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Taphonomy and palaeobiology of early Middle Triassic coprolites from the Luoping biota, southwest China: implications for reconstruction of fossil food webs
journal contribution
posted on 2017-05-15, 00:00 authored by Mao Luo, S Hu, M J Benton, Guang ShiGuang Shi, L Zhao, J Huang, H Song, W Wen, Q Zhang, Y Fang, Y Huang, Z-Q ChenAbundant, exceptionally preserved coprolites are documented from the Luoping biota (Anisian, Middle Triassic) of Yunnan Province, southwest China. These coprolites can be categorized into fourmorphological types: A) bead to ribbon-shaped, B) short to long cylindrical-shaped, C) flattened, disk-like, and D) segmented faeces. Detailed multi-disciplinary studies reveal that coprolite type A was likely produced by invertebrate animals,while coprolite types B to D could be faeces generated by carnivorous fishes or marine reptiles, perhaps from different taxonomic
groups. When compared with coprolites reported from the Lower Triassic, the Luoping forms indicate more complicated predation-prey food web networks. These evidences, combined with body fossil discoveries fromLuoping, suggest the emergence of complex trophic ecosystems in the Anisian,marking the full biotic recovery following the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction.
groups. When compared with coprolites reported from the Lower Triassic, the Luoping forms indicate more complicated predation-prey food web networks. These evidences, combined with body fossil discoveries fromLuoping, suggest the emergence of complex trophic ecosystems in the Anisian,marking the full biotic recovery following the Permian–Triassic Mass Extinction.
History
Journal
Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecologyVolume
474Pagination
232 - 246Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
0031-0182Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, Elsevier B.V.Usage metrics
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Keywords
Predation-preyFood webBiotic recoveryAnisianYunnan ProvinceScience & TechnologyPhysical SciencesLife Sciences & BiomedicineGeography, PhysicalGeosciences, MultidisciplinaryPaleontologyPhysical GeographyGeologyCRETACEOUS TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMSEXCEPTIONAL PRESERVATIONMARINE ECOSYSTEMFISH COPROLITESPREDATORSAUSTRALIARECOVERYFECESEvolutionary BiologyGeologyEcology
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