Figure 1.

Connectance or density of interguild links for eight Permo–Triassic stratigraphical assemblage zone communities from the Karoo Basin. 1, Eodicynodon (Wordian); 2, Tapinocephalus (Capitanian); 3, Pristerognathus (Capitanian–Wuchiapingian); 4, Tropidostoma (Wuchiapingian); 5, Cistecephalus (Wuchiapingian); 6, Dicynodon (Changhsingian); 7, Lystrosaurus (Induan–Olenekian) and 8, Cynognathus (Olenekian–Anisian). All communities follow a linear relationship (y=7.85x−75.64, r²=0.99), with the exception of Lystrosaurus (which was excluded from the regression). Palaeocommunity metanetworks are illustrated for the Eodicynodon, Dicynodon and Lystrosaurus assemblage zones. Spheres represent guilds: green, primary producers; blue, aquatic (freshwater) taxa; purple, insects; red, amphibians and yellow, amniotes. Insect, amphibian and amniote guilds are divided among herbivorous, carnivorous and omnivorous habits. Links between guilds represent sets of trophic interactions.