palaeoecology Definition
- 1the study of past ecosystems and how they have changed over time
- 2the branch of ecology that deals with the relationship between living organisms and their environment as revealed by their fossil remains
Using palaeoecology: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "palaeoecology" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
Palaeoecology is used to reconstruct past environments and ecosystems.
Example
Palaeoecology can help us understand how climate change has affected ecosystems in the past.
Example
Palaeoecology uses fossils to study ancient ecosystems.
Phrases with palaeoecology
the role and position of a species within an ecosystem as revealed by its fossil remains
Example
The palaeoecological niche of the woolly mammoth was that of a large herbivore.
the process of using fossils to reconstruct past ecosystems
Example
The palaeoecological reconstruction of the last ice age shows that many species went extinct due to climate change.
a species or group of species whose presence or absence can be used to infer past environmental conditions
Example
The presence of certain pollen grains is a palaeoecological indicator of past climate conditions.
Origins of palaeoecology
from Greek 'palaios', meaning 'ancient', and 'oikos', meaning 'house' or 'environment'
Summary: palaeoecology in Brief
Palaeoecology [pey-lee-oh-i-kol-uh-jee] is the study of past ecosystems and how they have changed over time. It uses fossils to reconstruct ancient environments and understand how climate change has affected ecosystems in the past. Palaeoecology also studies the relationship between living organisms and their environment as revealed by their fossil remains.
