The establishment of continental ecosystems
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
The colonization of land was a major evolutionary transition. Following a protracted prelude to the terrestrial invasion during the Ediacaran to Ordovician, the remainder of the Paleozoic experienced an explosion of diversity and the expansion of benthic biotas into new environments through the creation of new niches. This expansion progressed from coastal settings into rivers, floodplains, deserts and lakes, as well as increasing colonization of infaunal ecospace. A pattern emerges in which colonization of a new environment is followed by rapid filling of available ecospace, after which animals establish new behavioral programmes. These programmes are represented initially by the creation of original architectural designs, and subsequently modified by a proliferation of ichnogenera representing variation upon these established themes. The overall pattern is consistent with the early burst model of diversification that has been identified for various animal and plant clades, wherein there is a decoupling as an initial expansion in disparity is followed by an increase in diversity.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | The trace-fossil record of major evolutionary events |
Subtitle of host publication | Volume 1: Precambrian and Paleozoic |
Editors | Gabriela Mángano, Luis Buatois |
Publisher | Springer |
Pages | 205-324 |
Number of pages | 120 |
Volume | 39 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 978-94-017-9600-2 |
ISBN (Print) | 978-94-017-9599-9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 6 Dec 2016 |
Publication series
Name | Topics in Geobiology |
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Publisher | Springer |
Volume | 39 |
ISSN (Print) | 0275-0120 |
Links
Related information
Outputs
The conceptual and methodological tools of ichnology
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
The prelude to continental invasion
Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review
Activities
Fourth International Paleontological Congress: Symposium 2 - The invasion of land: when and where?
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in conference
Projects
ID: 3490195