundland), and also with macro-organism communities from very different environmental settings (e.g. White Sea, Russia).
Together, this indicates that paleoenvironmental differences rather than temporal control are a first-order control on biota composition at this time.
U-Pb geochronology and global context of the Charnian Supergroup, UK: Constraints on the age of key Ediacaran fossil assemblages S.R. Noble et al., Natural Environment Research Council Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, NG12 5GG, UK. Published online 26 Aug. 2014; http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/B31013.1.