Historical geology understanding our planet's past

Synopsis

The history of life on Earth is told by its fossils. Fossil records provide valuableinsights into the evolution of the Earth, including the origination and extinction of itsspecies throughout geologic time. One of the most fascinating areas of scientific inquiryis the evolution of life forms. Historical Geology provides up-to-date and expandedcoverage of the metamorphic span of Earth's history as told through its fossils,rocks, and species, from the very origins of the planet to the current Holoceneinterglacial period. An introductory chapter details basic geologic concepts, followed bychapters ;organized according to different geologic time periods ;that chroniclethe emergence of each successive group of plants and animals. As with other books in thisacclaimed series, line drawings and photographs, a thorough glossary, bibliography,tables, and an exhaustive index complement the straightforward text. Chapters include coverage of: The Planet Earth: Origin of Land and Life Archean Algae: The Age of Early Life Proterozoic Metazoans: The Age of Complex Organisms Cambrian Invertebrates: The Age of Shelly Faunas Ordovician Vertebrates: The Age of Spinal Life-Forms Silurian Plants: The Age of Terrestrial Floras Devonian Fish: The Age of Marine Animals Carboniferous Amphibians: The Age of Forest Denizens Permian Reptiles: The Age of Desert Inhabitants Triassic Dinosaurs: The Age of Big Beasts Jurassic Birds: The Age of Flying Creatures Cretaceous Corals: The Age of Tropical Biota Tertiary Mammals: The Age of Advanced Species Quaternary Glaciation: The Age of Modern Life.