Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record

1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4051-4157-4
Verlag: PAPERBACKSHOP UK IMPORT

Buch, Englisch, 604 Seiten, Format (B × H): 217 mm x 277 mm, Gewicht: 1641 g

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the science of the history of life. Paleobiologists bring many analytical tools to bear in interpreting the fossil record, and the book introduces the latest techniques, from multivariate investigations of biogeography and biostratigraphy to engineering analysis of dinosaur skulls, and from homeobox genes to cladistics.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Benton, Michael J.

Benton, Michael

Harper, David A. T.

Fachgebiete

• Geowissenschaften Geologie Paläobotanik
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Paläontologie, Taphonomie
• Geowissenschaften Geographie | Raumplanung Biogeographie
• Geowissenschaften Geologie Paläozoologie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface.

1. Paleontology as a science.

2. Fossils in time and space.

3. Taphonomy and the quality of the fossil record.

4. Paleoecology and paleoclimates.

5. Macroevolution and the tree of life.

6. Fossil form and function.

7. Mass extinctions and biodiversity loss.

8. The origin of life.

9. Protists.

10. Origin of the metazoans.

11. The basal metazoans: sponges and corals.

12. Spiralians 1: lophophorates.

13. Spiralians 2: mollusks.

14. Ecdysozoa: arthropods.

15. Deuterostomes: echinoderms and hemichordates.

16. Fishes and basal tetrapods.

17. Dinosaurs and mammals.

18. Fossil plants.

19. Trace fossils.

20. Diversification of life.

References.

Further reading.

Glossary.

Appendix 1: Stratigraphic chart.

Appendix 2: Paleogeographic maps.

Index

Über Autor(innen)

Michael J. Benton is Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology at the University of Bristol. He is interested particularly in early reptiles, Triassic dinosaurs and macroevolution, and has published 50 books and 160 scientific articles.

David Harper is a leading expert on fossil brachiopods and numerical methods in palaeontology. He is Professor of Palaeontology in the University of Copenhagen, where he is currently Head of Geology in the Natural History Museum of Denmark. He has published over 10 books and monographs, including a couple of influential textbooks, as well as over 250 scientific articles and, together with Øyvind Hammer, the widely-used software package PAST. His time is divided between collection management, exhibition work, research and some teaching.