ABSTRACT

Dinosaurs must be studied in the context of both their physical and biological environments. This chapter covers the basics of ecology, paleoecology, and the reconstructing of past physical and biological environments. Physical parameters of the environment such as temperature, oxygen, light, and water are discussed, as well as the numerous proxies that are used to infer their characteristics, such as paleosols, pollen, phytoliths, and plant fossils. The biological environment is also described in terms of hierarchical levels and the interactions of organisms through food webs. The chapter concludes with an ecological case study of Tyrannosaurus rex as a predator or scavenger.