Broad-scale patterns of late jurassic dinosaur paleoecology.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There 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 findings

This study applies Ecological Structure Analysis (ESA) to

SUBMITTER: Noto CR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2933236 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature