The Carboniferous: A Very Special Time on Earth
WEBINAR
By Dr Nick Riley MBE
Thursday 19th January, 19:00
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ABSTRACT
The late Devonian comprised a series of extinction events. Some were probably driven by climate change, perhaps in response to the first appearance of trees in the mid-Devonian, which would have changed the biogeochemistry of the land-atmosphere-ocean system. There is also evidence that a supernova may have irradiated the Earth thus enhancing the final end-Devonian extinction event. The early Carboniferous, particularly in the marine realm, displays a period of gradual recovery from the Devonian extinctions, with renewed evolutionary radiation in the marine realm of calcareous benthic foraminifera, corals, echinoderms, ammonoids, and trilobites. In the terrestrial realm, plants diversified, particularly trees, leading to the first widespread equatorial rainforests on Earth. There is evidence, both from marine and terrestrial organism palaeobiology, that by at least Viséan times oxygen levels were higher than today. This probably resulted from the CO2 drawdown by the rainforests, thus enhancing a global cooling trend that was not significantly reversed until the catastrophic end Permian extinction event. Winged insects appeared for the first time and remained the only creatures with powered flight until the pterosaurs appeared in the late Triassic, who likely preyed on insects. Indeed if the Devonian can be claimed “the age of fishes” the Carboniferous can be claimed as “the age of insects” Tetrapod evolution accelerated, so that by late Carboniferous times the amphibians, true reptiles and the clade of tetrapods leading eventually to the appearance of the first mammals in the late Triassic (Norian), had become distinct from each other. It is likely that the ability to clot blood using platelets appeared during the Carboniferous thus paving the way for placental mammals and therefore us to appear and thrive on Earth.
Nick Riley discussing the Hardraw Force tetrapod trackway at the 2022 AGM.
BIOGRAPHY
Nick graduated in Geology and Zoology from Bristol University in 1977 and subsequently a PhD in Geology as a Case Award student between the Institute of Geological Sciences (now the British Geological Survey-BGS) and Bristol University. In 1980 Nick joined the IGS as a specialist in Carboniferous palaeontology and stratigraphy, in support of mapping programmes and British Coal’s Plan 2000 exploration activities. He quickly diversified into applying his skills to oil and gas exploration and large civil engineering projects, including radioactive waste storage, underground gas storage. Nick became the first BGS Head of Science Energy and subsequently Head Science Policy Europe. He has co-ordinated European research projects and advised several research councils, as well as UK Government. In 2003 Nick was awarded an MBE for “Services to UK Geoscience” Nick left BGS in 2013 and remains a BGS Honorary Associate. Nick served as President of the Yorkshire Geological Society from 2021-22 and is currently Treasurer and Vice-President.
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