Evolutionary Trends

This book examines evolutionary trends within a wide range of fossil invertebrate and vertebrate animals and fossil plants. An international group of research leaders in palaeontology contribute broad review chapters on the patterns and processes of directionality in evolution, as evidenced from the fossil record. The different hierarchies of trends are considered at taxonomic levels from the interspecific to broader groups, and the rate and interrelationships of processes are documented. The key evolutionary questions of how particular characters are selected for and how far the morphology of particular lifeforms is linked to their function are addressed. The environmental dimension of evolutionary change is developed and in particular the evidence for evolutionary trends following environmental gradients is evaluated. Overall, the book summarizes the state of our knowledge and theory about how evolution works and where processes cause change and influence direction, rate and scale. The scope and limitation of fossil data are fully assessed, particularly in the reconstruction of ancient environments.
The relative importance of heterochrony, as against predation and competition for initiating and sustaining change is evaluated. The book shows that evolution is not a random process and it provides a major scientific synthesis of current evolutionary work for palaeontologists and life scientists.