Palaeontology Books

Book SynopsisPlant remains can preserve a critical part of history of life on Earth. While telling the fascinating evolutionary story of plants and vegetation across the last 500 million years, this book also crucially offers non-specialists a practical guide to studying, dealing with and interpreting plant fossils. It shows how various techniques can be used to reveal the secrets of plant fossils and how to identify common types, such as compressions and impressions. Incorporating the concepts of evolutionary floras, this second edition includes revised data on all main plant groups, the latest approaches to naming plant fossils using fossil-taxa and techniques such as tomography. With extensive illustrations of plant fossils and living plants, the book encourages readers to think of fossils as once-living organisms. It is written for students on introductory or intermediate courses in palaeobotany, palaeontology, plant evolutionary biology and plant science, and for amateurs interested in studyinTrade Review'… affording quick access to the world of fossil plants to any interested reader. Their direct approach is refreshing, making the book eminently useful for the basic identification of fossil plants, in some cases down to species-level determinations … Undergraduate students willing to read this book will quickly gain a core understanding of an important subject that is rarely included in today's college curriculum.' P. K. Strother, Choice'This edition is great for everyone interested in fossils, plants, and (specially) fossil plants, being especially useful for those starting to study plant evolution and paleobotany. It may also be of interest for everyone who ever found a piece of petrified wood and wanted to learn more about it, and about all of the wonderful and strange plants that inhabited the earth a long time ago.' Andrés Elgorriaga, Plant Science BulletinTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Highlights of palaeobotanical study; 3. Studying plant fossils; 4. Early land plants; 5. Lycophytes; 6. Sphenophytes; 7. Ferns; 8. Early gymnosperms; 9. Modern gymnosperms; 10. Angiosperms; 11. The history of land vegetation.

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Book SynopsisDeals with the major terrestrial, algal, and siliceous indicators used in paleolimnology. This title is of interest to seasoned practitioners as well as newcomers to the area of paleolimnology.Trade Review"Volume 3 will be of particular interest to paleolimnologists approaching the subject from the biological or limnological standpoint; some of the most important indicators used by paleolimnologists including pollen analysis, plant macrofossils, charcoal, diatoms, chrysophytes, phytoliths, biogenic silica and pigments. These chapters will become essential citations in the methods sections of future papers." (Philip Barker, Dept. of Geography, Institute of Environmental and Natural Sciences, Lancaster University, UK in Journal of Paleolimnology, 30:4)Table of ContentsPreface. The Editors. Aims & Scope of Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research Book Series. Editors and Board of Advisors of Developments in Paleoenvironmental Research Book Series. Contents of Volumes 1 to 4. Safety Considerations and Caution. Dedication. List of Contributors. 1. Using biology to study long-term environmental change; J.P. Smol, et al. 2. Pollen; K.D. Bennett, K.J. Willis. 3. Conifer stomata; G.M. MacDonald. 4. Plant macrofossils; H.H. Birks. 5. Charcoal as a fire proxy; C. Whitlock, C.P.S. Larsen. 6. Non-pollen palynomorphs; B. van Geel. 7. Protozoa: testate amoebae; L. Beyens, R. Meisterfeld. 8. Diatoms; R.W. Battarbee, et al. 9. Chrysophyte scales and cysts; B.A. Zeeb, J.P. Smol. 10. Ebridians; A. Korhola, J.P. Smol. 11. Phytoliths; D.R. Piperno. 12. Freshwater sponges; T.M. Frost. 13. Siliceous protozoan plates and scales; M.S.V. Douglas, J.P. Smol. 14. Biogenic silica; D.J. Conley, C.L. Schelske. 15. Sedimentary pigments; P.R. Leavitt, D.A. Hodgson. Glossary, Acronyms and Abbreviations. Subject Index.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisThis book will help readers learn the basic skills needed to study microfossils especially those without a formal background in paleontology. It details key principles, explains how to identify different groups of microfossils, and provides insight into their potential applications in solving geologic problems. Basic principles are addressed with examples that explore the strengths and limitations of microfossils and their geological records. This overview provides an understanding of taphonomy and quality of the fossil records, biomineralization and biogeochemistry, taxonomy, concepts of species, and basic concepts of ecology. Readers learn about the major groups of microfossils, including their morphology, ecology, and geologic history.Coverage includes: foraminifera, ostracoda, coccolithophores, pteropods, radiolaria, diatoms, silicoflagellates, conodonts, dinoflagellates, acritarch, and spores and pollens. In this coverage, marine microfossils, and particularly foraminifera, are discussed in more detail compared with the other groups as they continue to play a major role in most scientific investigations. Among the various tracers of earth history, microfossils provide the most diverse kinds of information to earth scientists. This richly illustrated volume will help students and professionals understand microfossils, and provide insight on how to work with them to better understand evolution of life, and age and the paleoenvironment of sedimentary strata.Table of ContentsPart I: Principles.- Introduction.- Taphonomy and Quality of the Fossil Record.- Microfossil Biomineralization and Biogeochemistry.- Morphology, Taxonomy and Concepts of Species.- Basic Concepts of Ecology.- Part II: An Overview of Microfossils.- Calcareous-Walled Microfossils.- Siliceous-Walled Microfossils.- Phosphatic Microfossils.- Organic-Walled Microfossils.- Part III: Applications.- Biostratigraphy.- Paleoenvironment and Paleoclimate.- Basin Analysis and Hydrocarbon Exploration.- Paleoceanography.

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