First direct evidence of a vertebrate three-level trophic chain in the fossil record

Kriwet, Jürgen; Witzmann, Florian; Klug, Stefanie; Heidtke, Ulrich H. J.

doi:10.1098/rspb.2007.1170

Cited by 58 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…It is therefore possible that X. compressus was similarly capable of handling a variety of prey items, although perhaps not as diverse as Cladodus . Although there is no evidence for durophagy in xenacanthid sharks (Soler‐Gijon, 1995; Kriwet et al ., 2008), the teeth appear biomechanically suited for puncture of hard prey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of shark teeth during puncture and draw: implications for the mechanics of cutting

Whitenack

Motta

2010

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

111

141

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The performance of an organism's feeding apparatus has obvious implications for its fitness and survival. However, the majority of studies that focus on chondrichthyan feeding have largely ignored the role of teeth. Studying the functional morphology of shark teeth not only elucidates the biological role that teeth play in feeding, but also provides insight specifically into the evolution of shark feeding because teeth are often the only structures available in the fossil record. In the present study, we investigate the puncture and draw performance of three general categories of extant teeth, tearing-type, cutting-type, and cutting-clutching type, as well as three fossil morphologies, utilizing a universal testing system. Differences in puncturing performance occurred among different prey items, indicating that not all 'soft' prey items are alike. The majority of teeth were able to puncture different prey items, and differences in puncture performance also occurred among tooth types; however, few patterns emerged. In some cases, broader triangular teeth were less effective at puncturing than narrow-cusped teeth. There were no differences between the maximum draw forces and maximum puncture forces. Many of the shark teeth in the present study were not only able to perform draw and puncture equally well, but also many tooth morphologies were functionally equivalent to each other. The findings obtained in the present study lend little support to the belief that shark tooth morphology is a good predictor of biological role.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of shark teeth during puncture and draw: implications for the mechanics of cutting

Whitenack

Motta

2010

Biological Journal of the Linnean Society

111

141

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“…Chondrichthyan fishes (sharks, skates, rays and chimaeras) are one of the most successful marine groups, having been able to survive all five mass extinctions over the last 400 million years [1]. The first reports of their most reliable diagnostic feature-the tesserate mode of cartilage mineralization-are from late Devonian deposits (approx.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Biological responses of sharks to ocean acidification

2017

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Sharks play a key role in the structure of marine food webs, but are facing major threats due to overfishing and habitat degradation. Although sharks are also assumed to be at relatively high risk from climate change due to a low intrinsic rate of population growth and slow rates of evolution, ocean acidification (OA) has not, until recently, been considered a direct threat. New studies have been evaluating the potential effects of end-of-century elevated CO 2 levels on sharks and their relatives' early development, physiology and behaviour. Here, we review those findings and use a meta-analysis approach to quantify the overall direction and magnitude of biological responses to OA in the species of sharks that have been investigated to date. While embryo survival and development time are mostly unaffected by elevated CO 2 , there are clear effects on body condition, growth, aerobic potential and behaviour (e.g. lateralization, hunting and prey detection). Furthermore, studies to date suggest that the effects of OA could be as substantial as those due to warming in some species. A major limitation is that all past studies have involved relatively sedentary, benthic sharks that are capable of buccal ventilation—no studies have investigated pelagic sharks that depend on ram ventilation. Future research should focus on species with different life strategies (e.g. pelagic, ram ventilators), climate zones (e.g. polar regions), habitats (e.g. open ocean), and distinct phases of ontogeny in order to fully predict how OA and climate change will impact higher-order predators and therefore marine ecosystem dynamics.

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“…In exceptional cases, both predator and prey together may be preserved with great detail (e.g., Kriwet et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New fossil scombrid (Pelagia: Scombridae) fishes preserved as predator and prey from the Eocene of Senegal

Claeson¹,

Sarr²,

Hill³

et al. 2015

Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia

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First direct evidence of a vertebrate three-level trophic chain in the fossil record

Cited by 58 publications

References 19 publications

Performance of shark teeth during puncture and draw: implications for the mechanics of cutting

Performance of shark teeth during puncture and draw: implications for the mechanics of cutting

Biological responses of sharks to ocean acidification

New fossil scombrid (Pelagia: Scombridae) fishes preserved as predator and prey from the Eocene of Senegal

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