The Trace-Fossil Record of Major Evolutionary Events: Volume 2: Mesozoic and Cenozoic (Topics in Geobiology Book 40)

This volume addresses major evolutionary changes that took place during the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. These include discussions on major evolutionary radiations and ecological innovations on land and at sea, such as the Mesozoic marine revolution, the Mesozoic radiation of vertebrates, the Mesozoic lacustrine revolution, the Cenozoic radiation of mammals, the evolution of paleosol biotas, and the evolution of hominins. The roles of mass extinctions at the end of the Triassic and at the end of the Cretaceous are assessed. This volume set provides innovative reviews of the major evolutionary events in the history of life from an ichnologic perspective. Because the long temporal range of trace fossils has been commonly emphasized, biogenic structures have been traditionally overlooked in macroevolution. However, comparisons of ichnofaunas through geologic time do reveal the changing ecology of organism-substrate interactions. The use of trace fossils in evolutionary paleoecology represents a new trend that is opening a window for our understanding of major evolutionary radiations and mass extinctions. Trace fossils provide crucial evidence for the recognition of spatial and temporal patterns and processes associated with paleoecologic breakthroughs. Dedication 5 Foreword 6 Contents 9 Prologue 11 References 16 Chapter 8: The Late Triassic Mass Extinction Event 17 8.1 Introduction 17 8.2 Trace-Fossil Record Across the T–J Boundary 19 8.2.1 Terrestrial Record 21 8.2.2 Marine Record 25 8.2.2.1 Deep-sea Ichnofauna Across the T–J Boundary 25 8.2.2.2 Shallow-Marine Ichnofauna Across the T–J Boundary 25 8.3 Discussion 28 8.4 Conclusion 29 References 30 Chapter 9: The Mesozoic Marine Revolution 34 9.1 Introduction 34 9.2 The Cast of Characters 35 9.2.1 The Main Groups of Burrowers 35 9.2.1.1 Crustaceans 39 9.2.1.2 Mollusks 49 Gastropods and Polyplacophorans 49 Bivalves 49 9.2.1.3 Echinoderms 55 9.2.1.4 Worms 59 9.2.2 The Main Groups of Bioeroders 67 9.2.2.1 Sponges 69 9.2.2.2 Mollusks 70 Gastropods 70 Bivalves 70 9.2.2.3 Echinoids 71 9.2.2.4 Worms 72 9.2.2.5 Bryozoans 73 9.2.2.6 Crustaceans 73 9.2.2.7 Algae 74 9.2.2.8 Fungi 74 9.2.2.9 Foraminifera 74 9.3 Ichnofaunal Composition, Infaunalization, and Tiering Structure: Patterns Developed During the Mesozoic Marine Revolution 75 9.3.1 The Triassic: Setting the Stage for the Mesozoic Marine Revolution 76 9.3.2 The Jurassic: Onset of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution 78 9.3.3 The Cretaceous: Continuation of Previous Trends 90 9.3.4 The Paleogene: Rise of the Modern Evolutionary Fauna After End-Cretaceous Mass Extinction 99 9.3.5 The Neogene: Establishment of Modern Marine Ecosystems 103 9.4 The Paleoenvironmental Breadth of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution 108 9.5 Behavioral Evolution and Environmental Shifts 111 9.6 Evolution of the Mixed Layer 114 9.7 Role of Paleogeography and Climate 116 9.8 Discussion: Secular Changes in Bioturbation and Ichnofaunas and the Mesozoic Marine Revolution 118 9.9 Conclusions 121 References 122 Chapter 10: The Mesozoic Vertebrate Radiation in Terrestrial Settings 150 10.1 Introduction 150 10.2 Trends and Events During the Mesozoic 151 10.2.1 Tetrapods Across the PT Boundary 151 10.2.2 The Origin of Dinosauromorphs 154 10.2.3 The Origin and Early History of Dinosaurs 157 10.2.3.1 Timing of Appearance 158 10.2.3.2 Early Diversification 159 10.2.3.3 Dynamics of Replacement 160 10.2.4 A Look into Sauropod Paleobiology 162 10.2.5 Clues About Theropod Paleobiology 165 10.2.6 Evidence for Gregariousness 167 10.2.7 On the Tracks of Birds 170 10.2.8 Pterosaur Locomotion 172 10.3 Conclusions 175 