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Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem

T. M. Cullen, F. J. Longstaffe, U. G. Wortmann, L. Huang, F. Fanti, M. B. Goodwin, M. J. Ryan and D. C. Evans
Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem
Geology (Boulder) (March 2020) 48 (6): 546-551

Abstract

In the Cretaceous of North America, environmental sensitivity and habitat specialization have been hypothesized to explain the surprisingly restricted geographic ranges of many large-bodied dinosaurs. Understanding the drivers behind this are key to determining broader trends of dinosaur species and community response to climate change under greenhouse conditions. However, previous studies of this question have commonly examined only small components of the paleo-ecosystem or operated without comparison to similar modern systems from which to constrain interpretations. Here we perform a high-resolution multi-taxic delta (super 13) C and delta (super 18) O study of a Cretaceous coastal floodplain ecosystem, focusing on species interactions and paleotemperature estimation, and compare with similar data from extant systems. Bioapatite delta (super 13) C preserves predator-prey offsets between tyrannosaurs and ornithischians (large herbivorous dinosaurs), and between aquatic reptiles and fish. Large ornithischians had broadly overlapping stable isotope ranges, contrary to hypothesized niche partitioning driven by specialization on coastal or inland subhabitat use. Comparisons to a modern analogue coastal floodplain show similar patterns of ecological guild structure and aquatic-terrestrial resource interchange. Multi-taxic oxygen isotope temperature estimations yield results for the Campanian of Alberta (Canada) consistent with the few other paleotemperature proxies available, and are validated when applied for extant species from a modern coastal floodplain, suggesting that this approach is a simple and effective avenue for paleoenvironmental reconstruction. Together, these new data suggest that dinosaur niche partitioning was more complex than previously hypothesized, and provide a framework for future research on dinosaur-dominated Mesozoic floodplain communities.


ISSN: 0091-7613
EISSN: 1943-2682
Coden: GLGYBA
Serial Title: Geology (Boulder)
Serial Volume: 48
Serial Issue: 6
Title: Large-scale stable isotope characterization of a Late Cretaceous dinosaur-dominated ecosystem
Affiliation: Field Museum of Natural History, Integrative Research Center, Chicago, IL, United States
Pages: 546-551
Published: 20200318
Text Language: English
Publisher: Geological Society of America (GSA), Boulder, CO, United States
References: 36
Accession Number: 2020-030425
Categories: Stratigraphy
Document Type: Serial
Bibliographic Level: Analytic
Annotation: GSA Data Respository item 2020155
Illustration Description: illus. incl. sketch map
N49°12'00" - N49°12'00", W110°43'00" - W110°43'00"
Secondary Affiliation: University of Western Ontario, CAN, CanadaUniversity of Toronto, CAN, CanadaUniversita di Bologna, ITA, ItalyUniversity of California Museum of Paleontology, USA, United StatesCarleton University, CAN, Canada
Country of Publication: United States
Secondary Affiliation: GeoRef, Copyright 2022, American Geosciences Institute. Reference includes data from GeoScienceWorld, Alexandria, VA, United States. Reference includes data supplied by the Geological Society of America, Boulder, CO, United States
Update Code: 202020
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