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Numerical palaeobiology : computer-based modelling and analysis of fossils and their distributions / [edited by] David A.T. Harper.

Contributor(s): Material type: TextTextPublication details: Chichester : John Wiley, ©1999.Description: x, 468 pages : illustrations, maps ; 24 cmISBN:
  • 9780471974055
Subject(s): DDC classification:
  • 560.285 23 H293
Contents:
1. Quantitative and morphometric methods in taxonomy / David A.T. Harper and Alan W. Owen -- 2. Phylogenetic systematics and palaeontology / Sandra J. Carlson -- 3. Computer-based serial section reconstruction / Malcolm Herbert -- 4. Statistical and imaging methods applied to deformed fossils / Nigel C. Hughes -- 5. Computer models of fossil morphology / Andrew R.H. Swan -- 6. Quantitative biostratigraphy / Howard A. Armstrong -- 7. The quantitative description of biotic change using palaeontological databases / Kenneth G. Johnson and Tim McCormick -- 8. The history of life : large databases in palaeontology / Michael J. Benton -- 9. Community analysis / Walter Etter -- 10. Multivariate techniques in palynofacies analysis / Jim Smith -- 11. Quantitative approaches to the resolution of taxonomic problems in invertebrate ichnology / Patrick J. Orr -- 12. A New approach to seriation / Paul D. Ryan, Mark D.C. Ryan and David A.T. Harper.
Summary: This book, aimed at final year undergraduates, graduate students and professional palaeontologists, biologists and geologists, brings together the many strands of contemporary palaeontology through the medium of numeracy. It provides a comprehensive review, with applications, of the many computer based techniques available for the analysis and modelling of palaeontological data. The first part of the book covers classical phenetic taxonomy through cladistics and the computer–generated reconstructions of fossils to actual models for fossil growth. This leads onto distribution analysis and modelling of fossils in time and space. Detailed stratigraphical distributions of fossils are described in quantitative terms together with the larger–scale patterns in the history of life itself, while palaeoecology, palynofacies, trace fossils and palaeogeography are all introduced through a spectrum of numerical algorithms. The majority of the studies are linked to specific software packages and many are illustrated with case histories.
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Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

1. Quantitative and morphometric methods in taxonomy / David A.T. Harper and Alan W. Owen --
2. Phylogenetic systematics and palaeontology / Sandra J. Carlson --
3. Computer-based serial section reconstruction / Malcolm Herbert --
4. Statistical and imaging methods applied to deformed fossils / Nigel C. Hughes --
5. Computer models of fossil morphology / Andrew R.H. Swan --
6. Quantitative biostratigraphy / Howard A. Armstrong --
7. The quantitative description of biotic change using palaeontological databases / Kenneth G. Johnson and Tim McCormick --
8. The history of life : large databases in palaeontology / Michael J. Benton --
9. Community analysis / Walter Etter --
10. Multivariate techniques in palynofacies analysis / Jim Smith --
11. Quantitative approaches to the resolution of taxonomic problems in invertebrate ichnology / Patrick J. Orr --
12. A New approach to seriation / Paul D. Ryan, Mark D.C. Ryan and David A.T. Harper.

This book, aimed at final year undergraduates, graduate students and professional palaeontologists, biologists and geologists, brings together the many strands of contemporary palaeontology through the medium of numeracy. It provides a comprehensive review, with applications, of the many computer based techniques available for the analysis and modelling of palaeontological data. The first part of the book covers classical phenetic taxonomy through cladistics and the computer–generated reconstructions of fossils to actual models for fossil growth. This leads onto distribution analysis and modelling of fossils in time and space. Detailed stratigraphical distributions of fossils are described in quantitative terms together with the larger–scale patterns in the history of life itself, while palaeoecology, palynofacies, trace fossils and palaeogeography are all introduced through a spectrum of numerical algorithms. The majority of the studies are linked to specific software packages and many are illustrated with case histories.

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