For millions of years, clues to the biology of dinosaurs lie locked within the microscopic structure of their bones. Here one of the world's leading experts on fossil bone microstructure synthesizes more than 150 years of research to expose the meaning of dinosaur bone microstructure. In this first book dedicated to dinosaur bone microstructure, Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan begins with a general overview of living bone structure and composition and then explains how bone structure changes upon death and during fossilization. She meticulously unravels why the microscopic structure of fossil bone remains intact after millions of years of fossilization. She also provides a photographic atlas of the kinds of bone tissue found in dinosaurs and expounds on their biological significance. The final chapters offer insight into growth patterns of dinosaurs and the biology of Mesozoic birds. The book concludes with a reflective discussion on what bone microstructure can and cannot disclose about dinosaur physiology.
Drawing from sources across the field of bone histology, Chinsamy-Turan paints a holistic view of the current state of the science and presents a fresh perspective on the relevance of the field to understanding the Dinosauria.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
Chinsamy-Turan has provided an immense service to the field with the publication of this book. -- Kristina Curry Rogers Trends in Ecology and Evolution 2005 Of interest to a wide audience of biologists, the core readership [is] vertebrate paleontologists, each of whom should have a copy. -- Tim J. Fedak and Brian K. Hall Quarterly Review of Biology 2006 A must-read for anybody interested in the biology of one of the most fascinating animals in the history of our planet. -- Luis M. Chiappe Nature 2006 An irreplaceable manual for all students working in this field. -- Magdalena Borsuk-Bialynicka Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 2005 Chinsamy-Turan's accessible, engaging book contains enough personal reflections and professional opinions to keep readers enthralled. -- James R. Spotila Bioscience 2006 A valuable addition to the library of anyone who thirsts for every bit of knowledge available about these Mesozoic saurians. -- Lynne M. Clos Fossil News: Journal of Avocational Paleontology 2006 Provides a compelling, if not universal, view of dinosaur physiology that is certain to attract serious consideration and attention. -- Matthew F. Bonnan Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 2006 Particularly strong on describing what bone is, how it is studied microscopically, and what it is capable to telling us. -- Kevin Padian Progressive Palaeontology 2006
Sprache
Verlagsort
Produkt-Hinweis
Fadenheftung
Gewebe-Einband
mit Schutzumschlag
Illustrationen
41 s/w Photographien bzw. Rasterbilder
41 Halftones, black and white
Maße
Höhe: 238 mm
Breite: 162 mm
Dicke: 24 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-0-8018-8120-6 (9780801881206)
DOI
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Anusuya Chinsamy-Turan is a professor of zoology and a fellow of the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She is president of South African Women in Science and Engineering and the former director of the Natural History Collections Division of Iziko Museums of Cape Town. She was named as South Africa's Woman Scientist of the Year for 2005.
Autor*in
ProfessorUniversity of Cape Town
Preface
Acknowledgments
1. Unraveling Dinosaur Bones
2. Dinosaur Bones Discovered
3. From Bone Microstructure to Biology
4. Inside Dinosaur Bones
5. Growing Dinosaurs
6. Biology of Early Birds
7. Dinosaur Physiology
References
Index
