Temporal and Spatial Dynamics of Biotic and Abiotic Interactions in Paleoecology

Paleoecology intricately explores the relationships between ancient organisms and their environments, focusing on both biotic and abiotic factors. This field merges insights from physical, chemical, and biological studies with fossil records, bridging data from isotopic compositions, geochemistry, and lithology of sediments and rocks. Over time, these complex interactions have influenced landscape development, biodiversity, ecosystem responses to climate variations, and broader evolutionary changes. This historical lens not only reveals insights into diet, population dynamics, and community structures of past biota but also enhances our understanding of geographical and evolutionary trajectories.

This Research Topic aims to synthesize cutting-edge paleoecological research that informs on ancient environmental conditions, ecosystem dynamics, and evolutionary processes spanning multiple temporal scales. From examining Quaternary environments to delving into the deeper pre-Quaternary past, contributions are encouraged from various methodological approaches, including taxon-based, taxon-free, and habitat-specific studies. The goal is to facilitate a comprehensive discourse on how ancient life forms have interacted with their abiotic environments through deep time, offering insights into both historical and recent environmental changes and their implications for current biodiversity and conservation strategies.

To further explore these ancient biotic-abiotic relationships, we invite contributions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

-Paleoecological studies using invertebrates
-Approaches focusing on vertebrate paleoecology
-Investigations into ancient plant ecosystems
-Research involving protists in paleoecological contexts
-Innovative methods for reconstructing paleoecological information
-In-depth case studies that highlight specific aspects of paleoecology
-Intersections of paleoecology with conservation efforts
-Studies based on DNA (ancient or modern), as the molecular methods can provide important insights into past biodiversity, ecosystem shifts, and biotic-abiotic interactions

We encourage submissions of original research articles, methodological advancements, and comprehensive reviews to foster an interdisciplinary understanding of ecological and evolutionary histories.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Paleoecology, Plants, Vertebrates, Invertebrates, Protists, Conservation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.