Post on 21-Dec-2015
Paleontology and Paleontology and PaleoecologyPaleoecology
Historical Perspectives Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles on Fossils & Principles
of Paleoecologyof Paleoecology
Historical Perspectives on FossilsHistorical Perspectives on Fossils
““Shaped Stones”Shaped Stones”
Lightning scars, supernatural temptations, divine Lightning scars, supernatural temptations, divine jokes and mysterious vaporsjokes and mysterious vapors
Washed in during biblical floodWashed in during biblical flood
Crawled into rock and diedCrawled into rock and died
Fossil – “something dug up” (Latin)Fossil – “something dug up” (Latin)
Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci(1452-1519)(1452-1519)
Leonardo sketched fossils and recognizedthem as the remains of ancient life.
Niels StensonNiels Stenson(a.k.a. Nicholas Steno)(a.k.a. Nicholas Steno)
(1638-1686)(1638-1686)
Observations on Observations on sediments:sediments:– SuperpositionSuperposition– Original horizontalityOriginal horizontality– Original lateral Original lateral
continuitycontinuity
““tongue stones”tongue stones”
Niels StensonNiels Stenson(a.k.a. Nicholas Steno)(a.k.a. Nicholas Steno)
(1638-1686)(1638-1686)
““Tongue stones” Tongue stones” looked like teeth looked like teeth because they were because they were teeth!teeth!
Fossils are remains of Fossils are remains of once living creatures once living creatures (revival of DaVinci’s (revival of DaVinci’s interpretation).interpretation).
Robert Hooke (1703)Robert Hooke (1703)
These remains have a fixed “life span” and These remains have a fixed “life span” and therefore can be used like “Roman coins” therefore can be used like “Roman coins” in determining age relationshipsin determining age relationships
First statement of fossil successionFirst statement of fossil succession
Concept revisited by William Smith in early Concept revisited by William Smith in early 1800’s1800’s
Smith used fossils to correlate and make Smith used fossils to correlate and make the first geologic mapthe first geologic map
FossilsFossils
Remains or traces of ancient lifeRemains or traces of ancient life
Bones, Teeth, Shells, Tracks, TrailsBones, Teeth, Shells, Tracks, Trails
Soft tissues – rareSoft tissues – rare
Utility of FossilsUtility of Fossils
History of Life on EarthHistory of Life on EarthEvolution – appearances of new speciesEvolution – appearances of new speciesExtinction – disappearances of speciesExtinction – disappearances of speciesFramework for other events in Earth’s Framework for other events in Earth’s HistoryHistoryGuide in exploring for fossil fuelsGuide in exploring for fossil fuelsImportant clues to ancient environmental Important clues to ancient environmental conditionsconditions
Principles of PaleoecologyPrinciples of Paleoecology
Organisms adapt to Organisms adapt to their environmentstheir environments
Fossils provide clues Fossils provide clues to organism lifestyleto organism lifestyle
Analogy to living Analogy to living relativesrelatives
Functional MorphologyFunctional Morphology
Association with other Association with other fossils – similar fossils – similar preferencespreferences
Type of substrateType of substrate
Environmental Factors that Environmental Factors that Influence Distribution of OrganismsInfluence Distribution of Organisms
SalinitySalinityOxygenationOxygenationTemperatureTemperatureLightLightNutrients:Nutrients:– TypeType– AbundanceAbundance– DistributionDistribution
Agitation/CurrentsAgitation/CurrentsClarity/Cloudiness of WaterClarity/Cloudiness of WaterSubstrate – preferencesSubstrate – preferences– Grain Size – firm/softGrain Size – firm/soft– CompositionComposition– Mobility/stabilityMobility/stability
Preferences/Lifestyles of Organisms Tell Us Preferences/Lifestyles of Organisms Tell Us About Environmental ConditionsAbout Environmental Conditions
Sessile organisms Sessile organisms rely on currents to rely on currents to bring foodbring foodMotile organisms can Motile organisms can search for food in search for food in water or in/on water or in/on sedimentsedimentDistribution of food Distribution of food related to related to agitation/currentsagitation/currentsTherefore, related to Therefore, related to oxygenation alsooxygenation also
Ways to FeedWays to Feed
Producer – PlantsProducer – Plants
Primary Consumer – Primary Consumer – HerbivoreHerbivore
Secondary Consumer Secondary Consumer – Carnivore– Carnivore
Passive/semi-activePassive/semi-active– Filter feedingFilter feeding
Active FeedingActive Feeding– Swimming, crawling, Swimming, crawling,
scavenging, preyingscavenging, preying