References 176 Chapter 11: The Mesozoic Lacustrine Revolution 193 11.1 Introduction 193 11.2 Methods and Terminology 194 11.3 Lacustrine Ecosystems in Deep Time 196 11.4 The Lacustrine World Prior to the Mesozoic Revolution 198 11.5 The Mesozoic Lacustrine Revolution 200 11.5.1 Early Triassic Denouement 201 11.5.2 Rediversification During the Middle to Late Triassic 202 11.5.3 Continued Jurassic Diversification and Increased Infaunalization 211 11.5.4 Persistence of Previous Trends During the Early Cretaceous 220 11.5.5 The Late Cretaceous Biotal Replacement 229 11.6 The Aftermath of the Revolution 231 11.7 Discussion 245 11.7.1 Possible Connections to Other Mesozoic, Biotal Revolutions 245 11.7.2 Secular Changes in Global Ichnodiversity and Bioturbation 247 11.7.3 The Establishment of Modern Lacustrine Trophic Webs 252 11.7.4 Behavioral Convergence Between Marine and Continental Benthic Fauna 255 11.8 Conclusions 258 References 260 Chapter 12: The End-Cretaceous Extinction and Ecosystem Change 278 12.1 Introduction 278 12.2 Evolutionary and Ecological Dynamics of the K-Pg Event and Its Recovery 280 12.2.1 Selectivity and Sorting During the Mass Extinction 280 12.2.2 Establishing New Lineages and Ecologies During the Recovery 281 12.3 The Continental Perspective of Ecological Disruption and Its Consequences 282 12.3.1 Aquatic Communities 283 12.3.2 Terrestrial Communities 283 12.3.2.1 Plants 284 12.3.2.2 Insect Herbivory 284 12.3.2.3 Implications for Macroevolutionary Patterns of Specialist Insect Herbivores 290 12.3.2.4 Insect Pollination 290 12.3.2.5 Blood Feeding on Dinosaur Hosts 291 12.3.2.6 Other Interactions 292 12.4 The Marine Perspective of Ecological Disruption and Its Consequences 292 12.4.1 A Selective Impact Favoring the Deposit Feeding Community 293 12.4.2 Minor Disruption in the Macrobenthic Tracemaker Community 296 12.4.3 An Unfavorable Habitat for Macrobenthic Colonization? 297 12.4.4 A Relatively Rapid Recovery 298 12.4.5 Iterative and Continuous Colonization after the Mass Extinction 299 12.5 Can Trace-Fossil Records Address Biologic Effects of the K-Pg Event? 299 12.5.1 Previously Unapplied Analytic Techniques 300 12.5.2 A Multitude of Data 300 12.5.3 Unique Ecological Data 300 12.5.4 Ability to Test and Generate Hypotheses 301 12.5.5 Employing Data from Both the Preserved and “Nonpreserved” Sedimentary Record 301 12.5.6 Data with Enhanced Biostratigraphic Resolution 301 12.5.7 A Major Role in the Debate on Catastrophic vs. Gradual Extinction 302 12.5.8 Understanding Ecologic and Evolutionary Response to Future Environmental Crises 303 12.6 Conclusions 304 References 304 Chapter 13: The Phanerozoic Four Revolutions and Evolution of Paleosol Ichnofacies 314 13.1 Introduction 314 13.2 The Rhizolith Revolution: The Paleozoic Shy Beginning of Paleosol Trace Fossils 315 13.3 The Camborygma Revolution: The Triassic Appearance of Crayfish and Earthworm Trace Fossils 342 13.4 The Celliforma Revolution: The Late Cretaceous Advent of Recognizable Insect Trace Fossils in Paleosols and New Ichnofacies 346 13.5 The Coprinisphaera Revolution: The Paleogene Explosion of Insect Trace Fossils Related To Grass-­Dominated Habitats 354 13.6 Conclusions 360 References 362 Chapter 14: The Cenozoic Radiation of Mammals 384 14.1 Introduction 384 14.1.1 Mammalian Ichnology Before the K/T Transition 385 14.1.2 Mammalian Ichnology After the K/T Transition 386 14.2 The South American Case Study 388 14.3 Faunistic Content Through the Cenozoic 389 14.4 Methods 392 14.5 The Cenozoic Track Record of South American Mammals 392 14.5.1 The Footprints of the San Jeronimo Group, Peru 392 14.5.1.1 Paruro Footprints 394 14.5.1.2 Kayra Footprints 394 14.5.1.3 Langui Footprints 394 14.5.2 The Footprints of the Vinchina Basin, Argentina 395 14.5.2.1 Lower Quebrada