Fossils and Life Evolution
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2018
Pages: 224
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2018
Pages: 224
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Fossils and Life Evolution is a textbook addressed to the non-major undergraduate students that make the first steps in the study of life evolution as inferred from the fossil record.
The first four chapters include a presentation of the scientific nature of fossils, major fossil groups and a brief history on how the fossilized organisms were interpreted in the past. There are presented data about fossil classification and stratigraphical ranges in the context of the geological time scale. A distinct chapter deals with different aspect related to the Theory of Evolution and how paleontological data contribute to its study; in addition, there are presented ideas on how the Theory of Evolution can be integrated in fossil classification.
Emergence of life on Earth from inorganic substances and its earlier evolution are two of the main topics. In this context there are presented major events in life history, such as evolution of stromatolites that completely changed the atmosphere’s character, evolution of eukaryotic organisms and sexual reproduction mechanism, evolution of algal and animal multicellularity, and life diversification that resulted in the evolution of modern phyla. The last three chapters present the evolution of the major groups of fossils, separated as invertebrates, vertebrates and plants.
The textbook data are supported by exquisite color photographs and diagrams, which help filling the gap between practical and theoretical knowledge that is so important for the non-major undergraduates.
Chapter 1 Fossils, Rocks and Geological Time
1.1 Fossils and Their Main Classifi cations
1.2 Pre-Scientifi c Fossils and Beginnings of Paleontology
1.3 Redescovery of Fossils in the Renaissance Times
1.4 Paleontology and Its Subdisciplines
1.5 Where Fossils Can Be Found: Rocks, Sediments, Soils, and Organic Substances
1.6 Process of Fossilization
1.7 Taphonomy and Its Role in Interpreting the Fossil Record
1.8 Exceptional Fossil Preservation
1.9 Geological Time
1.10 Living World Hierarchy and Elements of Nomenclature
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 2 Main Groups of Fossils
2.1 Prokaryotes
2.2 Algae (Plant-Like Protistans)
2.3 Plants
2.4 Protozoans (Animal-Like Protistans)
2.5 Sponges
2.6 Cnidarians
2.7 Lophophorates
2.8 Worms and Worm-Like Organisms
2.9 Molluscs
2.10 Arthropods
2.11 Echinoderms
2.12 Graptolites
2.13 Cephalochordates and Allied Groups
2.14 Vertebrates
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 3 Fossils and Their Applications
3.1 Biostratigraphy
3.2 Paleobiogeography
3.3 Paleoecology and Paleoenvironment Reconstructions
3.4 Fossil Record Applications in the Theory of Evolution Study
3.5 Fossil Uses in Economy
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 4 Fossil Record and Life Evolution
4.1 From Biological Population to Paleontological Assemblage
4.2 Intraspecific Morphologic Variability
4.3 Types of Specimens in Paleontology
4.4 Species in Paleontology
4.5 Speciation, Species Evolution, and Extinction
4.6 Principles and Methods of Species Classification
4.7 Macroevolution
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 5 Life Emergence and Early Evolution
5.1 Living Matter Composition
5.2 Monomers and Polymers
5.3 Datasets in Deciphering Life Emergence and Its Early Evolution
5.4 Early Earth Events
5.5 Bacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Stromatolites
5.6 Banded Iron Formations
5.7 Evolution of Eukaryotic Cells
5.8 Emergence and Early Evolution of Multicellular Organisms
5.9 Evolution Evolves
5.10 Evolution of Burrowers and Earliest Shelly Fauna
5.11 Fossils of Burgess Shale
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 6 Invertebrate Evolution
6.1 Poriferans
6.2 Cnidarians
6.3 Bryozoans
6.4 Brachiopods
6.5 Monoplacophorans, Polyplacophorans, and Scaphopods
6.6 Gastropods
6.7 Bivalves
6.8 Nautiloid Cephalopods and Closely Related Major Groups
6.9 Ammonoid Cephalopods
6.10 Coleoid Cephalopods
6.11 Trilobites
6.12 Crustaceans and Chelicerates
6.13 Echinoderms
6.14 Graptolites
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 7 Chordate and Vertebrate Evolution
7.1 Chordates
7.2 Agnathan Vertebrates
7.3 Acanthodii, the First Gnathostomes
7.4 Placodermi
7.5 Chondrichthyes
7.6 Osteichthyes
7.7 Amphibians
7.8 Early Reptiles (Carboniferous-Triassic)
7.9 Mesozoic Aquatic Reptiles
7.10 Mesozoic Flying Reptiles
7.11 Dinosaurs
7.12 Birds
7.13 Mammals
Chapter Conclusions
Chapter 8 Plant Evolution
8.1 Colonization of Terrestrial Environments
8.2 Rhyniophytes
8.3 Lycophytes, Sphenophytes, and Pteridophytes
8.4 Spermatophytes
Chapter Conclusions
References
Index of Generic Names