“寒武纪爆发”与澄江动物群

“CAMBRIAN EXPLOSION” AND THE CHENGJIANG FAUNA

近年 ,“寒武纪爆发” (CambrianExplosion)常见于论文 ,更现于报端。当务之急应规范其涵义 ,慎用之 ,并予以限定。澄江动物群中有部分 (而不是全部 )标本保存生物活着时软体组织印痕化石 (而不是软体 ) ,无疑给人类窥视浩瀚生命 (生物 )演化史卷中短暂一幕提供极好“窗口” ,对恢复、评价早寒武世筇竹寺阶生物发育总体水平、生态系统、食物链等主要方面提供依据。对其科学价值应有充分认识 ,但也要恰如其分 ;对其中的诸多发现 ,应深入研究、证据确凿 ;对其科学意义 ,应有正确的评估。

Recently, “Cambrian Explosion” often appears in paper, even newspaper. We must urgently standardize its meaning and limit its usage carefully. In the Chengjiang Fauna, parts of specimens(not all of them) preserve the fossil stamp of soft tissue(not soft tissue itself) of living organisms. Undoubtedly, they provide a better “window” for us to get a glimpse of a short act of the long evolution history of life(organisms), which is an important base of recovering and evaluating the general level of organisms development, ecosystem and food chain in the Qiongzhusi Stage of Early Cambrian. The scientific value of it must be recognized fully and properly, not rasied unlimitedly. And many discoveries must be profoundly researched according to the actual evidences, not with too many guesses. Otherwise, it will be self damaged one day.