Experimental Approaches to Understanding Fossil Organisms : Lessons from the Living

Paleontologists and geologists struggle with research questions often complicated by the loss or even absence of key paleobiological and paleoenvironmental information. Insight into this missing data can be gained through direct exploration of analogous living organisms and modern environments. Creative, experimental and interdisciplinary treatments of such ancient-Earth analogs form the basis of Lessons from the Living. This volume unites a diverse range of expert paleontologists, neontologists and geologists presenting case studies that cover a spectrum of topics, including functional morphology, taphonomy, environments and organism-substrate interactions.

Daniel I. Hembree, Associate Professor, Department of Geological Sciences, Ohio University; PhD University of Kansas 2005.

Brian F. Platt, Assistant Professor, Department of Geology and Geological Engineering, University of Mississippi; PhD University of Kansas 2012.

Jon J. Smith, Assistant Scientist, Stratigraphic Research Group, Kansas Geological Survey; PhD University of Kansas 2007.