Great Extinctions of the Past traces the rise and fall of prehistoric species, includes discussion about the time-honored and often-challenged theories about the five biggest extinctions, and raises questions about whether we are heading toward another mass extinction today.
Recognition of a biodiversity crisis, and the development of new analytical and geological techniques for studying extinction, have increased our appreciation of global change in recent years. Paul Taylor looks at the implications for plants, animals and microbes, and discusses the role of extinction in evolution. His useful reference brings together key findings from the current debate concerning extinction for students, researchers and the interested general reader.
Facts On File - Lost Creatures of the Earth (The Living Earth)
Species living on Earth today represent a mere fraction of the total amount of life forms that have existed since the planet was first formed. Part of the "Living Earth" series, this resource is designed for anyone requiring information on the latest in historical geology, the study of the evolution of the Earth and its developing life forms. A general introduction details the various ages of the Earth, from the age of bacteria to the era of mammals that we know today.