Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record

About this book

This book presents a comprehensive overview of the science of the history of life. Palaeobiologists bring many analytical tools to bear in interpreting the fossil record and Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record 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 Introduction to Paleobiology and the Fossil Record 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 the 2019 revision of the second edition:
1. The text and figures have been updated throughout to reflect current opinion on all aspects.
2. Many 2000-2009 case studies have been replaced with examples from 2010-2015. In selecting case studies to illustrate the chapters, the authors have chosen examples where the story is strong and well illustrated, where the source paper is attractive and easy for enthusiastic undergraduates to read, and ideally where the work has been done by a young person, and these will be noted to show what Masters and PhD students, and young postdocs are doing. Case studies reflect a broad distribution internationally, and an equable spread by gender, emphasizing work by young women and citizens of developing countries.
3. The chapters on Macroevolution, Form and Function, Mass extinctions, Origin of Life, and Origin of Metazoans are entirely rewritten to reflect substantial advances that have been taking place.

Contents

Preface xi

1 Paleontology as a science 1
2 Fossils in time and space 22
3 Paleogeography and paleoclimates 57
4 Paleoecology
5 Taphonomy and the quality of the fossil record 79
6 Fossil form and function
7 Macroevolution and the tree of life 116
8 Biodiversity, extinction and mass extinction 137
9 The origin of life 183
10 Protists 204
11 Origin of the metazoans 234
12 The basal metazoans: sponges and corals 260
13 Spiralians 1: lophophorates 297
14 Spiralians 2: mollusks 326
15 Ecdysozoa: arthropods 361
16 Deuterostomes: echinoderms and hemichordates 389
17 Fishes and basal tetrapods 427
18 Dinosaurs and mammals 453
19 Fossil plants 479
20 Trace fossils 509

Glossary 554
Appendix 1: Stratigraphic chart 573
Appendix 2: Paleogeographic maps 575
Index 576

Customer Reviews

Biography

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 Oyvind Hammer, the widely-used software package PAST. His time is divided between collection management, exhibition work, research and some teaching.