Mammalian Paleoecology

Using the Past to Study the Present

By: Felisa A. Smith

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Hardcover | 25 November 2021

At a Glance

Hardcover
296 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
25.4 x 17.8 x 2.1

Hardcover

RRP $178.00

$141.90

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What can the interactions of ancient mammals and their environments tell us about the present-and the future?

Classic paleontology has focused on the study of fossils and the reconstruction of lineages of extinct species. But as diverse fossils of animals and plants were unearthed and catalogued, it became possible to reconstruct more elaborate ecosystems, tying together plants, animals, and geology. By the second half of the twentieth century, this effort gave birth to the field of paleoecology: the study of the interactions between organisms and their environments across geologic timescales.

In Mammalian Paleoecology, Felisa Smith broadly considers extinct mammals in an ecological context. Arguing that the past has much to teach us and that mammals, which display an impressive array of diverse life history and ecological characteristics, are the ideal organism through which to view the fossil record, Smith

reviews the history, major fossil-hunting figures, and fundamental principles of paleoecology, including stratigraphy, dating, and taphonomy
discusses the importance of mammal body size, how to estimate size, and what size and shape reveal about long-dead organisms
explains the structure, function, and utility of different types of mammal teeth
highlights other important methods and proxies used in modern paleoecology, including stable isotopes, ancient DNA, and paleomidden analyses
assesses nontraditional fossils
presents readers with several case studies that describe how the fossil record can help inform the scientific discussion on anthropogenic climate change

Mammalian Paleoecology is an approachable overview of how we obtain information from fossils and what this information can tell us about the environments of the distant past. It will profoundly affect the way paleontologists and climatologists view the lives of ancient mammals.

About the Author

Felisa A. Smith (SANTA FE, NM) is a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of New Mexico. She is the coeditor of Animal Body Size: Linking Pattern and Process across Space, Time , and Taxonomic Group and Foundations of Macroecology: Classic Papers with Commentaries.

Industry Reviews

This book is a neatly crafted package that gives the reader all the required background knowledge, while its case studies make for fascinating reading.
-Inquisitive Biologist
This book is highly recommended to people who are interested in paleontology of mammals and how this science can help us to understand us how organisms respond and adapt to environmental changes.
-Suiform Soundings

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