Page 169 - Introduction to Paleobiology and The Fossil Record

156 INTRODUCTION TO PALEOBIOLOGY AND THE FOSSIL RECORD

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 6.12 Finite element analysis of the skull of Tyrannosaurus rex. The skull (a) was
converted into a cell mesh (b), and biting forces applied (c). In the stress visualization (c), high
stresses are indicated by pale colors, low stresses by black. Each bite, depending on its strength
and location, sends stress patterns through the skull mesh and these allow the paleobiologist to
understand the construction of the skull, but also the maximum forces possible before the
structure fails. (Courtesy of Emily Rayfi eld.)

situations. Moreover if they had a wide- reveal clues about climates and other
spread geographic distribution, perhaps physical conditions.
they were planktonic. Dinosaurs or fossil 2 Associated fossils also give clues. They can
mammals may be found in sandstones show where the organism of interest sits
deposited in an ancient river or desert. All in a food web (see p. 88) – who ate it, and
these clues from sedimentary rocks guide what did it eat? Sometimes groups of
the paleontologist in interpreting the envi- fossils may be associated in death in such
ronment of deposition, and in turn can a way that they indicate life habits. For