Palaeobiology II

Copyright © 2001, 2003 by Blackwell Science Ltd

Palaeobiology II

Editor(s): Derek E.G. Briggs, Peter R. Crowther

Published Online: 13 DEC 2007

Print ISBN: 9780632051496

Online ISBN: 9780470999295

DOI: 10.1002/9780470999295

About this Book

Product Information

About The Product

Palaeobiology: A Synthesis was widely acclaimed both for its content and production quality. Ten years on, Derek Briggs and Peter Crowther have once again brought together over 150 leading authorities from around the world to produce Palaeobiology II. Using the same successful formula, the content is arranged as a series of concise articles, taking a thematic approach to the subject, rather than treating the various fossil groups systematically.

This entirely new book, with its diversity of new topics and over 100 new contributors, reflects the exciting developments in the field, including accounts of spectacular newly discovered fossils, and embraces data from other disciplines such as astrobiology, geochemistry and genetics.

Palaeobiology II will be an invaluable resource, not only for palaeontologists, but also for students and researchers in other branches of the earth and life sciences.


  • Written by an international team of recognised authorities in the field.
  • Content is concise but informative.
  • Demonstrates how palaeobiological studies are at the heart of a range of scientific themes.

Table of contents

    1. You have free access to this content
      Frontmatter (pages i–xv)

  2. Part 1.1: Major Events in the History of Life - Early Life

    1. Chapter 1.1.1

      Origin of Life (pages 3–8)

      A. Lazcano

    2. Chapter 1.1.2

      Exploring for a Fossil Record of Extraterrestrial Life (pages 8–13)

      J.D. Farmer

    3. Chapter 1.1.3

      Life in the Archaean (pages 13–21)

      R. Buick

    4. Chapter 1.1.4

      Late Proterozoic Biogeochemical Cycles (pages 22–25)

      G.A. Logan and R.E. Summons

  3. Part 1.2: Major Events in the History of Life - The Cambrian Radiation

    1. Chapter 1.2.1

      Metazoan Origins and Early Evolution (pages 25–31)

      D.H. Erwin

    2. Chapter 1.2.2

      Significance of Early Shells (pages 31–40)

      S. Conway Morris

    3. Chapter 1.2.3

      Cambrian Food Webs (pages 40–43)

      N. J. Butterfield

    4. Chapter 1.2.4

      The Origin of Vertebrates (pages 43–48)

      M.P. Smith and I.J. Sansom

  4. Part 1.3: Major Events in the History of Life - Palaeozoic Events

    1. Chapter 1.3.1

      Ordovician Radiation (pages 49–52)

      A.I. Miller

    2. Chapter 1.3.2

      Rise of Fishes (pages 52–57)

      J.A. Long

    3. Chapter 1.3.3

      Evolution of Reefs (pages 57–62)

      R.A. Wood

    4. Chapter 1.3.4

      Early Land Plants (pages 63–66)

      D. Edwards

    5. Chapter 1.3.5

      Afforestation-the First Forests (pages 67–71)

      S.E. Scheckler

    6. Chapter 1.3.6

      Terrestrialization of Animals (pages 71–74)

      P.A. Selden

    7. Chapter 1.3.7

      Origin of Tetrapods (pages 74–79)

      M.I. Coates

    8. Chapter 1.3.8

      Carboniferous Coal-Swamp Forests (pages 79–82)

      W.A. Dimichele

    9. Chapter 1.3.9

      Rise and Diversification of Insects (pages 82–88)

      C.C. Labandeira

    10. Chapter 1.3.10

      Origin of Mammals (pages 88–94)

      J.A. Hopson

  5. Part 1.4: Major Events in the History of Life - Mesozoic Events

    1. Chapter 1.4.1

      Mesozoic Marine Revolution (pages 94–97)

      P.H. Kelley and T.A. Hansen

    2. Chapter 1.4.2

      Origin and Radiation of Angiosperms (pages 97–102)

