Did “Invasions” Occur In The Fossil Record?

[kwilson]

A recent panel discussion (part of Darwin Days sponsored by the Paleontological Research Institution and Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, may be of interest:

http://www.thisviewoflife.com/index.php/magazine/articles/992/did-invasions-occur-in-the-fossil-record?goback=.gde_108426_member_217138337

[Acryzona]

Karl,

Welcome to the Forum!

Matthew

[squalicorax]

Welcome to the forum. A recent talk at my school talked about brachiopod invasions during the Ordovician.

http://www.ohio.edu/people/stigall/

[MarleysGh0st]

Thanks for posting that link, Karl! It was an interesting week of presentations. I particularly liked Dr. Stigall's keynote presentation on Monday, since I'd never before heard an explanation for the Late Devonian mass extinction.

[ashcraft]

Seems odd he lumped Thylacosmilus with other organisms that may or may not have been driven to extinction by humans. I thought the extintion of the saber toothed possum was measured in hundreds of thousand, if not millions of years ago.

Am I missing something?

Brent Ashcraft

[Auspex]

Indeed, 'twas Smilodon put an end to Thylacosmilus, in the Pliocene.

[Shamalama]

Interesting discussions regarding a very good theory.