This book chronicles the endeavors of 20th-century geologist Henry Shaler Williams to unlock the laws governing association and variation in the fossil record, in order to determine their utility for the critical dating and classification of geological formations. Scientific thought of the time held that each distinct geological formation contained its own unique set of fossils, and that new species appeared abruptly in the fossil record only to vanish and be replaced entirely by a novel group with the advent of the next stratum. Williams, however, found that the compositions of fossil assemblages varied significantly even within small geographic areas, and that some species recurred in widely separated strata. His book presents a compelling case for fossil assemblages as dynamic entities, existing in a state of delicate equilibrium with their surroundings, and constantly shifting and transforming in response to changing environmental conditions over time. This paradigm shift in the field of paleontology opened the door to a more nuanced and chronologically refined understanding of the history of plant and animal life on our planet.
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Seller: Forgotten Books, London, United Kingdom
Paperback. Condition: New. Print on Demand. This book chronicles the endeavors of 20th-century geologist Henry Shaler Williams to unlock the laws governing association and variation in the fossil record, in order to determine their utility for the critical dating and classification of geological formations. Scientific thought of the time held that each distinct geological formation contained its own unique set of fossils, and that new species appeared abruptly in the fossil record only to vanish and be replaced entirely by a novel group with the advent of the next stratum. Williams, however, found that the compositions of fossil assemblages varied significantly even within small geographic areas, and that some species recurred in widely separated strata. His book presents a compelling case for fossil assemblages as dynamic entities, existing in a state of delicate equilibrium with their surroundings, and constantly shifting and transforming in response to changing environmental conditions over time. This paradigm shift in the field of paleontology opened the door to a more nuanced and chronologically refined understanding of the history of plant and animal life on our planet. This book is a reproduction of an important historical work, digitally reconstructed using state-of-the-art technology to preserve the original format. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in the book. print-on-demand item. Seller Inventory # 9780259200468_0
Quantity: Over 20 available
Seller: PBShop.store US, Wood Dale, IL, U.S.A.
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9780259200468
Seller: PBShop.store UK, Fairford, GLOS, United Kingdom
PAP. Condition: New. New Book. Shipped from UK. Established seller since 2000. Seller Inventory # LW-9780259200468
Quantity: 15 available