Events of Increased Biodiversity
Evolutionary Radiations in the Fossil Record
- 1st Edition - May 6, 2015
- Latest edition
- Author: Pascal Neige
- Language: English
The fossil record offers a surprising image: that of evolutionary radiations characterized by intense increases in cash or by the sudden diversification of a single species gr… Read more
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Description
Description
The fossil record offers a surprising image: that of evolutionary radiations characterized by intense increases in cash or by the sudden diversification of a single species group, while others stagnate or die out. In a modern world, science carries an often pessimistic message, surrounded by studies of global warming and its effects, extinction crisis, emerging diseases and invasive species. This book fuels frequent "optimism" of the sudden increase in biodiversity by exploring this natural phenomenon.Events of Increased Biodiversity: Evolutionary Radiations in the Fossil Record explores this natural phenomenon of adaptive radiation including its effect on the increase in biodiversity events, their contribution to the changes and limitations in the fossil record, and examines the links between ecology and paleontology’s study of radiation.
Key features
Key features
- Details examples of evolutionary radiations
- Explicitly addresses the effect of adaptation driven by ecological opportunity
- Examines the link between ecology and paleontology’s study of adaptive radiation
Readership
Readership
Table of contents
Table of contents
1. A Singular Work of Theater
- Abstract
- 1.1 A unique history
- 1.2 A story filled with catastrophes and recoveries
- 1.3 Evolutionary radiations: major phenomena in the history of biodiversity
2. The Fossil Record
- Abstract
- 2.1 A treasure trove of fossils
- 2.2 From organisms to fossils, and from biocenoses to taphocenoses
- 2.3 Can the fossil record reveal relevant information?
- 2.4 Construction and examples of paleontological databases
- 2.5 Yes, the fossil record can be used to study the history of biodiversity
3. The Phenomenon of Evolutionary Radiation
- Abstract
- 3.1 What is an evolutionary radiation?
- 3.2 The different categories of evolutionary radiations, and their causes
4. Examples of Evolutionary Radiations
- Abstract
- 4.1 A paleontological bestseller: the Cambrian explosion
- 4.2 Cascaded radiations: the case of ammonites
- 4.3 Floral success: the emergence and radiation of flowering plants
- 4.4 Not-so-round sea urchins!
Review quotes
Review quotes
"Although the most cited examples of adaptive radiation today tend to be neontological (e.g., Darwin’s finches, cichlid fishes, anole lizards), it is only fitting to return to the fossil record today for new examples and insights, as invertebrate paleontologist Pascal Neige has done here."—The Quarterly Review of Biology
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 1
- Latest edition
- Published: May 6, 2015
- Language: English
About the author
About the author
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