title: Taphonomic and evolutionary changes across the Mesoproterozoic-Neoproterozoic transition.
abstract: The principal biological distinction between Mesoproterozoic and Neoproterozoic is the abundance and diversity of eukaryotic fossils in the Neoproterozoic rocks, but the two eras also differ in the composition of preserved cyanobacterial assemblages.  Evolving eukaryotes provide a partial explanation for observed differences in prokaryotic fossils, but the taphonomic and environmental influences of shifting carbonate depositional pattern are also important.
authors.affiliation: Botanical Museum, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Sergeev
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D002254:Carbonates / Q000032:analysis; D000458:Cyanobacteria; D017753:Ecosystem; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D056890:Eukaryota; D005057:Eukaryotic Cells; D005580:Fossils; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D010163:Paleontology
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates