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Palaeoecology: different dinosaur ecologies in deep time?
1School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast, Elmwood Avenue, Belfast, BT7 1NN, UK. garethdyke@gmail.com
Current Biology : CB
|November 25, 2010
Summary
Dinosaurs from Morocco's Kem Kem formation may not represent a unique ecosystem. Palaeontological evidence suggests time-averaging, a common issue in fossil records, likely influences interpretations of ancient environments.
Area of Science:
- Paleontology
- Paleoecology
- Sedimentology
Background:
- The Kem Kem formation in Morocco is known for its diverse dinosaur fossils.
- Interpreting ancient ecosystems from fossil assemblages can be challenging due to taphonomic processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate whether the dinosaur fauna of the Kem Kem formation indicates a unique ecosystem.
- To assess the role of time-averaging in the composition of the Kem Kem fossil record.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of dinosaur fossil distribution within the Kem Kem formation.
- Comparison of the Kem Kem fauna with other Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems.
- Evaluation of geological evidence for depositional environments and potential time-averaging.
Main Results:
- The dinosaur assemblage from the Kem Kem formation may not represent a single, contemporaneous ecosystem.
- Evidence suggests that the fossils have accumulated over a significant period, a phenomenon known as time-averaging.
- This process likely contributes to the seemingly unusual mix of species observed.
Conclusions:
- The Kem Kem formation's dinosaur fauna is likely a product of time-averaging rather than a reflection of a uniquely divergent ecosystem.
- Understanding time-averaging is crucial for accurate paleoecological reconstructions.
- Further research should consider taphonomic biases when interpreting fossil assemblages from this and similar formations.
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