First direct evidence of a vertebrate three-level trophic chain in the fossil record
| Autor: | Stefanie Klug, Ulrich H.J Heidtke, Jürgen Kriwet, Florian Witzmann |
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| Rok vydání: | 2007 |
| Předmět: |
0106 biological sciences
010506 paleontology Food Chain Permian Biology 010603 evolutionary biology 01 natural sciences General Biochemistry Genetics and Molecular Biology Amphibians Food chain Triodus biology.animal Xenacanthidae Animals 14. Life underwater 0105 earth and related environmental sciences General Environmental Science Trophic level General Immunology and Microbiology Fossils Ecology Temnospondyli Vertebrate General Medicine biology.organism_classification Food web Sharks General Agricultural and Biological Sciences Research Article |
| Zdroj: | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 275:181-186 |
| ISSN: | 1471-2954 0962-8452 |
| Popis: | We describe the first known occurrence of a Permian shark specimen preserving two temnospondyl amphibians in its digestive tract as well as the remains of an acanthodian fish, which was ingested by one of the temnospondyls. This exceptional find provides for the first time direct evidence of a vertebrate three-level food chain in the fossil record with the simultaneous preservation of three trophic levels. Our analysis shows that small-sized Lower Permian xenacanthid sharks of the genus Triodus preyed on larval piscivorous amphibians. The recorded trophic interaction can be explained by the adaptation of certain xenacanthids to fully freshwater environments and the fact that in these same environments, large temnospondyls occupied the niche of modern crocodiles. This unique faunal association has not been documented after the Permian and Triassic. Therefore, this Palaeozoic three-level food chain provides strong and independent support for changes in aquatic trophic chain structures through time. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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