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Morphometrics for Nonmorphometricians
By Ashraf M.T. Elewa. 2010
Morphometrics is concerned with the study of variations and change in the form (size and shape) of organisms or objects…
adding a quantitative element to descriptions and thereby facilitating the comparison of different objects and organisms. This volume provides an introduction to morphometrics in a clear and simple way without recourse to complex mathematics and statistics. This introduction is followed by a series of case studies describing the variety of applications of morphometrics from paleontology and evolutionary ecology to archaeological artifacts analysis. This is followed by a presentation of future applications of morphometrics and state of the art software for analyzing and comparing shape.Evolution: What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters
By Donald R. Prothero. 2007
Over the past twenty years, paleontologists have made tremendous fossil discoveries, including fossils that mark the growth of whales, manatees,…
and seals from land mammals and the origins of elephants, horses, and rhinos. Today there exists an amazing diversity of fossil humans, suggesting we walked upright long before we acquired large brains, and new evidence from molecules that enable scientists to decipher the tree of life as never before. The fossil record is now one of the strongest lines of evidence for evolution. In this engaging and richly illustrated book, Donald R. Prothero weaves an entertaining though intellectually rigorous history out of the transitional forms and series that dot the fossil record. Beginning with a brief discussion of the nature of science and the "monkey business of creationism," Prothero tackles subjects ranging from flood geology and rock dating to neo-Darwinism and macroevolution. He covers the ingredients of the primordial soup, the effects of communal living, invertebrate transitions, the development of the backbone, the reign of the dinosaurs, the mammalian explosion, and the leap from chimpanzee to human. Prothero pays particular attention to the recent discovery of "missing links" that complete the fossil timeline and details the debate between biologists over the mechanisms driving the evolutionary process. Evolution is an absorbing combination of firsthand observation, scientific discovery, and trenchant analysis. With the teaching of evolution still an issue, there couldn't be a better moment for a book clarifying the nature and value of fossil evidence. Widely recognized as a leading expert in his field, Prothero demonstrates that the transformation of life on this planet is far more awe inspiring than the narrow view of extremists.Plants Invade the Land: Evolutionary and Environmental Perspectives
By Dianne Edwards, Patricia G. Gensel. 2001
What do we now know about the origins of plants on land, from an evolutionary and an environmental perspective? The…
essays in this collection present a synthesis of our present state of knowledge, integrating current information in paleobotany with physical, chemical, and geological data.The Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event
By Florentin Paris, Mary L. Droser, Ian G. Percival, Barry D. Webby. 2004
Two of the greatest evolutionary events in the history of life on Earth occurred during Early Paleozoic time. The first…
was the Cambrian explosion of skeletonized marine animals about 540 million years ago. The second was the "Great Ordovician Biodiversification Event," which is the focus of this book. This is the first book devoted specifically to establishing the global patterns of differentiation of Ordovician biotas through time and space. It provides extensive genus- and species-level diversity data for the many Ordovician fossil groups and presents an evaluation of how each group diversified, with assessments of patterns of change, and rates of origination and extinction."T. rex" and the Crater of Doom
By Carl Zimmer, Walter Alvarez. 1997
Sixty-five million years ago, a comet or asteroid larger than Mt. Everest slammed into the Earth, causing an explosion equivalent…
to the detonation of a hundred million hydrogen bombs. Vaporized impactor and debris from the impact site were blasted out through the atmosphere, falling back to Earth all around the globe. Terrible environmental disasters ensued, including a giant tsunami, continent-scale wildfires, darkness, and cold, followed by sweltering greenhouse heat. When conditions returned to normal, half the genera of plants and animals on Earth had perished.This horrific story is now widely accepted as the solution to a great scientific murder mystery what caused the extinction of the dinosaurs? In T. rex and the Crater of Doom, the story of the scientific detective work that went into solving the mystery is told by geologist Walter Alvarez, one of the four Berkeley scientists who discovered the first evidence for the giant impact. It is a saga of high adventure in remote parts of the world, of patient data collection, of lonely intellectual struggle, of long periods of frustration ended by sudden breakthroughs, of intense public debate, of friendships made or lost, of the exhilaration of discovery, and of delight as a fascinating story unfolded.Controversial and widely attacked during the 1980s, the impact theory received confirmation from the discovery of the giant impact crater it predicted, buried deep beneath younger strata at the north coast of the Yucatán Peninsula. The Chicxulub Crater was found by Mexican geologists in 1950 but remained almost unknown to scientists elsewhere until 1991, when it was recognized as the largest impact crater on this planet, dating precisely from the time of the great extinction sixty-five million years ago. Geology and paleontology, sciences that long held that all changes in Earth history have been calm and gradual, have now been forced to recognize the critical role played by rare but devastating catastrophes like the impact that killed the dinosaurs.Paleogene Fossil Birds
By Gerald Mayr. 2009
The present book is the first detailed review of the Paleogene avian fossil record on a worldwide scale. Numerous well-preserved…
