Palaeoautecology - Lecture 8

Question 1

Define ‘palaeosynecology?’

Answer 1

The study of the ecology of communities

Question 2

Define ‘palaeoautecology?’

Answer 2

Functions and lifestyles of individual organisms

Question 3

What are the five approaches to Palaeoautecology?

Answer 3

Comparison with living relatives, Functional morphology, Relationship to substrate, Comparative anatomy and Position of epibionts

Question 4

How do we compare organisms with modern relatives?

Answer 4

From identifying the features of a fossil we can guess their functions by seeing how modern day relatives use them

Question 5

What is meant by functional morphology and give an example of it.

Answer 5

Functional morphology is the analysis of the mechanical and evolutionary relationship of anatomical form to organismal behavior dynamics. Seen in shell shape in brachiopods i.e. pedicle opening = biconvex / no pedicle opening = concavoconvex

Question 6

Define convergent evolution

Answer 6

This describes the acquisition of the same biological trait in unrelated lineages e.g. wing in mammals, reptiles and birds

Question 7

What can we tell of an organisms lifestyle from the relationship to the substrate?

Answer 7

If it was attached/burrowed for example

Question 8

What can we use in comparative anatomy to work out potential functions and lifestyles of organisms?

Answer 8

Shell structure

Question 9

What does the position of embionts show?

Answer 9

Depth of burial