InhaltsangabePreface. 1. Introduction to Fossils. History, Science, and Historical Science. Time, Life, and Stratigraphy. What is a Fossil?. How do Fossils Form?. Conclusions: Fossils as Curious Stones. Additional Reading. 2. The Nature of the Fossil Record. Fossils in Sedimentary Rock. Taphonomy. Time Averaging. Mode of Growth. Colonial Organisms. Trace Fossils. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 3. Organizing the Fossil Record. History of Ideas on Biological Classification. Applying Linnaeus' Hierarchy. What is a Species and How Does a Paleontologist Identify Them?. Conclusions: the Difference Between Inanimate Atoms and Living Things. Additional Reading. 4. Introduction to Evolution. Introduction. A Biological Definition of Evolution. The History of Evolutionary Thought. Science and Religion. Darwin and Wallace: Never Ask a Stranger to Present Your Paper at a Meeting You Cannot Attend. Natural Selection. Conclusions: Why was Natural Selection Not Endorsed at Once by Many Scientists?. Additional Reading. 5. Macroevolution, Progress, and the History of Life. Introduction. Competition and Macroevolution. Does Evolution Happen Gradually or Episodically?. Natural Selection Operating Above and Below the Level of the Individual Organism. Progress and the History of Life. Conclusions: Patterns and Processes of Increasing Complexity. Additional Reading. 6. Extinctions: The Legacy of the Fossil Record. Introduction. Contingency. Boundaries in the Geological Time Scale and the Nature of Extinction. The Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction. How has the Existence of Mass Extinctions Influenced the History of Life?. Were Most Extinctions Caused by Asteroid Impact?. The PermoTriassic Mass ExtinctionCauses and Consequences. The Ordovician-Silurian Mass Extinction. Other Mass Extinction Events: The Late Devonian and the End of the Triassic. Habitat Degradation and Mass Extinctions. The Sixth Great Mass Extinction: The Current Biodiversity Crisis. Conclusions: Lessons from the Past and Future Prospects for Humanity. Additional Reading. 7. Systematics and the Fossil Record. Introduction. Methods and Approaches in Systematics. The Growth of Molecular Biology and Improvements in DNA Sequencing Technology. The Spread of Computers and Computer Programs Used to Study Evolutionary Relationships. Systematics and How to go About Identifying Species in the Fossil Record. Systematics and its Relevance for Identifying Patterns of Mass Extinction. Systematics and the Meaning of Adaptations. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 8. Principles of Growth and Form: Life, the Universe, and Gothic Cathedrals. Introduction. Galileo's Principle. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to the Biology of Living Organisms. Galileo's Principle and Constraints on the Evolution of Large Body Size. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to Medieval Architecture. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to Cratering Density in our Solar System. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 9. The Role of Fossils in the Genesis of Myths and Legends. Introduction. Paleontologist's Have Come from Many Different Walks of Life and Have Sported Many Different Hairdos. Paleontology in Ancient Greece. Native American Contributions to Paleontology. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 10. Plate Tectonics and its Effects on Evolution. Introduction. Early Ideas on Continents in Motion: Continental Drift. Plate Tectonics: Continental Drift in a Different Guise and with a Valid Mechanism. The Evolutionary Implications of Plate Tectonics. Biogeography. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 11. Life, Climate, and Geology. Introduction. Some of the Major Factors that Govern the Climate System. Examples of How Life has Influenced

Bruce S. Lieberman is a Professor in the Department of Geology and a Senior Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology in the Natural History Museum/Biodiversity Research Center (NHM/BRC) at the University of Kansas (KU), U.S.A. His research focuses on the study of evolution in the fossil record, including the origin of animals, macroevolutionary theory, and biogeography. Roger L. Kaesler passed away in 2007. He was Director of the Paleontological Institute as well as a Professor in the Department of Geology and a Senior Curator of Invertebrate Paleontology in the NHM/BRC at KU. His research focused on paleoecology and fossil arthropods.

Preface. 1. Introduction to Fossils. History, Science, and Historical Science. Time, Life, and Stratigraphy. What is a Fossil?. How do Fossils Form?. Conclusions: Fossils as Curious Stones. Additional Reading. 2. The Nature of the Fossil Record. Fossils in Sedimentary Rock. Taphonomy. Time Averaging. Mode of Growth. Colonial Organisms. Trace Fossils. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 3. Organizing the Fossil Record. History of Ideas on Biological Classification. Applying Linnaeus' Hierarchy. What is a Species and How Does a Paleontologist Identify Them?. Conclusions: the Difference Between Inanimate Atoms and Living Things. Additional Reading. 4. Introduction to Evolution. Introduction. A Biological Definition of Evolution. The History of Evolutionary Thought. Science and Religion. Darwin and Wallace: Never Ask a Stranger to Present Your Paper at a Meeting You Cannot Attend. Natural Selection. Conclusions: Why was Natural Selection Not Endorsed at Once by Many Scientists?. Additional Reading. 5. Macroevolution, Progress, and the History of Life. Introduction. Competition and Macroevolution. Does Evolution Happen Gradually or Episodically?. Natural Selection Operating Above and Below the Level of the Individual Organism. Progress and the History of Life. Conclusions: Patterns and Processes of Increasing Complexity. Additional Reading. 6. Extinctions: The Legacy of the Fossil Record. Introduction. Contingency. Boundaries in the Geological Time Scale and the Nature of Extinction. The Cretaceous-Tertiary Mass Extinction. How has the Existence of Mass Extinctions Influenced the History of Life?. Were Most Extinctions Caused by Asteroid Impact?. The Permo-Triassic Mass Extinction--Causes and Consequences. The Ordovician-Silurian Mass Extinction. Other Mass Extinction Events: The Late Devonian and the End of the Triassic. Habitat Degradation and Mass Extinctions. The Sixth Great Mass Extinction: The Current Biodiversity Crisis. Conclusions: Lessons from the Past and Future Prospects for Humanity. Additional Reading. 7. Systematics and the Fossil Record. Introduction. Methods and Approaches in Systematics. The Growth of Molecular Biology and Improvements in DNA Sequencing Technology. The Spread of Computers and Computer Programs Used to Study Evolutionary Relationships. Systematics and How to go About Identifying Species in the Fossil Record. Systematics and its Relevance for Identifying Patterns of Mass Extinction. Systematics and the Meaning of Adaptations. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 8. Principles of Growth and Form: Life, the Universe, and Gothic Cathedrals. Introduction. Galileo's Principle. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to the Biology of Living Organisms. Galileo's Principle and Constraints on the Evolution of Large Body Size. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to Medieval Architecture. Galileo's Principle and its Relevance to Cratering Density in our Solar System. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 9. The Role of Fossils in the Genesis of Myths and Legends. Introduction. Paleontologist's Have Come from Many Different Walks of Life and Have Sported Many Different Hairdos. Paleontology in Ancient Greece. Native American Contributions to Paleontology. Concluding Remarks. Additional Reading. 10. Plate Tectonics and its Effects on Evolution. Introduction. Early Ideas on Continents in Motion: Continental Drift.