I. What is an ecosystem? II. What is ecosystem evolution? III. Today's C cycle. IV. History of Ecosystems through the last 4 billion years. 1. Evolution of prokaryotes 2. Primary productivity 3. Stromatolites 4. Prokaryotic mats 5. Ediacaran assemblage 900 - ~560 my 6. Coelom and burrowing 7. Precambrian-Cambrian transition 8. Cambrian explosion - Burgess Shale 9. Bioturbation now 10. History of O2 11. Spread of land plants 12. Establishment of land animals 13. Invasion of deserts and other "hostile" environments V. Summary of changes in C cycle. More on C cycle evolution.