      E.M. Friis, K.R. Pedersen and P.R. Crane

    3. Chapter 1.4.3

      Rise of Birds (pages 102–106)

      L.M. Chiappe

  6. Part 1.5: Major Events in the History of Life - Cenozoic Events

    1. Chapter 1.5.1

      Evolution of Modern Grasslands and Grazers (pages 106–108)

      T.E. Cerling

    2. Chapter 1.5.2

      Radiation of Tertiary Mammals (pages 109–112)

      C.M. Janis

    3. Chapter 1.5.3

      Rise of Modern Land Plants and Vegetation (pages 112–115)

      M.E. Collinson

    4. Chapter 1.5.4

      Early Primates (pages 115–121)

      K.D. Rose

    5. Chapter 1.5.5

      Hominid Evolution (pages 121–127)

      B.A. Wood

    6. Chapter 1.5.6

      Neandertals (pages 127–130)

      L.C. Aiello

  7. Part 2.1: The Evolutionary Process and the Fossil Record - Species Evolution

    1. Chapter 2.1.1

      Speciation and Morphological Change (pages 131–137)

      D.B. Lazarus

    2. Chapter 2.1.2

      Evolutionary Stasis vs. Change (pages 137–142)

      A.H. Cheetham

    3. Chapter 2.1.3

      Rapid Speciation in Species Flocks (pages 143–146)

      A.R. Mccune

  8. Part 2.2: The Evolutionary Process and the Fossil Record - Evolution of Form

    1. Chapter 2.2.1

      Developmental Genes and the Evolution of Morphology (pages 147–152)

      G.A. Wray

    2. Chapter 2.2.2

      Constraints on the Evolution of Form (pages 152–157)

      P. J. Wagner

    3. Chapter 2.2.3

      Occupation of Morphospace (pages 157–161)

      A.R.H. Swan

  9. Part 2.3: The Evolutionary Process and the Fossil Record - Macroevolution

    1. Chapter 2.3.1

      Origin of Evolutionary Novelties (pages 162–166)

      D. Jablonski

    2. Chapter 2.3.2

      Controls on Rates of Evolution (pages 166–171)

      S.M. Stanley

    3. Chapter 2.3.3

      Competition in Evolution (pages 171–176)

      J. J. Sepkoski

    4. Chapter 2.3.4

      Biotic Interchange (pages 176–180)

      D.R. Lindberg

    5. Chapter 2.3.5

      Importance of Heterochrony (pages 180–188)

      K.J. Mcnamara

    6. Chapter 2.3.6

      Hierarchies in Evolution (pages 188–192)

      T.A. Grantham

    7. Chapter 2.3.7

      Phylogenetic Tree Shape (pages 192–195)

      P.N. Pearson

    8. Chapter 2.3.8

      Contingency (pages 195–198)

      S.J. Gould

    9. Chapter 2.3.9

      Selectivity During Extinctions (pages 198–202)

      M.L. Mckinney

    10. Chapter 2.3.10

      Biotic Recovery from Mass Extinctions (pages 202–206)

      D. J. Bottjer

    11. Chapter 2.3.11

      Evolutionary Trends (pages 206–211)

      D.W. Mcshea

  10. Part 2.4: The Evolutionary Process and the Fossil Record - Patterns of Diversity

    1. Chapter 2.4.1

      Biodiversity Through Time (pages 211–220)

      M.J. Benton

    2. Chapter 2.4.2

      Late Ordovician Extinction (pages 220–223)

      P. J. Brenchley

    3. Chapter 2.4.3

      Late Devonian Extinction (pages 223–226)

      G.R. Mcghee

    4. Chapter 2.4.4

      End-Permian Extinction (pages 226–229)

      P.B. Wignall

    5. Chapter 2.4.5

      Impact of K-T Boundary Events on Marine Life (pages 229–231)

