粪化石(coprolite)是石化的动物粪便, 而广义上粪化石(bromalite)是石化的动物消化物、排泄物和排出物的总称。作为一类重要遗迹化石, 粪化石蕴含了大量实体化石难以提供的生物学信息, 为古生态学研究提供以下依据: 1)粪化石作为媒介帮助理解远古动物的行为习性、消化系统的结构和功能、食谱特征以及古生态系统食物链/食物网; 2)粪化石中保存的古寄生虫线索能有效地解读古生物寄生关系和某些常见肠道寄生虫的起源问题; 3)新生代以来古人类粪化石证据可以直接解开早期古人类的食谱、疾病特征及其迁移路径; 4)中、 新生代以来的粪化石中保存的植物残留信息(孢粉化石和植硅体)是重建古植被面貌、恢复古气候和探索早期动植物关系的重要依据。本文回顾了粪化石研究历史, 并针对粪化石在上述古生态各研究方向的最新进展进行了系统总结和综述, 认为粪化石可有效解读古生态。文章最后对粪化石的最新研究技术方法(如 CT 扫描技术)及未来发展方向进行了展望。

Coprolites are the fossilized animal faeces while bromalites are the fossilized food remains ingested by ancient animals. As an important type of trace fossils, bromalites carry copious palaeoecological information that is not available through the study of body fossils. Therefore, studying these fossils opens a window for understanding the behavioral ecology and predator-prey relationship of ancient animals and food chain/web structures of ancient ecosystems. Further, fossilized parasites within coprolites provide direct evidence on the origin and evolution of intestinal parasites. Besides, coprolites produced by potential hominins in Cenozoic caves provides pivotal clues in elucidating the recipes and health conditions of ancient humans. In addition, plant remains (pollen and phytoliths) within Mesozoic and Cenozoic coprolites supply crucial evidence from which palaeo-vegetation, climate and animal-plant relationships can be well reconstructed. This paper reviews the history of bromalite studies and sums up the recent advances of applying bromalite to various aspects of palaeoecologic interpretations mentioned above. It is concluded that bromalites serve as significant proxies in palaeoecological interpretations. Finally, we sum up new techniques (such as CT scan technology) used in bromalite studies and propose possible future development directions, which we hope may boost the bromalite studies in China.

国家自然科学基金(42072004)?中国科学院人才项目(2018-039)和中国科学院战略先导专项(XDB26000000)联合资助