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Prehistoric life is the archive of evolution preserved in the fossil record. This book focuses on the meaning and significance of that archive and is designed for introductory college science students, including non-science majors, enrolled in survey courses emphasizing paleontology, geology and biology.From the origins of animals to the evolution of rap music, from ancient mass extinctions to the current biodiversity crisis, and from the Snowball Earth to present day climate change this book covers it, with an eye towards showing how past life on Earth puts the modern world into its proper context. The history of life and the patterns and processes of evolution are especially emphasized, as are the interconnections between our planet, its climate system, and its varied life forms. The book does not just describe the history of life, but uses actual examples from life’s history to illustrate important concepts and theories.
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Prehistoric Life
Dedication (from BSL) To my parents, Burt Lieberman and Mimi Smith, and my professors, Niles Eldredge and Stephen Jay Gould (in memoriam).
Prehistoric Life Evolution and the Fossil Record
Bruce S. Lieberman and Roger Kaesler
A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., Publication
This edition first published 2010, © 2010 by Bruce S. Lieberman and Roger Kaesler Blackwell Publishing was acquired by John Wiley & Sons in February 2007. Blackwell’s publishing program has been merged with Wiley’s global Scientific, Technical and Medical business to form Wiley-Blackwell. Registered office: John Wiley & Sons Ltd, The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK Editorial offices: 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford, OX4 2DQ, UK The Atrium, Southern Gate, Chichester, West Sussex, PO19 8SQ, UK 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774, USA For details of our global editorial offices, for customer services and for information about how to apply for permission to reuse the copyright material in this book please see our website at www.wiley.com/wiley-blackwell The right of the author to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. Wiley also publishes its books in a variety of electronic formats. Some content that appears in print may not be available in electronic books. Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publisher is not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering professional services. If professional advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data Lieberman, Bruce S. Prehistoric life : evolution and the fossil record / Bruce S. Lieberman and Roger Kaesler. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-4443-3408-1 (hardcover)—ISBN 978-0-632-04472-6 (pbk.) 1. Evolutionary paleobiology. 2. Animals, Fossil. 3. Evolution (Biology) 4. Life—Origin. I. Kaesler, Roger L. II. Title. QE721.2.E85L54 2010 560—dc22 2009038741 ISBN: 9780632044726 (paperback) and 9781444334081 (hardback) A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.