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首页> 外文期刊>Australian Journal of Zoology >A review of terrestrial mammalian and reptilian carnivore ecology in Australian fossil faunas, and factors influencing their diversity: the myth of reptilian domination and its broader ramifications [Review]
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A review of terrestrial mammalian and reptilian carnivore ecology in Australian fossil faunas, and factors influencing their diversity: the myth of reptilian domination and its broader ramifications [Review]

机译：澳大利亚化石动物群中的陆生哺乳动物和爬行动物食肉动物生态学及其影响因素的综述：爬行动物统治的神话及其更广泛的影响[综述]

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摘要

The notion that Australia's large, terrestrial carnivore faunas of the middle Tertiary to Pleistocene were dominated by reptiles has gained wide acceptance in recent decades. Simple but sweeping hypotheses have been developed seeking to explain this perceived ecological phenomenon. However, a review of the literature does not support these interpretations, which are based on largely speculative and, in many cases, clearly erroneous assumptions. Few size estimates of fossil reptilian taxa are based on quantitative methodology and, regardless of method, most are restricted to maximum dimensions. For species of indeterminate growth, this practice generates misleading perceptions of biological significance. In addition to misconceptions with respect to size, much speculation concerning the lifestyles of large extinct reptiles has been represented as fact. In reality, it has yet to be demonstrated that the majority of fossil reptiles underpinning the story of reptilian domination were actually terrestrial. No postcranial evidence suggests that any Australian mekosuchine crocodylian was less aquatic than extant species, while a semi-aquatic habitus has been posited for madtsoiid snakes and even the giant varanid, Megalania. Taphonomic data equivocally supports the hypothesis that some Australian mekosuchines were better adapted to life on land than are most extant crocodylians, but still semi-aquatic and restricted to the near vicinity of major watercourses. On the other hand, the accelerating pace of discovery of new large mammalian carnivore species has undermined any prima facie case for reptilian supremacy regarding pre-Pleistocene Australia (that is, if species richness is to be used as a gauge of overall impact). However, species abundance and consumption, not richness, are the real measures. On this basis, even in Pleistocene Australia, where species richness of large mammalian carnivores was relatively low, available data expose the uncommon and geographically restricted large contemporaneous reptiles as bit players. In short, the parable of a continent subject to a Mesozoic rerun, wherein diminutive mammals trembled under the footfalls of a menagerie of gigantic ectotherms, appears to be a castle in the air. However, there may be substance to some assertions. Traditionally, erratic climate and soil-nutrient deficiency have been invoked to explain the perception of low numbers or relatively small sizes of fossil mammalian carnivore taxa in Australia. But these arguments assume a simple and positive relationship between productivity, species richness and maximum body mass and either fail to recognise, or inappropriately exclude, other factors. Productivity has undoubtedly played a role, but mono-factorial paradigms cannot account for varying species richness and body mass among Australia's fossil faunas. Nor can they explain differences between Australian fossil faunas and those of other landmasses. Other factors that have contributed include sampling bias, a lack of internal geographic barriers, competition with large terrestrial birds and aspects of island biogeography unique to Australia, such as landmass area and isolation, both temporal and geographic.
机译：近几十年来，澳大利亚的大型第三纪至更新世陆生食肉动物区系主要由爬行动物主导。为了解释这种可察觉的生态现象，已经提出了简单但全面的假设。但是，对文献的回顾不支持这些解释，这些解释主要是基于推测，在许多情况下，显然是错误的假设。化石爬行动物类群的大小估计很少是基于定量方法，并且无论采用哪种方法，大多数都限于最大尺寸。对于不确定生长的物种，这种做法产生了对生物学意义的误导性认识。除了关于大小的误解外，许多关于大型灭绝爬行动物的生活方式的推测也已成为事实。实际上，尚未证明支撑爬行动物统治故事的大多数化石爬行动物实际上是陆地动物。没有颅后证据表明，澳大利亚的mekosuchine crocodylian的水生性不如现存物种，而半水生的习性被认为是madtsoiid蛇，甚至还有巨型变种Malanila。航海学数据清楚地支持了这样的假设：与大多数现存的鳄类动物相比，一些澳大利亚的甲乙素更适合在陆地上生活，但仍是半水生的，并且仅限于主要水道附近。另一方面，新的大型哺乳动物食肉动物物种发现的加快步伐破坏了有关澳大利亚更新世前爬行动物至高无上的任何表面证据（也就是说，如果将物种丰富度用作衡量整体影响的标准）。然而，物种的丰富和消费而不是丰富是真正的衡量标准。在此基础上，即使在澳大利亚大型更新世的食肉动物的物种丰富度相对较低的更新世澳大利亚，现有数据也显示出罕见的，受地理限制的大型同时代爬行动物是咬食者。简而言之，一个受中生代重演的大陆的比喻似乎是空中的城堡，其中小型哺乳动物在巨大的等温放热的脚步声下颤抖。但是，某些断言可能具有实质性。传统上，不稳定的气候和土壤养分缺乏被用来解释对澳大利亚数量较少或规模较小的哺乳动物食肉动物分类群的看法。但是这些论点假设生产力，物种丰富度和最大体重之间存在简单而积极的关系，或者无法识别或不适当地排除其他因素。生产力无疑发挥了作用，但是单因素范式不能解释澳大利亚化石动物群中物种丰富度和体重的变化。他们也无法解释澳大利亚化石动物群与其他陆地动物群之间的差异。其他造成影响的因素包括抽样偏差，内部地理障碍的缺乏，与大型陆生鸟类的竞争以及澳大利亚独特的岛屿生物地理方面，例如陆地和陆地的时空和地理隔离。

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