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Spatial analyses of Ediacaran communities at Mistaken Point

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Article

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Authors

Mitchell, EG 
Butterfield, NJ 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pBedding-plane assemblages of Ediacaran fossils from Mistaken Point, Newfoundland, are among the oldest known records of complex multicellular life on Earth (dated to ~565 Ma). The in situ preservation of these sessile but otherwise deeply enigmatic organisms means that statistical analyses of specimen positions can be used to illuminate their underlying ecological dynamics, including the interactions between taxa.</jats:p>jats:pFossil assemblages on Mistaken Point D and E surfaces were mapped to millimeter accuracy using differentiated GPS. Spatial correlations between 10 well-defined taxa (jats:italicBradgatia</jats:italic>, Charniid,jats:italicCharniodiscus</jats:italic>,jats:italicFractofusus</jats:italic>, Ivesheadiomorphs, Lobate Discs,jats:italicPectinifrons</jats:italic>,jats:italicPlumeropriscum</jats:italic>,jats:italicHiemalora</jats:italic>, andjats:italicThectardis</jats:italic>) were identified using Bayesian network inference (BNI), and then described and analyzed using spatial point-process analysis. BNI found that the E-surface community had a complex web of interactions and associations between taxa, with all but one taxon (jats:italicThectardis</jats:italic>) interacting with at least one other. The unique spatial distribution ofjats:italicThectardis</jats:italic>supports previous, morphology-based arguments for its fundamentally distinct nature. BNI revealed that the D-surface community showed no interspecific interactions or associations, a pattern consistent with a homogeneous environment.</jats:p>jats:pOn the E surface, all six of the abundant taxonomic groups (jats:italicFractofusus</jats:italic>,jats:italicBradgatia</jats:italic>, Charniid,jats:italicCharniodiscus</jats:italic>,jats:italicThectardis</jats:italic>, andjats:italicPlumeropriscum</jats:italic>) were found to have a unique set of interactions with other taxa, reflecting a broad range of underlying ecological responses. Four instances of habitat associations were detected between taxa, of which two (jats:italicCharniodiscus</jats:italic>–jats:italicPlumeropriscum</jats:italic>andjats:italicPlumeropriscum</jats:italic>–jats:italicFractofusus</jats:italic>) led to weak competition for resources. One case of preemptive competition between Charniid and Lobate Discs was detected. There were no instances of interspecific facilitation. Ivesheadiomorph interactions mirror those ofjats:italicFractofusus</jats:italic>andjats:italicCharniodiscus</jats:italic>, identifying them as a form-taxonomic grouping of degradationally homogenized taphomorphs. The absence of increased fossil abundance in proximity to these taphomorphs argues against scavenging or saprophytic behaviors dominating the E-surface community.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

31 Biological Sciences, 3103 Ecology, 3104 Evolutionary Biology, 37 Earth Sciences, 3705 Geology

Journal Title

Paleobiology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0094-8373
1938-5331

Volume Title

44

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Sponsorship
Natural Environment Research Council (NE/P002412/1)