Knowra Mesozoic Marine Revolution Mesozoic Marine Revolution The Mesozoic Marine Revolution was a broad shift in marine ecosystems, marked by intensified predation and defenses among marine animals during the Mesozoic Era.
Predation : Predation is an interaction in which one organism kills and consumes another organism. Increasing pressure from predators is central to the revolution’s proposed ecological changes.
Mesozoic : The Mesozoic is the geologic era from about 252 to 66 million years ago, encompassing the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. The revolution unfolded across this era, rather than in a single event.
Mesozoic bivalves : Mesozoic bivalves were clams, mussels, and related mollusks that lived during the Mesozoic Era. Their shells record changes in burrowing, attachment, and resistance to predators.
Paleozoic Marine Revolution : The Paleozoic Marine Revolution describes earlier changes in marine ecosystems, including increased predation and ecological engineering. It shows that major ecological restructuring preceded the Mesozoic episode.
Paleobiology : Paleobiology uses fossils and geological evidence to study the biology and ecology of ancient life. The revolution is reconstructed from incomplete records of ancient organisms and interactions.
Drilling predation : Drilling predation is the boring of a hole through a prey animal’s shell by a predator. Drilled shells preserve direct evidence of attacks on shelled prey.
Marine ecosystem : A marine ecosystem is a community of organisms interacting with one another and with their ocean environment. The revolution concerns changes to whole communities and their interactions.
Ammonites : Ammonites were extinct marine cephalopods with coiled, chambered shells, especially abundant during the Mesozoic. Their shell forms and repaired injuries provide evidence of life under predation.
Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution : The Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution was a major transformation of land ecosystems associated with flowering plants and their ecological partners. It describes a roughly contemporaneous revolution on land, not in marine ecosystems.
Skeletal defense : Skeletal defense is protection against injury or consumption provided by hard structures such as shells, plates, or spines. Whether defensive traits rose consistently across groups is central to assessing escalation.
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