12
Paleontology and Paleontology and Paleoecology Paleoecology Historical Historical Perspectives on Perspectives on Fossils & Fossils & Principles of Principles of Paleoecology Paleoecology

Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

  • View
    233

  • Download
    7

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

Paleontology and Paleontology and PaleoecologyPaleoecology

Historical Perspectives Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles on Fossils & Principles

of Paleoecologyof Paleoecology

Page 2: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of 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)

Page 3: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

Leonardo da VinciLeonardo da Vinci(1452-1519)(1452-1519)

Leonardo sketched fossils and recognizedthem as the remains of ancient life.

Page 4: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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”

Page 5: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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).

Page 6: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 7: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 8: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 9: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 10: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 11: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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

Page 12: Paleontology and Paleoecology Historical Perspectives on Fossils & Principles of Paleoecology

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