      R.D. Norris

    6. Chapter 2.4.6

      Impact of K-T Boundary Events on Terrestrial Life (pages 232–234)

      J.A. Wolfe and D.A. Russell

    7. Chapter 2.4.7

      Pleistocene Extinctions (pages 234–237)

      K. Roy

  11. Part 3.1: Taphonomy - Fossilized Materials

    1. Chapter 3.1.1

      DNA (pages 241–245)

      H.N. Poinar and S. Pääbo

    2. Chapter 3.1.2

      Proteins (pages 245–247)

      M.J. Collins and A.M. Gernaey

    3. Chapter 3.1.3

      Lipids (pages 247–253)

      R.P. Evershed and M.J. Lockheart

    4. Chapter 3.1.4

      Bacteria (pages 253–256)

      K. Liebig

    5. Chapter 3.1.5

      Resistant Plant Tissues-cuticles and Propagules (pages 256–259)

      P.F. Van Bergen

    6. Chapter 3.1.6

      Animal Cuticles (pages 259–261)

      B.A. Stankiewicz and D.E.G. Briggs

    7. Chapter 3.1.7

      Shells (pages 262–264)

      K.H. Meldahl

    8. Chapter 3.1.8

      Bones (pages 264–269)

      C. Denys

  12. Part 3.2: Taphonomy - Fossilization Processes

    1. Chapter 3.2.1

      Decay (pages 270–273)

      P.A. Allison

    2. Chapter 3.2.2

      Bioerosion (pages 273–277)

      E.N. Edinger

    3. Chapter 3.2.3

      Preservation by Fire (pages 277–280)

      A.C. Scott

    4. Chapter 3.2.4

      Role of Microbial Mats (pages 280–284)

      J.-C. Gall

    5. Chapter 3.2.5

      Bioimmuration (pages 285–289)

      P.D. Taylor and J.A. Todd

    6. Chapter 3.2.6

      Transport and Spatial Fidelity (pages 289–292)

      L.C. Anderson

    7. Chapter 3.2.7

      Time-Averaging (pages 292–296)

      K.W. Flessa

  13. Part 3.3: Taphonomy - Preservation in Different Ecological Settings

    1. Chapter 3.3.1

      Major Biases in the Fossil Record (pages 297–303)

      S.M. Kidwell

    2. Chapter 3.3.2

      Benthic Marine Communities (pages 303–307)

      W.D. Allmon

    3. Chapter 3.3.3

      Ancient Reefs (pages 307–309)

      J.M. Pandolfi

    4. Chapter 3.3.4

      Marine Plankton (pages 309–312)

      R.E. Martin

    5. Chapter 3.3.5

      Terrestrial Plants (pages 312–315)

      R.A. Gastaldo

    6. Chapter 3.3.6

      Pollen and Spores (pages 315–318)

      J.M. Van Mourik

    7. Chapter 3.3.7

      Terrestrial Vertebrates (pages 318–321)

      A.K. Behrensmeyer

    8. Chapter 3.3.8

      Sphagnum-Dominated Peat Bogs (pages 321–325)

      T. J. Painter

    9. Chapter 3.3.9

      Archaeological Remains (pages 325–328)

      V. Straker

  14. Part 3.4: Taphonomy - Lagerstätten

    1. Chapter 3.4.1

      Exceptionally Preserved Fossils (pages 328–332)

      D.E.G. Briggs

    2. Chapter 3.4.2

      Precambrian Lagerstätten (pages 332–337)

      A.H. Knoll and Shuhai Xiao

    3. Chapter 3.4.3

      Chengjiang (pages 337–340)

      J. Bergström

    4. Chapter 3.4.4

      The Soom Shale (pages 340–342)

      R.J. Aldridge, S.E. Gabbott and J.N. Theron

    5. Chapter 3.4.5

      The Rhynie Chert (pages 342–346)

      N.H. Trewin

    6. Chapter 3.4.6

      Hunsrück Slate (pages 346–348)

