Paleontological Data Analysis

Øyvind Hammer · David A. T. Harper

Apr 2008 · Sold by John Wiley & Sons

About this ebook

During the last 10 years numerical methods have begun to dominate paleontology. These methods now reach far beyond the fields of morphological and phylogenetic analyses to embrace biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography, and paleoecology. Paleontological Data Analysis explains the key numerical techniques in paleontology, and the methodologies employed in the software packages now available.

• Following an introduction to numerical methodologies in paleontology, and to univariate and multivariate techniques (including inferential testing), there follow chapters on morphometrics, phylogenetic analysis, paleobiogeography and paleoecology, time series analysis, and quantitative biostratigraphy
  
• Each chapter describes a range of techniques in detail, with worked examples, illustrations, and appropriate case histories
  
• Describes the purpose, type of data required, functionality, and implementation of each technique, together with notes of caution where appropriate
  
• The book and the accompanying PAST software package (see www.blackwellpublishing.com/hammer) are important investigative tools in a rapidly developing field characterized by many exciting new discoveries and innovative techniques
  
• An invaluable tool for all students and researchers involved in quantitative paleontology

About the author

Dr Øyvind Hammer is currently a Researcher in Paleontology at the Geological Museum in Oslo, and in Geobiology at the research center “Physics of Geological Processes”. In addition to a number of research publications, he is the author of the popular data-analysis software PAST.

David Harper is a leading expert on fossil brachiopods and numerical methods in palaeontology. He is Professor of Palaeontology in the University of Copenhagen, where he is currently Head of Geology in the Natural History Museum of Denmark. He has published over 10 books and monographs, including a couple of influential textbooks, as well as over 250 scientific articles and, together with Øyvind Hammer, the widely-used software package PAST. His time is divided between collection management, exhibition work, research and some teaching.