Mass Extinctions and Their Aftermath

by A. Hallam, P. B. Wignall

Overview

Why do mass extinctions occur? The demise of the dinosaurs has been discussed exhaustively, but has never been out into the context of other extinction events. This is the first systematic review of the mass extinctions of all organisms, plant and animal, terrestrial and marine, that have occurred in the history of life. This includes the major crisis 250 million years ago which nearly wiped out all life on Earth. By examining current paleontological, geological, and sedimentological evidence of environmental changes, the cases for explanations based on climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions are all critically evaluated.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780191078200
Publisher:	OUP Oxford
Publication date:	09/11/1997
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

University of Birmingham

University of Leeds

Table of Contents

1. The Study of Mass Extinctions2. Extinctions in the Early History of Metazoa3. Latest Ordovician Extinctions: One Disaster After Another4. Crises of the Late Devonian: the Kellwasser and Hangenberg Events5. Palaeozoic Nemesis6. Extinctions Within and at the Close of the Triassic7. Minor Extinctions of the Jurassic8. Minor Mass Extinctions of the Marine Cretaceous9. Death at the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary10. Cenozoic Extinctions11. The Causes of Mass Extinctions

Editorial Reviews

Complements the many popular and often sensational accounts, multi-author volumes, and studies on a particular mass extinction with a focuses scientific investigation of all the known mass extinctions with sufficient technical detail to excite geologists and paleontologists. Discusses the Big Five, one late in each of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and the famous Cretaceous that saw the end of the Dinosaurs; and minor mass extinctions from the early Cambrian the Cenozoic. Also examines the current paleontological, geological, and sedimentological evidence of environmental change; and sets out the cases for causes by climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

"It was great to see at last a volume that beautifully summarized the metrics of mass extinction, the causes of extinction, and described the events in both paleontological and geological detail. Those interested in learning about the Cenomanian-Turonian extinction, for example, will be treated to descriptions of the players, the important geological sections from which evidence has been produced, and front-running hypotheses to explain the extinction. The volume is replete with excellent illustrations, good writing, and sufficient but not stifling attention to detail. Hallam and Wignall are to be commended for a fine volume that expresses opinions, but is fair-minded enough to represent a range of viewpoints successfully. The major mass extinctions are each given a chapter, with discussions of the biotic changes, sedimentary regimes, isotopic evidence, and biogeography. . . . This book is a must for the bookshelf of every paleontologist and neontologist."—The Quarterly Review of Biology

"Complements the many popular and often sensational accounts, multi-author volumes, and studies on a particular mass extinction with a focuses scientific investigation of all the known mass extinctions with sufficient technical detail to excite geologists and paleontologists. Discusses the Big Five, one late in each of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and the famous Cretaceous that saw the end of the Dinosaurs; and minor mass extinctions from the early Cambrian the Cenozoic. Also examines the current paleontological, geological, and sedimentological evidence of environmental change; and sets out the cases for causes by climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions."—SciTech Book News

From the Publisher