Sitting squarely at the interface between earth and life sciences, palaeobiogeographic information is scattered throughout
many publications.
Until now.
This book covers important theoretical concepts relating to
palaeobiogeography together with descriptions of analytical methods.
Fabrizio Cecca discusses general
biogeographical concepts and the factors influencing distributional patterns and provides case histories that illustrate the concepts covered. He explores the relationship between palaeobiogeography and biological evolution inherent in models of geographical speciation. The palaeobiogeography of fossil organisms is taken to generate hypotheses on continental drifting, past migration routes, palaeobiodiversity gradients, geographic barriers, palaeoclimatic and paleooceanographic conditions. The biogeographical dimension of biodiversity is discussed through the analysis of existing latitudinal and longitudinal gradients of biodiversity. He also illustrates the biodiversity/area relationship with particular reference to sea-level variations.
The author also outlines a conceptual framework based on investigative pathways or rationales, limits, and constraints, discusses the differences between ecological biogeography and historical biogeography in biogeographical studies and finally offers a variety of methods for inferring Earth history through analyses of living and fossil distributions
Much of the material in the book has been drawn from the author’s personal research and experience in ammonites and the Mesozoic pelagic biotas. To avoid lack of balance, he includes carefully selected case histories based on other fossil groups and geologic periods. The book is primarily for students and researchers of geology and palaeontology who whish to gain an understanding of palaeobiogeography, but will also be of interest to marine biologists concerned with the biogeographic aspects of palaeontology and evolution.