Extinction in Deep Time

doi:10.1017/9781108668675.004

1 - Extinction in Deep Time

Lessons from the Past?

Published online by Cambridge University Press: 19 August 2019

Edited by

Peter Raven and

Partha Dasgupta: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge
Peter Raven: Affiliation:
Missouri Botanical Garden
Anna McIvor: Affiliation:
University of Cambridge

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Summary

The rocks of the world contain a record of more than 3.5 billion years of change to the living world. As new evidence of past life emerges, increasing rigour is brought to the data that tell of species abundance, distribution and relationships through time. In addition, refinements of the stratigraphic record and new insights into past environments illuminate the physical factors that affect the structure and function of ancient ecosystems, particularly how they respond to climate change over time. For these reasons, palaeontological and geological data can be brought to bear on issues central to understanding biodiversity – the rates and patterns of species loss, mechanisms that drive diversity change and features that make some species and times susceptible to extinction. Moreover, the rock and fossil record can inform an understanding of ecosystem recovery after extinctions, revealing how diversity can rebuild after major catastrophes. While ancient fossil records can reveal the physical and biotic factors that underlie extinction, more recent ones are particularly informative. In the right settings, high-resolution recent fossil records can reveal how ecological communities looked and functioned before our own species’ arrival.

Type: Chapter
Information: Biological Extinction
New Perspectives
, pp. 22 - 33

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108668675.004 [Opens in a new window]

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Print publication year: 2019

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