Re: The Dinosaur Serengeti

[Stanley Friesen <sarima@ix.netcom.com>]

At 09:30 PM 9/16/99 -0700, dbensen wrote:
>    I know there wasn't grass(and therefor, no savanna)

However, there *were* ferns and Isoetes, some species of which share some
of the basic ecological features of grass.  For instance, bracken fern is
the dominant vegetation in some meadows.  So a *fern* savanna is not at all
out of the question, and indeed, I think such to be likely for the Morrison.

[And some species of _Isoetes_ are significant parts of some tundra areas]. 

>untill. . .when?
>
Late Eocene, if I remember correctly.

>    Was there some sort of small gymnosperm that had the same ecological
>role as grass?

Probaby not - see above.

>    (About sauropods) How might an eocsystem support suge a large number
>of very large animals?

Well, we do not really know the numbers were all *that* large.  Such
gigantic animals are preferentially preserved, and more easily found.

--------------
May the peace of God be with you.         sarima@ix.netcom.com