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Clarkson's Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution

5TH EDITION of Clarkson's Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution.
Summary:.
This revision is intended to be undertaken over a 3 year period, for publication in 2006-7, retaining the taxonomic/systematic framework of the book, updating the contents, and further developing the evolutionary, palaeoenvironmental, palaeoecological, and taphonomic aspects. The new edition will be accompanied by a CD of associated information including pre-made power-point tutorials based on the books text and images, building on Palaeobase, with a full systematic glossary and reference base. The CD will also include lecture notes as a teaching aid for invertebrate palaeontology..
Title and Authorship:.
Although the majority of the revision will be undertaken by two new authors, Dr L. Cherns (Cardiff University) and Dr J. Hilton (National Museums of Scotland) the precise authorship and title of this revision depends on the involvement of the previous author, Professor E. N. K. Clarkson. Professor Clarkson has already agreed to make many new illustrations for the book such that the familiar and consistent style will be maintained, presenting uniformity in the diagrammatic illustrations. However, Prof. Clarkson remains uncertain of his level of involvement in the project, and as a result the alternatives currently available are to be decided in conjunction with Professor Clarkson and the publisher (Blackwell Science):. - Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution by E. N. K. Clarkson, L. Cherns and J. Hilton. - Clarkson's Invertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution by L. Cherns and J. Hilton.
Underlying rationale behind the revision:.
In undertaking this revision we note the previous strengths of the text book, and wish to retain these recognising that the first 4 editions have been extremely popular, have educated several generations of palaeontologists, and have been successfully marketed around the world. These strengths are:
Solid taxonomic and systematic framework
Clearly written, informal, informative and inquiring writing style
Clearly understandable diagrams that are numerous and dispersed though the text
Comprehensive citation and referencing undertaken within individual chapters
.
We therefore propose to retain the outline of the taxonomic/systematic framework from the 4th edition, updating the text and illustrations with discoveries published since the previous version of the text was completed. This will also incorporate new illustrations prepared by Prof. Clarkson.
The main changes concentrate on Part One of the book, which covers the principles behind the study of palaeontology, and chapter 12 which previously detailed exceptional faunas and ichnology.
Chapters 1-3 will undergo major revision, incorporating recent advances in understanding of geobiology and the underlying principles of palaeobiology, and using more illustrations. Chapter 1 will include a complete revision to cover taphonomy, the fossil record, taxonomy, palaeoecology, palaeobiogeography and stratigraphy in order to highlight what is present in the fossil record, what is not, and their significance in broad terms. Chapter 2 will be significantly updated to incorporate advances in evolutionary patterns and processes, integrating morphological information of the phenotype with molecular information from the genotype, to present an essential overview to past invertebrate life on earth. Chapter 3 will focus on major events in the history of life, integrating the fossil record with current theory and incorporating biotic radiation, faunal turnover, and extinction.
Chapter 12 from the 4th edition will be separated into two chapters, both significantly expanded from their current content. The new Chapter 12 will deal with ichnology which will be expanded to include trace fossil classification, behavioural and environmental interpretations, stratigraphical usage and infaunal tiering history. The new Chapter 13 will focus on exceptional faunas (lagerstätten) that demon