Extinction (Scientific American Library, Number 20)

Description: Well illustrated in black and white and color. ''Since the rise of life on earth, a handful of mysterious cataclysms has swept our planet -- geographically brief outbreaks of mass extinction that have eliminated thousands upon thousands of species. Distinguished paleobiologist Steven M Stanley presents an authoritative analysis of these dramatic global disasters, investigating what the rich storehouse of rock and fossil clues can tell us about their origins, progress, and implications. Stanley lucidly describes the common traits of mass extinctions -- their rapid course, worldwide reach, major effect on tropical life, and possible regularity -- and explains how they differ from the background extinctions that are a continuous force in nature. Relating the findings of plate tectonics to the immense scale of mass extinction, he evaluates the evidence that continental drift has triggered lethal changes in ocean circulation, sea levels, and climatic patterns. Moreover he examines the hypotheses that meteors, comets, or other extraterrestrial objects might have served as agents of catastrophe.'' This is the twentieth volume in the Scientific American Library series. BINDING/CONDITION: tan cloth; owner's name stamp in three places (top and bottom edges of the text block and the front endpaper), otherwise a Near Fine book, with a Near Fine dust jacket. references, index. Beige endpapers. 9.5 inches tall by 8.75 wide. 242 pages.…