paleoecology
Prehistoric environment science
Paleoecology is the study of ancient ecosystems and the relationships between prehistoric organisms and their environments.
Scientists reconstruct past ecological conditions using fossils, sediment cores, and chemical signatures in rock layers: Paleoecology reveals that this desert was once a tropical forest.
The field helps explain mass extinctions and how ecosystems respond to climate change over geological time.
Ancient glacial geological period
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
- mastodonExtinct elephantine Pleistocene mammal
glaciation · interglacial · ice age · woolly rhinoceros · giant sloth · cave bear · tundra · steppe
Past geological climate conditions
- biomesMajor ecological community types
- food websLinked predator-prey relationships
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- nicheRecessed wall space
biodiversity · environmental change · predator-prey · carrying capacity
Floral reproductive grains
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- isotopesAtomic number twins
- radiocarbonDecaying carbon isotope
- biomarkersMeasurable disease indicators
tree rings · charcoal · oxygen-18 · coprolites · growth rings
Particles that settle below
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
- faciesDiagnostic facial appearance
- correlationStatistical relationship measure
unconformities · geological timescale · Paleozoic · Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Carboniferous · Permian · relative dating
Dinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
- pterosaursExtinct flying reptiles
ammonites · cycads · conifers · ferns · marine reptiles · ichthyosaurs · plesiosaurs · theropods
Pleistocene
Ancient glacial geological period
- HoloceneCurrent geological epoch
- megafaunaSpecies over 44 kilograms
- mammothExtinct elephant with curved tusks
mastodon · glaciation · interglacial · ice age · woolly rhinoceros · giant sloth · cave bear · tundra · steppe · refugia
paleoclimate
Past geological climate conditions
- biomesMajor ecological community types
- food websLinked predator-prey relationships
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
niche · biodiversity · environmental change · predator-prey · carrying capacity
pollen
Floral reproductive grains
- diatomsSingle-celled silica algae
- isotopesAtomic number twins
- radiocarbonDecaying carbon isotope
biomarkers · tree rings · charcoal · oxygen-18 · coprolites · growth rings
sediments
Particles that settle below
- geochronologyStudy of geological ages
- carbon datingIsotope-based age measurement
- faciesDiagnostic facial appearance
correlation · unconformities · geological timescale · Paleozoic · Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Carboniferous · Permian · relative dating · absolute dating
Jurassic
Dinosaur-dominated geological period
- CretaceousFinal Mesozoic period
- TriassicFirst Mesozoic period
- dinosaursExtinct prehistoric reptiles
pterosaurs · ammonites · cycads · conifers · ferns · marine reptiles · ichthyosaurs · plesiosaurs · theropods · sauropods