Paleoecology: What is, characteristics and importance

Following the Definition of Paleoecologywe could say that it is the science responsible for studying the relationship that keeps the fossil biota with its environment and how it has evolved over time. With this, it is possible to reconstruction of environments and ecosystems of our planet throughout the different geological ages, which is the main Paleoecology objective.

This branch of paleontology, which favors a greater understanding of the interactions between the ecological and the evolutionary, is based mainly on the analysis of pollen and fossil spores, that is, in Palinology. But what is this technique? Since the beginning of the last century, through Palinological methodscientists have been and are able to identify and describe the changes suffered by vegetation (density, height, shape, adaptations, etc.) with climatic variations (temperature, salinity, solar radiation, humidity, etc.).

Some of its Characteristics of Paleoecology are:

• Identify patterns that have occurred throughout history in the functioning of ecosystems and their biodiversity (for example: relationships between organism sizes and ambient temperature).
• It expands knowledge in relation to the exploration and development of natural resources.
• It allows to know the way of life and habitat of fossils either, individually through paleoautoecology (species, populations) or, jointly through synecology (communities).
• It complements ecological studies, where time is a barely explored dimension.

With the aim of recreating environments and ecosystems, normally, paleoecology is based on the realization of statistical inferences and in the Mathematical modeling. To do this, it uses as a knowledge base data and information about the species we currently know and that keep a certain relationship with the fossil organisms object of study.

In the specific case of the Palinological Method, to study pollen and spores, in the laboratory it is used as substances such as hydrochloric acid, fluoride acid and nitric acid. Once the samples have been prepared, your observation takes place by means of an electronic scanning optical or microscope. In the case of non -policy fossils, such as water organisms (such as algae, bacteria, zooplankton) sediment, dating is performed by a microscopic analysis. With this laboratory analysis, organisms that have been happening from the oldest deep levels of the sediment to the most current ones can be identified.

To sum up What is the importance of paleoecology We take into account these aspects:

• First, paleocology can be useful to determine The original origin and the taxonomic relations of the flora and the fauna of each geological era. For example, a study conducted by the University of Florence, the National Museum of Eritrea I the IPHES (Institut Català de Paleocology and Social Evolved) in 2009 establishes the evolutionary line of a bullfighting ancestor, specifically of the Bos genus, corresponding to the Pleistocene.
• On the other hand, taking into account that the past determines the present, paleoecology is important because it allows us Understand the functioning of natural systems and foresee how they can respond Faced with certain climatic conditions. For example: we can know what is the recurrence of fires, floods and other risks in certain areas; We can know what are the climatic conditions that have led to the previous great extinctions and establish relationships with those that trigger the sixth great extinction already underway.
• It also provides information about How the impacts of the human being have influenced Throughout history in the environment and in landscape configuration.
• It also allows differentiating what are the invasive species and native species of ecosystems. For example, thanks to paleoecology, it is known that European chestnut (Castanea sativa) It is an native plant in Galicia since there is evidence of its presence that date back to the tertiary, the upper pleistocene and the Holocene.
• Finally, paleoecological studies can contribute to the formulation and design of measures for biodiversity conservation.

If you have been interested in learning about Paleoecology, you may want to find out more about how our planet was millions of years ago. Here we show you more ecology articles about types of fossilization and their characteristics and why dinosaurs were extinguished.

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