Inferencia paleoecológica en mamíferos cenozoicos: limitaciones metodológicas

Abstract

Environmental, climatic and natural history inference is one of the main aims of Palaeoecology. We have reviewed several autoecological –taxonomic and functional analysis– and sinecological studies –community structure analysis, diversity, cenograms and ecological diversity spectra– generally applied to cenozoic mammals. As a result, theoretical as well as methodological limitations and mistakes are identified, mainly caused by erroneous use of statistical tools and the implicit assumption of non-aceptable statements. Reliability of future studies must be based on solving those problems, specially by a deeper knowledge of recent processes and patterns, the revision of the actualistic principles and the careful use of available methods.