
Fossils and Evolution
T. S. Kemp(Author)
Oxford University Press
Published on 14. January 1999
Book
Paperback/Softback
290 pages
978-0-19-850424-5 (ISBN)
Description
The book is about the ideas, methodology and scope of contemporary palaeobiology, rather than a comprehensive, detailed survey of the factual basis of the subject. It addresses the issue of how on the one hand evolutionary theory is necessary for interpretation of the fossil record, and yet on the other the fossils themselves can contribute to evolutionary theory. This is shown not to be the circular argument between pattern and process sometimes alleged, but a matter of understanding carefully the interrelationship between palaeontological and neontological evidence.
The book is organised into two sections. Part 1 consists of four chapters outlining the principles, namely: the nature of the pattern/process relationship, taxonomic methods and the analysis of pattern, evolutionary theory and the analysis of process and the nature of incompleteness of the fossil record and what to do about it. Armed with these principles and methods, Part 2 is devoted to the five central areas of contemporary research in evolutionary palaeobiology. These are: fossils and phylogenetic inference; the mechanism of speciation; taxonomic turnover on the geological time-scale; mass-extinctions; the origin of new higher taxa. In each case the nature of the questions and the relevant kinds of evidence, including such new sources as molecular sequence data and stable isotope ratios where appropriate, are reviewed. The extent to which palaeobiology has, and has not yet, contributed to providing the sought after answers is made clear.
The book is organised into two sections. Part 1 consists of four chapters outlining the principles, namely: the nature of the pattern/process relationship, taxonomic methods and the analysis of pattern, evolutionary theory and the analysis of process and the nature of incompleteness of the fossil record and what to do about it. Armed with these principles and methods, Part 2 is devoted to the five central areas of contemporary research in evolutionary palaeobiology. These are: fossils and phylogenetic inference; the mechanism of speciation; taxonomic turnover on the geological time-scale; mass-extinctions; the origin of new higher taxa. In each case the nature of the questions and the relevant kinds of evidence, including such new sources as molecular sequence data and stable isotope ratios where appropriate, are reviewed. The extent to which palaeobiology has, and has not yet, contributed to providing the sought after answers is made clear.
Reviews / Votes
This extended essay is expansive, well researched and broad in scope. More importantly, it is intelligently written and assumes a certian familiarity with the ideas on board ... Readers of TREE should welcome it in to their personal and institutional libraries. * Kevin Padian, TREE *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Illustrations
1 halftone, numerous line figures
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
453 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-19-850424-5 (9780198504245)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Author
Curator of the Zoological Collections and University LecturerCurator of the Zoological Collections and University Lecturer, Oxford University
Content
1. Introduction ; 2. Some fundamental ideas ; 3. Evolutionary theory: analysing process ; 4. Taxonomy: analysing pattern ; 5. Incompleteness and what to do about it ; 6. Fossils and phylogeny: if only we had more fossils ; 7. Speciation: gradual, punctuated, or what? ; 8. Rules and laws of taxonomic turnover: are there any? ; 9. Mass extinctions: resetting the evolutionary clock ; 10. The origin of new higher taxa: the ultimate question ; 11. Epilogue: where next?