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Bones of Comprehension

The Analysis of Small Mammal Predator—Prey Interactions

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Predator—Prey Interactions in the Fossil Record

Part of the book series: Topics in Geobiology ((TGBI,volume 20))

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Abstract

Prey species abundances in fossil mammal assemblages rarely mirror those in the original community from which they were drawn. This disharmony may result from a number of factors, one of which is the initial prey selection. As a result, the species present in a fossil assemblage may be more representative of the size and habits of the predator than of the ecology of the surrounding area. This is a particularly acute problem in the analysis of small mammal fossil deposits, especially when the overall goal of the analysis is to gain further insight into the environment at the time of deposition. It is therefore necessary to identify the mode of accumulation, and, where appropriate, the predator(s) responsible. By comparison with the present-day behavior of these predator species, it is possible to recognize and account for any bias in the species representation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. English Heritage, 44 Derngate, Northampton, NN1 1UH, UK

    J. P. Williams

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  1. J. P. Williams
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA

    Patricia H. Kelley

  2. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA

    Michał Kowalewski

  3. Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington, USA

    Thor A. Hansen

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Williams, J.P. (2003). Bones of Comprehension. In: Kelley, P.H., Kowalewski, M., Hansen, T.A. (eds) Predator—Prey Interactions in the Fossil Record. Topics in Geobiology, vol 20. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0161-9_15

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0161-9_15

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-4947-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0161-9

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