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Quantifying the Evolution of Early Life pp 73–109Cite as

Analyzing Predation from the Dawn of the Phanerozoic

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Part of the book series: Topics in Geobiology ((TGBI,volume 36))

Abstract

Although there have been numerous reports of predation on Cambrian and older fossils, there have been relatively few quantitative studies conducted on predation during this important interval. Such studies may prove extremely important as predation has been invoked as a primary influence on the Cambrian Explosion. Traces of predatory behavior, such as pursuit traces, crushing and repair scars, and drill-holes, are recommended as the best proxy for predation intensity. This chapter reviews the evidence for predation in the Neoproterozoic and Cambrian and then suggests and explains some techniques for analyzing predation data, with special consideration and examples of analysis of data from this early phase in the history of metazoans.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Greg Dietl and Thomas Hegna for thoughtful reviews, and James Schiffbauer, Marc Laflamme, and Stephen Dornbos for inviting this contribution. The author would also especially like to thank Loren Babcock for providing the two trilobite injury photographs and several relevant citations. The author gratefully acknowledges financial support from NSERC for research on predation.

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  1. Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada, T6G 2E3

    Lindsey R. Leighton

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  1. Lindsey R. Leighton
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Correspondence to Lindsey R. Leighton .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Smithsonian Postdoctoral Fellow, Departm, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum, Washington, 20013-7012, Washington, USA

    Marc Laflamme

  2. , Department of Geosciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Derring Hall 4044, Blacksburg, 24061, Virginia, USA

    James D. Schiffbauer

  3. , Department of Geosciences, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, 53201-0413, Wisconsin, USA

    Stephen Q. Dornbos

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Leighton, L.R. (2011). Analyzing Predation from the Dawn of the Phanerozoic. In: Laflamme, M., Schiffbauer, J., Dornbos, S. (eds) Quantifying the Evolution of Early Life. Topics in Geobiology, vol 36. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0680-4_4

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