The implications of a dry climate for the paleoecology of the fauna of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation

摘要: Abstract In light of diverse geological evidence that indicates a seasonal, semiarid climate for the time deposition Morrison Formation, one can assume these general environmental conditions purpose reconstructing ancient ecosystem. Wet environments preserved plant fossils and some invertebrates small vertebrates in be interpreted as representing local limited space and/or time. These elements biota smaller dinosaurs were probably restricted to such wetland areas at times stress. A fauna large, herbivorous, sauropod ranged throughout environment. Although this seems inconsistent with an environment sparse resources, large size confers physiologic advantages are adaptive just conditions. The scaling effect makes herbivores very efficient relative their needing proportionately less food poorer quality than herbivores. They also survive starvation longer travel more efficiently reach widely separated resource patches. few number any time, locally abundant seemingly ubiquitous fossil record Formation because overrepresentation highly preservable remains attritional assemblage.