      R. Raiswell, C. Bartels and D.E.G. Briggs

    7. Chapter 3.4.7

      La Voulte-Sur-Rhône (pages 349–351)

      P.R. Wilby

    8. Chapter 3.4.8

      The Santana Formation (pages 351–356)

      D.M. Martill

    9. Chapter 3.4.9

      Las Hoyas (pages 356–359)

      J.L. Sanz, M.A. Fregenal-Martínez, N. Meléndez and F. Ortega

    10. Chapter 3.4.10

      The Princeton Chert (pages 359–362)

      R.A. Stockey

    11. Chapter 3.4.11

      Dominican Amber (pages 362–364)

      G.O. Poinar

  15. Part 4.1: Palaeoecology - Fossils as Living Organisms

    1. Chapter 4.1.1

      Bringing Fossil Organisms to Life (pages 367–375)

      P.W. Skelton

    2. Chapter 4.1.2

      Stromatolites (pages 376–379)

      M.R. Walter

    3. Chapter 4.1.3

      Plant Growth forms and Biomechanics (pages 379–384)

      T. Speck and N.P. Rowe

    4. Chapter 4.1.4

      Sessile Invertebrates (pages 384–386)

      W.I. Ausich and D. J. Bottjer

    5. Chapter 4.1.5

      Trilobites (pages 386–389)

      B.D.E. Chatterton

    6. Chapter 4.1.6

      Trackways-arthropod Locomotion (pages 389–393)

      S.J. Braddy

    7. Chapter 4.1.7

      Durophagy in Marine Organisms (pages 393–397)

      R.B. Aronson

    8. Chapter 4.1.8

      Buoyancy, Hydrodynamics, and Structure in Chambered Cephalopods (pages 397–401)

      D.K. Jacobs

    9. Chapter 4.1.9

      Feeding in Conodonts and other Early Vertebrates (pages 401–404)

      M.A. Purnell

    10. Chapter 4.1.10

      Locomotion in Mesozoic Marine Reptiles (pages 404–407)

      M.A. Taylor

    11. Chapter 4.1.11

      Trackways-dinosaur Locomotion (pages 408–412)

      M.G. Lockley

    12. Chapter 4.1.12

      Dinosaur Ethology (pages 412–414)

      J.R. Horner

    13. Chapter 4.1.13

      Predatory Behaviour in Maniraptoran Theropods (pages 414–417)

      A.D. Gishlick

    14. Chapter 4.1.14

      Pterosaur Locomotion (pages 417–420)

      D.M. Unwin

    15. Chapter 4.1.15

      Predation in Sabre-Tooth Cats (pages 420–423)

      B. Van Valkenburgh

    16. Chapter 4.1.16

      Plant-Animal Interactions: Herbivory (pages 424–426)

      S. Ash

    17. Chapter 4.1.17

      Plant-Animal Interactions: Insect Pollination (pages 426–429)

      W.L. Crepet

    18. Chapter 4.1.18

      Plant-Animal Interactions: Dispersal (pages 429–431)

      J. J. Hooker and M.E. Collinson

  16. Part 4.2: Palaeoecology - Ancient Communities

    1. Chapter 4.2.1

      Ecological Changes through Geological Time (pages 432–437)

      M.L. Droser

    2. Chapter 4.2.2

      Do Communities Evolve? (pages 437–440)

      R.K. Bambach

    3. Chapter 4.2.3

      Palaeobiogeography of Marine Communities (pages 440–444)

      G.R. Shi

    4. Chapter 4.2.4

      Deep-Sea Communities (pages 444–447)

      T. Oji

    5. Chapter 4.2.5

      Ancient Hydrothermal Vent and Cold Seep Faunas (pages 447–451)

      C.T.S. Little

    6. Chapter 4.2.6

      Zooplankton (pages 451–454)

