Palaeoecology Introduced

Palaeoecology: Methods

Paleoecology is based on the documentation of occurrences and abundances of taxa across time and space. Although methodologically similar to the techniques of neontological ecologists, the discipline is distinct in its integration of a deeper time axis into our understanding of the processes shaping the earth’s ecological patterns. Taphonomy is the study of the processes by which organic remain...

Palaeoecology: Different Dinosaur Ecologies in Deep Time?

Do dinosaurs from the Moroccan Kem Kem formation provide evidence for an ecosystem dramatically different from anything seen today? More likely the common palaeontological problem of time-averaging has had a part to play.

Ecology and Palaeoecology: Two Approaches, One Objective

Despite what their names might suggest, ecology and palaeoecology have progressed historically as well separated disciplines. This unfortunate disjunction is analyzed here from a theoretical point of view. Among the factors that have facilitated the separation are: 1) the past-present dissociation characteristic of the human mind, 2) the diversity of fields of provenance of palaeoecologists, 3)...

Mangroves of Southeastern Mexico: Palaeoecology and Conservation

Pollen analysis on a sediment core from a mangrove area in southeastern Mexico was discussed and aspects of paleoecology, ecology and conservation were considered. The core spans the last 4000 years and evidences changes in a Rhizophora mangle dominated system. Between 3900 and 3500 cal yr BP, pollen data indicate higher levels of precipitation. Between 3600 and 3300 cal yr BP tropical forest n...

The neotropical Gran Sabana region: palaeoecology and conservation