fossil bird remains from this geological period, which covers the time span from the end of the Mesozoic era to the beginning of the Miocene, have been described in the past two decades. Some of these not only provide information on morphological transformations in the evolutionary history of the extant avian taxa, but are also of great significance for an understanding of their historical biogeography. Others represent extinct taxa which sometimes show a bizarre morphology not found in modern birds, such as the giant pseudo-toothed birds which reached wingspans up to six meters. The reader is introduced to basic morphological features of the various groups which, as far as possible, are placed into a phylogenetic context in the light of current hypotheses on the interrelationships of extant birds. In a concluding chapter the biogeographical significance of Paleogene fossil birds and possible reasons for faunal changes during the Paleogene are detailed. As such, the book not only aims at providing an overview for specialists, but may also help students of other fields of vertebrate paleontology to better understand Paleogene ecosystems.Angela's ashes: a memoir of a childhood
By Frank McCourt. 1996
In this memoir Frank McCourt tells of his first eighteen years growing up in New York in the 1930s and…
Ireland in the 1940s. It is story of hunger, poverty and social deprivation - too many children, too little money, his mother barely coping as his father's drinking bouts brought the family close to disaster. But it is also about the celebration of the human spirit, laughter and human kindness. 1996.Mordecai: the life & times
By Charles Foran. 2010
Mordecai Richler won multiple awards for adult and children's fiction, and wrote Oscar-nominated screenplays. His influence was larger than life…
in Canada and abroad. Foran describes Mordecai's life as young bohemian, irreverent writer, passionate and controversial Canadian, loyal friend, romantic lover, and devoted husband and father. Some descriptions of sex, some strong language. Canada Reads 2012. Winner of the 2011 Governor General's Award for Non-Fiction. 2010.As oil prices soar and suburbs continue to sprawl, Grescoe hits the commuter road in a global quest to understand…
and illuminate the challenges of the post-automobile age. Ultimately, Straphanger’s subject is the city, and it offers a global tour of alternatives to car-based living, told through encounters with bicycle commuters, subway engineers, idealistic mayors and disillusioned trolley campaigners. Along the way, Grescoe meets libertarian apologists for the automobile, urbanists who defend suburban sprawl, champions of buses, rapid transit and light rail, and planners fighting to liberate cities from the empire of the automobile. Winner of the Quebec Writer's Federation Prize, 2012. Includes violence and strong language. 2012.Eating dirt: deep forests, big timber, and life with the tree-planting tribe
By Charlotte Gill. 2011
Gill spent twenty years working as a tree planter in the forests of Canada, where she encountered hundreds of clearcuts,…
each one a collision site between human civilization and the natural world. She questions the ability of conifer plantations to replace original forests that evolved over millennia into complex ecosystems, looks at logging's environmental impact and its boom-and-bust history, and touches on the versatility of wood, from which we have devised countless creations as diverse as textiles and airplane parts. 2011.Kate & Pippin: an unlikely love story
By Martin Springett, Isobel Springett. 2012
When Pippin, a helpless baby fawn, was abandoned by her mother on the property of Isobel Springett, Isobel brought her…
home. Isobel’s Great Dane, Kate, who had never had puppies of her own, adopted Pippin immediately. Kate raises Pippin to become an independent wild deer, but one who always returns to visit her best friend. Winner of the 2013 Blue Spruce Award. Grades K-3. 2012.Ankylosaur attack (Tales of prehistoric life)
By Valerie Wyatt, Daniel Loxton, Jim W. W Smith. 2011
What did dinosaurs look like in their natural environment? Find out in this story of a young ankylosaur (a plant-eating,…
heavy-plated dinosaur) living along the banks of a grassy lake. When he encounters an old ankylosaur, he tries to make contact, only to be rebuffed. Then a T. rex attacks, and the youngster knows the old dinosaur is in grave danger. Can he come to the rescue in time? Grades K-3. 2011. (Tales of prehistoric life)No shelter here: making the world a kinder place for dogs
By Rob Laidlaw. 2011
Dogs have been loyal to humankind for thousands of years, but today, millions of dogs are neglected and malnourished, and…
millions of other dogs are used in scientific research and for entertainment, and kept as pets in a remarkable diversity of conditions. Laidlaw explores the world of homeless, mistreated, and exploited dogs, and the challenges they face, but he also focuses on the people he calls "dog champions" – people around the world who dedicate their lives to helping dogs. Some descriptions of violence. Grades 3-6. Winner of the 2013 Silver Birch Non-Fiction Award. Winner of the 2013-14 Hackmatack Award for non-fiction. 2011.Nation maker: Sir John A. Macdonald : his life, our times, volume two : 1867-1891
By Richard Gwyn. 2011
From Confederation Day in 1867, John A. Macdonald finessed a reluctant union of four provinces in central and eastern Canada…
into a strong nation, despite indifference from Britain and annexationist sentiment in the United States. Macdonald faced constant crises, from Louis Riel's two rebellions through to the Pacific Scandal that almost undid his government. Gwyn paints a portrait of Canada and its leaders through these formative years and also shows us Macdonald the man, as he wrestles with whether Riel should hang, marries for the second time, deals with the birth of a disabled child, and the assassination of his close friend Darcy McGee. Some descriptions of violence. Sequel to “John A: the man who made us : the life and times of John A. Macdonald” (DC31710). Winner of the 2011 Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing. c2011.The Vegetation of Antarctica through Geological Time
