Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record

Informationen zum Autor 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 over 400 scientific articles. He founded the Masters in Paleobiology degree at Bristol, which has now graduated over 400 students. David A.T. Harper is a leading expert on fossil brachiopods, numerical methods in paleontology and Phanerozoic stratigraphy. He is Professor of Paleontology, and Principal of Van Mildert College in Durham University. He has published over 15 books and monographs, including a couple of influential textbooks, as well as over 300 scientific articles and, together with Øyvind Hammer, the widely-used software package PAST. Klappentext 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. All the well-known fossil groups are included, including microfossils and invertebrates, but an important feature is the thorough coverage of plants, vertebrates and trace fossils together with discussion of the origins of both life and the metazoans. All key related subjects are introduced, such as systematics, ecology, evolution and development, stratigraphy and their roles in understanding where life came from and how it evolved and diversified. Unique features of the book are the numerous case studies from current research that lead students to the primary literature, analytical and mathematical explanations and tools, together with associated problem sets and practical schedules for instructors and students. New to this edition The text and figures have been updated throughout to reflect current opinion on all aspects New case studies illustrate the chapters, drawn from a broad distribution internationally Chapters on Macroevolution, Form and Function, Mass extinctions, Origin of Life, and Origin of Metazoans have been entirely rewritten to reflect substantial advances in these topics There is a new focus on careers in paleobiology Inhaltsverzeichnis Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii 1 Paleontology as a science 1 Introduction 2 Paleontology in the modern world 2 Paleontology as a science 3 Steps to understanding 12 Fossils and evolution 16 Paleontology today 17 Review questions 23 Further reading 23 References 24 2 Stratigraphy 25 Introduction 26 How stratigraphy works 26 New techniques, new tools 40 Geological time scale: a common language 46 Extraterrestrial stratigraphy 47 Review questions 48 Further reading 48 References 49 3 Paleogeography and paleoclimates 50 Paleobiogeography 50 Fossils in mountain belts 64 Paleoclimates 69 The Anthropocene 76 Review questions 77 Further reading 77 References 77 4 Paleoecology 80 Introduction 81 Taphonomic constraints: sifting through the debris 83 Populations: can groups of individuals make a difference? 85 Habitats and niches 86 Paleocommunities 95 Evolutionary paleoecology 100 Ecological ranking of mass extinctions 110 Full contents vii Review questions 112 Further reading 112 References 112 5 Taphonomy and the quality of the fossil record 115 Introduction 116 Fossil preservation 116 Quality of the fossil record 130 Review questions 137 Further reading 138 References 138 6 Fossil form and function 140 ...

Auteur

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 over 400 scientific articles. He founded the Masters in Paleobiology degree at Bristol, which has now graduated over 400 students. David A.T. Harper is a leading expert on fossil brachiopods, numerical methods in paleontology and Phanerozoic stratigraphy. He is Professor of Paleontology, and Principal of Van Mildert College in Durham University. He has published over 15 books and monographs, including a couple of influential textbooks, as well as over 300 scientific articles and, together with Øyvind Hammer, the widely-used software package PAST.

Texte du rabat

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. All the well-known fossil groups are included, including microfossils and invertebrates, but an important feature is the thorough coverage of plants, vertebrates and trace fossils together with discussion of the origins of both life and the metazoans. All key related subjects are introduced, such as systematics, ecology, evolution and development, stratigraphy and their roles in understanding where life came from and how it evolved and diversified. Unique features of the book are the numerous case studies from current research that lead students to the primary literature, analytical and mathematical explanations and tools, together with associated problem sets and practical schedules for instructors and students. New to this edition

• The text and figures have been updated throughout to reflect current opinion on all aspects
• New case studies illustrate the chapters, drawn from a broad distribution internationally
• Chapters on Macroevolution, Form and Function, Mass extinctions, Origin of Life, and Origin of Metazoans have been entirely rewritten to reflect substantial advances in these topics
• There is a new focus on careers in paleobiology

Contenu

Preface xi

Acknowledgments xiii

1 Paleontology as a science 1

Introduction 2

Paleontology in the modern world 2

Paleontology as a science 3

Steps to understanding 12

Fossils and evolution 16

Paleontology today 17

Review questions 23

Further reading 23

References 24

2 Stratigraphy 25

Introduction 26

How stratigraphy works 26

New techniques, new tools 40

Geological time scale: a common language 46

Extraterrestrial stratigraphy 47

Review questions 48

Further reading 48

References 49

3 Paleogeography and paleoclimates 50

Paleobiogeography 50

Fossils in mountain belts 64

Paleoclimates 69

The Anthropocene 76

Review questions 77

Further reading 77

References 77

4 Paleoecology 80

Introduction 81

Taphonomic constraints: sifting through the debris 83

Populations: can groups of individuals make a difference? 85

Habitats and niches 86

Paleocommunities 95

Evolutionary paleoecology 100

Ecological ranking of mass extinctions 110

Full contents vii

Review questions 112

Further reading 112

References 112

5 Taphonomy and the quality of the fossil record 115

Introduction 116

Fossil preservation 116

Quality of the fossil record 130

Review questions 137

Further reading 138

References 138

6 Fossil form and function 140

Introduction 141

Growth and form 141

Evolution and development 147

Interpreting the function of fossils 152

Review questions 163

Further reading 164

References 164

7 Macroevolution and the tree of life 165

Introduction 166

Evolution by natural selection 167

Evolution and the fossil record 170

Trends and radiations 179

The tree of life 184

Review questions 191

Further reading 191

References 191

8 Biodiversity, extinction, and mass extinction 193

Introduction 194

The diversification of life 195

Mass extinctions 202

The "big five" mass extinction events 207

Extinction then and now 215

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