Bringing Fossils to Life by R., Donald -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Contents Preface To the Student: Why Study Fossils? Part I: The Fossil Record: A Window on the Past

1. The Fossil Record

What Is a Fossil? How Does an Organism Become a Fossil? What Factors Affect the Fossilization Potential of an Organism? What Factors Are Required for Extraordinary Preservation? How Good Is the Fossil Record? Conclusions

2. Variation in Fossils

Theme: Variation How Do Organisms Vary During Their Lifespans? How Do Populations of Organisms Vary? Conclusions

3. Species and Speciation

What Is a Species? The Species Problem in Paleontology Conclusions

4. Systematics

Why Systematics? Evolution and Classification Competing Systematic Philosophies Molecular Systematics Codes of Systematic Nomenclature Conclusions

5. Evolution

The Evolution of Evolution The “Evolutionary Synthesis” Challenges to the Neo-Darwinian Synthesis Evolution and the Fossil Record Conclusions

6. Extinction

The Fact of Extinction The Causes of Extinction: Bad Genes or Bad Luck? Background Extinctions, the Red Queen, and the Court Jester The Major Mass Extinctions Is There a Common Cause? Conclusions

7. Functional Morphology

Form and Function Theoretical Morphology Functional Hypotheses as Testable Science Case Studies in Functional Morphology Conclusions

8. Paleoecology

Ecology and Paleoecology Ecological Relationships Environmental Limiting Factors Direct Paleoecological Evidence Some Ecological Ideas That Have Been Applied (and Misapplied) to Fossils Evolutionary Paleoecology Conclusions

9. Biogeography

Organisms in Space and Time Ecological Biogeography Historical Biogeography Conclusions

10. Biostratigraphy

Faunal Succession Biostratigraphic Zonations Factors Controlling Fossil Distributions Biostratigraphic Sampling The Time Significance of Biostratigraphic Events North American Land Mammal “Ages” and Biochronology Quantitative Biostratigraphy Resolution, Precision, and Accuracy Index Fossils and the Global Biostratigraphic Standard Conclusions

Part II: Life of the Past and Present

11. Life’s Origins and Early Evolution

Concocting the “Primordial Soup” Mud and Mosh Pits, Kitty Litter, and Fool’s Gold Life Is a Commune The Earliest Fossils Cambrian “Explosion”—or “Slow Fuse”? Why Did Life Change So Slowly Before the Cambrian? Rocks, Hox, and Molecular Clocks

12. Micropaleontology: Fossil Protistans

Introduction The Kingdoms of Life Foraminifera Radiolaria Diatoms Coccolithophores

13. Colonial Life: Sponges, A rchaeocyathans, and Cnidarians

Introduction Sponges Archaeocyathans Cnidarians

14. The “Lophophorates”: Brachiopods and Bryozoans

Introduction Brachiopods Bryozoans

15. Jointed Limbs: The Arthropods

Introduction Systematics Trilobitomorpha Chelicerata Crustacea Myriapoda and Insecta

16. Kingdom of the Seashell: The Molluscs

Introduction Systematics Mollusc Origins and Diversification Gastropods Bivalves Cephalopods

17. Spiny Skins: The Echinoderms

Introduction Systematics Crinoids Echinoids

18. Dry Bones: Vertebrates and their Relatives

Introduction The Road to Amphioxus Getting a Head: The Craniates Jaws: The Gnathostomes Fish Bones: The Osteichthyans Lobe-Fins: The Sarcopterygians Four on the Floor: The Tetrapods Land Eggs: The Amniotes Feathered Dinosaurs: The Birds Furry Folk: Synapsids and Mammals

19. Fossilized Behavior: Trace Fossils

Introduction Preservation Classification Ichnofacies Ichnofabric Trace Fossils Through Time

20. Traces of The Earth’s Green Mantle: Paleobotany

Introduction Plant Taphonomy The First Photosynthetic Organisms The Plant Kingdom Vascular Plants Tracheophytes Naked Seeds: The Gymnosperms Flower Power: The Angiosperm Revolution Floras Through Time

Glossary Bibliography Index