The Use of Paleocommunity and Taphonomic Studies in Reconstructing Primate Behavior

Reed, Kaye E.

doi:10.1007/978-1-4615-1343-8_6

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 57 publications

(57 reference statements)

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“…Therefore, it is important to note that this is not a “taxon-free” method but merely a different way of classifying taxa. Reed [48] – [50] demonstrated that modern mammal communities located in different habitats differ significantly in the percentages of taxa found in trophic, locomotor, and body size categories (using both Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests), while those in similar habitats are more alike. She also demonstrated that the same ecological categories would correctly classify sites with different environments (using discriminant function analysis).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad-Scale Patterns of Late Jurassic Dinosaur Paleoecology

Noto

Grossman

2010

PLoS ONE

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BackgroundThere have been numerous studies on dinosaur biogeographic distribution patterns. However, these distribution data have not yet been applied to ecological questions. Ecological studies of dinosaurs have tended to focus on reconstructing individual taxa, usually through comparisons to modern analogs. Fewer studies have sought to determine if the ecological structure of fossil assemblages is preserved and, if so, how dinosaur communities varied. Climate is a major component driving differences between communities. If the ecological structure of a fossil locality is preserved, we expect that dinosaur assemblages from similar environments will share a similar ecological structure.Methodology/Principal FindingsThis study applies Ecological Structure Analysis (ESA) to a dataset of 100+ dinosaur taxa arranged into twelve composite fossil assemblages from around the world. Each assemblage was assigned a climate zone (biome) based on its location. Dinosaur taxa were placed into ecomorphological categories. The proportion of each category creates an ecological profile for the assemblage, which were compared using cluster and principal components analyses. Assemblages grouped according to biome, with most coming from arid or semi-arid/seasonal climates. Differences between assemblages are tied to the proportion of large high-browsing vs. small ground-foraging herbivores, which separates arid from semi-arid and moister environments, respectively. However, the effects of historical, taphonomic, and other environmental factors are still evident.Conclusions/SignificanceThis study is the first to show that the general ecological structure of Late Jurassic dinosaur assemblages is preserved at large scales and can be assessed quantitatively. Despite a broad similarity of climatic conditions, a degree of ecological variation is observed between assemblages, from arid to moist. Taxonomic differences between Asia and the other regions demonstrate at least one case of ecosystem convergence. The proportion of different ecomorphs, which reflects the prevailing climatic and environmental conditions present during fossil deposition, may therefore be used to differentiate Late Jurassic dinosaur fossil assemblages. This method is broadly applicable to different taxa and times, allowing one to address questions of evolutionary, biogeographic, and climatic importance.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Broad-Scale Patterns of Late Jurassic Dinosaur Paleoecology

Noto

Grossman

2010

PLoS ONE

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“…In other words, an extinct primate community of nine species (e.g., Makapansgat) does not necessarily indicate a forest as it would in the present. In addition, Reed (2002) has shown that the body-size distribution pattern of primates at Makapansgat does not compare with any living primate community. Thus, an examination of community structure contrasted with habitat reconstructions provides additional information about possible differences between modern and extinct communities.…”

Section: Trophic Locomotor and Body-size Patterns In Guilds And Commmentioning

confidence: 99%