In the early Cretaceous Period, there were many different types of animals, not just dinosaurs. The oceans were also full of life, including some very big predators that don’t exist today.
Researchers studied one ecosystem from this time where huge marine reptiles, like pliosaurs, hunted other big meat-eaters, creating a rare seventh level in their food chain.
In today’s oceans, the food chain usually only goes up to level five or six, with animals like killer whales and great white sharks at the top.
The study focuses on creatures from the Paja Formation in Colombia, where the ocean was full of life at all levels of the food chain due to warm climates and changes in the Earth’s land masses.
The ecosystem supported giant predators like ichthyosaurs and pliosaurs, showing how complex and lively it was 130 million years ago.
The researchers used data from fossils to build a picture of this prehistoric environment, helping us understand how ecosystems have changed over time.
This study provides new insights into ancient marine life and how predator-prey relationships shaped the diversity we see today.
Source: Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society
Vocabulary List:
- Ecosystem /ˈiː.kəʊˌsɪs.təm/ (noun): A biological community of interacting organisms and their physical environment.
- Predators /ˈprɛd.ɪ.tər/ (noun): Animals that hunt and feed on other animals.
- Paleontologists /ˌpeɪliɒnˈtɒlədʒɪsts/ (noun): Scientists who study fossils to understand the history of life on Earth.
- Diversity /daɪˈvɜː.sɪ.ti/ (noun): The state of being diverse; variety.
- Complex /ˈkɒmplɛks/ (adjective): Consisting of many different and connected parts.
- Insights /ˈɪn.saɪts/ (noun): An accurate and deep understanding of a situation or problem.
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