Skip to content Skip to navigation

Article: Uncovering the holes and cracks: from anecdote to testable hypotheses in predation studies

Palaeontology Cover Image - Volume 59 Part 5
Publication: Palaeontology
Volume: 59
Part: 5
Publication Date: September 2016
Page(s): 597 609
Author(s): Elizabeth M. Harper
Addition Information

How to Cite

HARPER, E.M. 2016. Uncovering the holes and cracks: from anecdote to testable hypotheses in predation studies. Palaeontology, 59, 5, 597-609. DOI: 10.1111/pala.12255

Author Information

  • Elizabeth M. Harper - University of Cambridge Department of Earth Sciences Cambridge UK (Email: emh21@cam.ac.uk)

Publication History

  • Manuscript Accepted: 25 July 2016
  • Manuscript Received: 18 April 2016

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
Get Article: Wiley Online Library [Pay-to-View Access] |

Abstract

Biological interactions between organisms have long been believed to be very important in structuring communities and, when scaled up over geological time, in the evolution of organisms. Investigations of palaeontological evidence for predator–prey interactions have been popular pursuits, and a number of attractive hypotheses have been proposed which link increased predation pressure with a wide range of morphological and ecological changes which are apparent over the course of the Phanerozoic. In particular studies of fossil drill holes and repair scars in shelly prey have been common targets for research. However, the nature of some of our data has been rather anecdotal and restricted in range. Perhaps we should be more concerned that we are not picking up the true range of natural variability. This paper aims to highlight the sources of variability in our data and, going forward, to urge the collection of quantitative data from many more samples and (palaeo)environmental settings in order that we might properly be able to separate the intrinsic natural variability in our data from robust temporal or spatial trends.

PalAss Go! URL: http://go.palass.org/hof | Twitter: Share on Twitter | Facebook: Share on Facebook | Google+: Share on Google+