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Origin and Early Evolution of Predators

The Ecotone Model and Early Evidence for Macropredation

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Predator—Prey Interactions in the Fossil Record

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

Abstract

Our current knowledge on the origin and early evolution of large predators is summarized by Simon Conway Morris (1999, 153–154) as follows:

...for many years it was claimed that Cambrian marine communities were almost entirely free of predators… the seas were [thought to be] full of suspension-feeders gently swaying in the sea water and deposit feeders calmly digging their way through the sediment. This view is now seen to be far too idyllic, but the story of the rise of predators is still quite tentative. It does appear, however, that in contrast to Cambrian communities those of the Ediacaran were largely free of predators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environment, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, Massachusetts, 01075, USA

    Mark A. S. Mcmenamin

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  1. Mark A. S. Mcmenamin
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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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Mcmenamin, M.A.S. (2003). Origin and Early Evolution of Predators. 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_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0161-9_17

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