Exceptional Fossil Preservation : A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life

Edited by Bottjer, David J.; Edited by Etter, Walter; Edited by Hagadorn, James W.; Edited by Tang, Carol M.

Most nonscientists are usually aware of fossils, and it is commonly believed that they are extremely rare. In fact, fossils are exceptionally common in many sedimentary rocks and are used extensively in geology for age dating, interpretation of ancient environments, and the discovery of natural resources. However, there is another type of fossil deposit that is truly rare. These rare fossil deposits, called Lagerstatten, preserve the remains of the soft tissues or the articulated skeletal remains of ancient creatures in truly astonishing fine detail. Some of these deposits are world-famous, such as the Burgess Shale, or Solnhofen but there are others dating from many different geological eras from the Paleozoic, up to the Eocene. Recently, a concerted effort has been made to understand the overall significance of these rare fossil deposits. Whereas in the past these deposits were considered novelties, modern researchers are trying to understand what they can tell us about ancient life and environments. New sophisticated techniques (including image and geochemical analyses) are providing enormous new contributions to our knowledge of Lagerstatten sites and to paleobiology in general. This volume describes many of the most famous Lagerstatten locations worldwide and is complete with over 70 superb halftones showing some of these exotic fossils in all their glory. Paleontologists are beginning to understand why such deposits occur, how they have varied since the advent of marine metazoan life, and how their presence effects our understanding of the evolution of life in the Earth's oceans. In this way, the study of Lagerstatten continues to move towards the mainstream of paleobiological, biological, and geological research, and away from its former status as the examination of mere curiosities. All those interested in these beautiful and sometimes enigmatic deposits will want to own this book.

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[目次]

  • Foreword, by Alfred G. FischerFossil-Lagerstatten: Jewels of the Fossil Record, by David Je. Bottjer, Walter Etter, James W. Hagadorn, and Carol M. TangEnigmatic Ediacara Fossils: Ancestors or Aliens?, by David J. BottjerChengjiang: Early Record of the Cambrian Explosion, by James W. HagadornThe Burgess Shale: Cambrian Explosion in Full Bloom, by James W. HagadornBurgess Shale-Type Localities: The Global Picture, by James W. HagadornOrsten Deposits from Sweden: Miniature Late Cambrian Arthropods, by Carol M. TangBeecher's Trilobite Bed: Ordovician Pyritization for the Other Half of the Trilobite, by Walter EtterThe Hunsruck Slate: Widespread Pyritization of a Devonian Fauna, by Walter EtterBear Gulch: An Exceptional Upper Carboniferous Plattenkalk, by James W. HagadornMazon Creek: Preservation in Late Paleozoic Deltaic Environments, by Stephen A. SchellenbergGres a Voltzia: Preservation in Early Mesozoic Deltaic and Marginal Marine Environments, by Walter EtterMonte San Giorgio: Remarkable Triassic Marine Vertebrates, by Walter EtterBerlin-Ichthyosaur: Preserving Some of the Earth's Largest Marine Vertebrates, by David J. BottjerOsteno: Jurassic Preservation to the Cellular Level, by Carol M. TangPosidonia Shale: Germany's Jurassic Marine Park, by Walter Etter and Carol M. TangLa Voulte-Sur-Rhone: Exquisite Cephalopod Preservation, by Walter EtterOxford Clay: England's Jurassic Marine Park, by Carol M. TangSolnhofen: Plattenkalk Preservation with Archaeopteryx, by Walter EtterSmoky Hill Chalk: Spectacular Cretaceous Marine Fauna, by David J. BottjerMonte Bolca: An Eocene Fishbowl, by Carol M. TangIndex

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この本の情報

書名 Exceptional Fossil Preservation : A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life
著作者等 Etter, Walter
Hagadorn, James W.
Tang, Carol M.
Bottjer, David J.
書名別名 A Unique View on the Evolution of Marine Life
シリーズ名 The Critical Moments and Perspectives in Earth History and Paleobiology
出版元 Columbia University Press
刊行年月 2002.08.06
ページ数 424p
大きさ H254 x W178
ISBN 9780231102544
言語 英語
出版国 アメリカ合衆国
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