Borings in Cloudina Shells: Complex Predator-Prey Dynamics in the Terminal Neoproterozoic

Other| October 01, 2003 Borings in Cloudina Shells: Complex Predator-Prey Dynamics in the Terminal Neoproterozoic HONG HUA; HONG HUA 1Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Ministry of Education, and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar BRIAN R. PRATT; BRIAN R. PRATT 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada, brian.pratt@usask.ca *Corresponding author. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar LU-YI ZHANG LU-YI ZHANG 3Xi'an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information HONG HUA 1Key Laboratory of Continental Dynamics, Ministry of Education, and Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China BRIAN R. PRATT *Corresponding author. 2Department of Geological Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E2, Canada, brian.pratt@usask.ca LU-YI ZHANG 3Xi'an Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Land and Resources, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710054, China Publisher: SEPM Society for Sedimentary Geology Accepted: 18 Feb 2003 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1938-5323 Print ISSN: 0883-1351 Society for Sedimentary Geology PALAIOS (2003) 18 (4-5): 454–459. https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2003)018<0454:BICSCP>2.0.CO;2 Article history Accepted: 18 Feb 2003 First Online: 03 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation HONG HUA, BRIAN R. PRATT, LU-YI ZHANG; Borings in Cloudina Shells: Complex Predator-Prey Dynamics in the Terminal Neoproterozoic. PALAIOS 2003;; 18 (4-5): 454–459. doi: https://doi.org/10.1669/0883-1351(2003)018<0454:BICSCP>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyPALAIOS Search Advanced Search Abstract Predation as an important driver of evolutionary change long has been assumed, despite difficulties to substantiate it with specific examples of predatory interaction, especially for the early Paleozoic diversification of animal life. This study corroborates the existence of shell-drilling predation in the uppermost Neoproterozoic of China. Nearly one-fifth of almost one hundred tubular shells of one of the earliest mineralized animals, Cloudina, are perforated by undoubted predatory borings 15–85 µm wide. By contrast, no specimens of co-occurring shells belonging to Sinotubulites were affected. The identity of the predator remains elusive, but variation in size of the borings suggests a predatory lifestyle throughout its growth, after it reached a minimum size. The relatively uniform distance of the borings from the shell apertures points to either control by the life orientation of the shells, such as the position of the sediment surface, or, more likely, an avoidance response by the predator to protective measures located near the aperture. Assuming Sinotubulites had similar life habits and was potential prey, the absence of borings in this taxon is evidence that these tubes may have been protected by organic material or toxins that fended off shell-drilling predators. Hence, this earliest example of predation in the fossil record already shows prey selectivity and site-specific behavior, pointing to a level of Precambrian predator-prey interaction that approaches the complexity seen in younger Paleozoic benthic animal communities. This is consistent with the suggestion that predation was indeed an active contributor to the Cambrian radiations. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.