By David J. Cantrill, Imogen Poole. 2012
The fossil history of plant life in Antarctica is central to our understanding of the evolution of vegetation through geological…
time and also plays a key role in reconstructing past configurations of the continents and associated climatic conditions. This book provides the only detailed overview of the development of Antarctic vegetation from the Devonian period to the present day, presenting Earth scientists with valuable insights into the break up of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Details of specific floras and ecosystems are provided within the context of changing geological, geographical and environmental conditions, alongside comparisons with contemporaneous and modern ecosystems. The authors demonstrate how palaeobotany contributes to our understanding of the palaeoenvironmental changes in the southern hemisphere during this period of Earth history. The book is a complete and up-to-date reference for researchers and students in Antarctic palaeobotany and terrestrial palaeoecology.From Clone to Bone
By Robert J. Asher, Johannes Müller. 2012
Since the 1980s, a renewed understanding of molecular development has afforded an unprecedented level of knowledge of the mechanisms by…
which phenotype in animals and plants has evolved. In this volume, top scientists in these fields provide perspectives on how molecular data in biology help to elucidate key questions in estimating paleontological divergence and in understanding the mechanisms behind phenotypic evolution. Paleobiological questions such as genome size, digit homologies, genetic control cascades behind phenotype, estimates of vertebrate divergence dates, and rates of morphological evolution are addressed, with a special emphasis on how molecular biology can inform paleontology, directly and indirectly, to better understand life's past. Highlighting a significant shift towards interdisciplinary collaboration, this is a valuable resource for students and researchers interested in the integration of organismal and molecular biology.Applications of Palaeontology
By Robert Wynn Jones. 2011
Palaeontology, the scientific study of fossils, has developed from a descriptive science to an analytical science used to interpret relationships…
between earth and life history. This book provides a comprehensive and thematic treatment of applied palaeontology, covering the use of fossils in the ordering of rocks in time and in space, in biostratigraphy, palaeobiology and sequence stratigraphy. Robert Wynn Jones presents a practical workflow for applied palaeontology, including sample acquisition, preparation and analysis, and interpretation and integration. He then presents numerous case studies that demonstrate the applicability and value of the subject to areas such as petroleum, mineral and coal exploration and exploitation, engineering geology and environmental science. Specialist applications outside of the geosciences (including archaeology, forensic science, medical palynology, entomopalynology and melissopalynology) are also addressed. Abundantly illustrated and referenced, Applications of Palaeontology provides a user-friendly reference for academic researchers and professionals across a range of disciplines and industry settings.Early Miocene Paleobiology in Patagonia
By Sergio F. Vizcaíno, Richard F. Kay, M. Susana Bargo. 2012
Coastal exposures of the Santa Cruz Formation in southern Patagonia have been a fertile ground for recovery of Early Miocene…
vertebrates for more than 100 years. This volume presents a comprehensive compilation of important mammalian groups which continue to thrive today. It includes the most recent fossil finds as well as important new interpretations based on 10 years of fieldwork by the authors. A key focus is placed on the paleoclimate and paleoenvironment during the time of deposition in the Middle Miocene Climatic Optimum (MMCO) between 20 and 15 million years ago. The authors present the first reconstruction of what climatic conditions were like and present important new evidence of the geochronological age, habits and community structures of fossil bird and mammal species. Academic researchers and graduate students in paleontology, paleobiology, paleoecology, stratigraphy, climatology and geochronology will find this a valuable source of information about this fascinating geological formation.Paleontology
By Derek Turner. 2011
In the wake of the paleobiological revolution of the 1970s and 1980s, paleontologists continue to investigate far-reaching questions about how…
evolution works. Many of those questions have a philosophical dimension. How is macroevolution related to evolutionary changes within populations? Is evolutionary history contingent? How much can we know about the causes of evolutionary trends? How do paleontologists read the patterns in the fossil record to learn about the underlying evolutionary processes? Derek Turner explores these and other questions, introducing the reader to exciting recent work in the philosophy of paleontology and to theoretical issues including punctuated equilibria and species selection. He also critically examines some of the major accomplishments and arguments of paleontologists of the last 40 years.Human Adaptation in the Asian Palaeolithic
By Ryan J. Rabett. 2007
This book examines the first human colonization of Asia and particularly the tropical environments of Southeast Asia during the Upper…
Pleistocene. In studying the unique character of the Asian archaeological record, it reassesses long-accepted propositions about the development of human 'modernity. ' Ryan J. Rabett reveals an evolutionary relationship between colonization, the challenges encountered during this process - especially in relation to climatic and environmental change - and the forms of behaviour that emerged. This book argues that human modernity is not something achieved in the remote past in one part of the world, but rather is a diverse, flexible, responsive, and ongoing process of adaptation.