Book Description
The research of Bjvrn Kurtin, one of the most distinguished vertebrate paleontologists in the world, has yielded many milestones in paleontology over the years. His innovative articles on evolution, paleoecology, biogeography, and fossil mammals are still eagerly sought by students despite the fact that many of them are out of print or otherwise difficult to obtain. "On Evolution and Fossil Mammals assembles" Kurtin's seminal papers in one volume, not only making them available once again but at the same time presenting a number of concepts and methodological innovations as they were first conceived. In some cases, Kurtin follows th later development of these ideas. The articles, most of which focus on evolutionary problems at the population and species level, include a number of "firsts" in paleontology: the first application of Life Table treatment on mortality and survival of fossil mammals, the first study of allometry in mammalian dentitions, the first study of selection by differential survival in fossil mammals, and the first application of the half-life concept to animals.
About the Author
Björn Kurtén is Professor of Paleontology at the University of Helsinki. His previous books include
The Age of Mammals, The Cave Bear Story, and the recent
How to Deep Freeze a Mammoth, all published by Columbia University Press.
