Faunal replacement in the Early Jurassic of northern Chile: implications for the evolution in Mesozoic benthic shelf ecosystems

摘要: Abstract Long-term, within-habitat species replacement is either evolutionary or ecological in nature. Ecological of dominant by unrelated which share essentially the same niche requirements a very characteristic feature Early Jurassic benthic shelf faunas from northern Chile. More than that, an examination relevant literature reveals that process was significant Mesozoic ecosystems on whole. It occurred among all important guilds and broad range environmental subdivisions (salinity-controlled environments, coarse-grained fine-grained shallow shelf, mid to outer oxygen-controlled environments). In contrast, faunal elements appears have been limited restricted basins. Faunal underlying several distinctive patterns temporal distribution faunas, stability morphoptypes, widespread occurrence parallel associations persistence guild-assemblages through time. Fluctuations relative sea-level are regarded as substantial controlling factor replacement.