de la Troya Footprints 396 14.5.2.2 Quebrada del Yeso Footprints 396 14.5.2.3 Upper Quebrada de la Troya Footprints 398 14.5.3 The Footprints of the Santa Cruz Formation, Argentina 398 14.5.4 The Footprints of the Mariño Formation, Argentina 398 14.5.5 The Footprints of Las Flores Formation, Argentina 399 14.5.6 The Footprint of Quebrada del Jarillal Formation, Argentina 400 14.5.7 The Footprints of the Tertiary of the Puna, Argentina 400 14.5.8 The Footprints from the Río Negro Formation 400 14.5.9 The Footprints of Antofagasta, Chile 402 14.5.10 The Footprints of Claromecó, Argentina 402 14.5.11 The Footprints of Monte Hermoso, Argentina 403 14.5.12 The Footprints of Pehuen-Có, Argentina 403 14.6 Faunistic and Biogeographic Similarity of Footprints Assemblages 403 14.7 The Paleoenvironmental Distribution of Mammalian Ichnofossils 407 14.8 South American Mammal Tracks and Implications for Paleoecology 409 14.9 Future Directions 411 14.10 Conclusions 413 References 414 Chapter 15: Major Events in Hominin Evolution 424 15.1 Introduction 424 15.2 Early Hominin Bipedalism: Laetoli Revisited 425 15.3 Walking Erect Phase II: In and Out of Africa 428 15.3.1 On the Shores of Lake Turkana 428 15.3.2 Out of Africa 429 15.4 Tracking the Dawn of H. sapiens in Africa 432 15.5 The Late Pleistocene: H. sapiens Produces a New Type of Ichnologic Record 432 15.5.1 Breaking New Ground: Prelude to the Late Pleistocene Cultural Revolution 434 15.5.2 The Hominin Track Record Goes Underground 435 15.5.3 Vertebrate Ichnology Investigates Cave Paintings 439 15.6 New Intercontinental Travel Frontiers 441 15.6.1 Into Australia 441 15.6.2 The Trail to the New World 441 15.6.3 Other Exploratory Trails 444 15.7 The Prelude to History 444 15.7.1 Life on the Sea Shore 444 15.7.2 In the Shadow of Volcanoes 445 15.8 Vertebrate Ichnology Transcends Planet Earth 446 15.9 Discussion 448 15.10 Conclusions 451 References 453 Chapter 16: Recurrent Patterns and Processes: The Significance of Ichnology in Evolutionary Paleoecology 462 16.1 Introduction 462 16.2 Evolutionary Radiations 463 16.3 Benthic Fauna Response to Mass Extinctions 476 16.4 Patterns of Ecospace Colonization 479 16.5 Environmental Shifts Through Time 480 16.6 Conclusions 481 References 482 Index 487 Front Matter....Pages i-xviii The Late Triassic Mass Extinction Event....Pages 1-17 The Mesozoic Marine Revolution....Pages 19-134 The Mesozoic Vertebrate Radiation in Terrestrial Settings....Pages 135-177 The Mesozoic Lacustrine Revolution....Pages 179-263 The End-Cretaceous Extinction and Ecosystem Change....Pages 265-300 The Phanerozoic Four Revolutions and Evolution of Paleosol Ichnofacies....Pages 301-370 The Cenozoic Radiation of Mammals....Pages 371-410 Major Events in Hominin Evolution....Pages 411-448 Recurrent Patterns and Processes: The Significance of Ichnology in Evolutionary Paleoecology....Pages 449-473 Back Matter....Pages 475-485 Volume 2: This volume addresses major evolutionary changes that took place during the Mesozoic and the Cenozoic. These include discussions on major evolutionary radiations and ecological innovations on land and at sea, such as the Mesozoic marine revolution, the Mesozoic radiation of vertebrates, the Cenozoic evolution of mammals, the evolution of paleosol biotas, and the evolution of hominids. The role of mass extinctions at the end of the Triassic and at the end of the Cretaceous is assessed Volume 1: This volume addresses major evolutionary changes that took place during the Ediacaran and the Paleozoic. these include discussions on the nature of Ediacaran ecosystems, as well as the ichnologic signature of evolutionary radiations, such as the Cambrian explosion and the Great Ordovician biodiversification event, the invasion of the land, and the end-Permian mass extinction