      S. Rigby and C.V. Milsom

    7. Chapter 4.2.7

      Terrestrial Palaeobiogeography (pages 454–459)

      R.S. Hill

    8. Chapter 4.2.8

      Epibionts (pages 460–464)

      H.L. Lescinsky

    9. Chapter 4.2.9

      Fungi in Palaeoecosystems (pages 464–467)

      T.N. Taylor and E.L. Taylor

  17. Part 4.3: Palaeoecology - Fossils as Environmental Indicators

    1. Chapter 4.3.1

      Taphonomic Evidence (pages 467–470)

      M.V.H. Wilson

    2. Chapter 4.3.2

      Oxygen in the Ocean (pages 470–472)

      W. Oschmann

    3. Chapter 4.3.3

      Carbon Isotopes in Plants (pages 473–475)

      D. J. Beerling

    4. Chapter 4.3.4

      Bathymetric Indicators (pages 475–478)

      P. J. Orr

    5. Chapter 4.3.5

      Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide-stomata (pages 479–480)

      J.C. Mcelwain

    6. Chapter 4.3.6

      Climate - Wood and Leaves (pages 480–483)

      D.R. Greenwood

    7. Chapter 4.3.7

      Climate - Modelling using Fossil Plants (pages 483–485)

      G.R. Upchurch

    8. Chapter 4.3.8

      Climate - Quaternary Vegetation (pages 485–486)

      T. Webb

  18. Part 5.1: Systematics, Phylogeny, and Stratigraphy - Morphology and Taxonomy

    1. Chapter 5.1.1

      Quantifying Morphology (pages 489–492)

      R.E. Chapman and D. Rasskin-Gutman

    2. Chapter 5.1.2

      Morphometrics and Intraspecific Variation (pages 492–494)

      N.C. Hughes

    3. Chapter 5.1.3

      Disparity vs. Diversity (pages 495–500)

      M.A. Wills

  19. Part 5.2: Systematics, Phylogeny, and Stratigraphy - Calibrating Diversity

    1. Chapter 5.2.1

      Estimating Completeness of the Fossil Record (pages 500–504)

      M. Foote

    2. Chapter 5.2.2

      Analysis of Diversity (pages 504–509)

      A.B. Smith

  20. Part 5.3: Systematics, Phylogeny, and Stratigraphy - Reconstructing Phylogeny

    1. Chapter 5.3.1

      Phylogenetic Analysis (pages 509–515)

      M. Wilkinson

    2. Chapter 5.3.2

      Fossils in the Reconstruction of Phylogeny (pages 515–519)

      P.L. Forey and R.A. Fortey

    3. Chapter 5.3.3

      Stratigraphic Tests of Cladistic Hypotheses (pages 519–522)

      M.A. Norell

    4. Chapter 5.3.4

      Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis (pages 522–528)

      J.P. Huelsenbeck

    5. Chapter 5.3.5

      Molecules and Morphology in Phylogeny- The Radiation of Rodents (pages 529–531)

      F.M. Catzeflis

    6. Chapter 5.3.6

      Using Molecular Data to Estimate Divergence Times (pages 532–534)

      A. Cooper, N. Grassly and A. Rambaut

  21. Part 5.4: Systematics, Phylogeny, and Stratigraphy - Fossils in Stratigraphy

    1. Chapter 5.4.1

      Stratigraphic Procedure (pages 535–539)

      P.F. Rawson

    2. Chapter 5.4.2

      Calibration of the Fossil Record (pages 539–541)

      S.A. Bowring and M.W. Martin

    3. Chapter 5.4.3

      Confidence Limits in Stratigraphy (pages 542–545)

      C.R. Marshall

    4. Chapter 5.4.4

      High-Resolution Biostratigraphy (pages 545–548)

      J. Backman

    5. Chapter 5.4.5

      Sequence Stratigraphy and Fossils (pages 548–553)

      S. M. Holland

    1. You have free access to this content
      Index (pages 555–583)

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