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Author:

Ward, Peter Douglas, 1949-

Title:

Out of thin air : dinosaurs, birds, and Earth's ancient atmosphere / Peter D. Ward ; illustrations by David W. Ehlert.

Publisher:

J. Henry Press,

Copyright Date:

c2006

Description:

xiii, 282 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Subject:

Dinosaurs--Extinction.
Dinosaurs--Evolution.
Paleoecology.
Paleobotany--Carboniferous.
Dinosaurussen.
Klimaatveranderingen.
Zuurstof.
Vogels.
Evolutionaire biologie.
Theorievorming.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (p. 237-259) and index.

Contents:

Index. Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- 11. Respiration and the body plans of animal life -- 2. Oxygen through time -- 3. Evolving respiratory systems as a cause of the Cambrian Explosion -- 4. The Ordovician : Cambrian Explosion part 2 -- 5. The Silurian-Devonian : how an oxygen spike allowed the first conquest of land -- 6. The Carboniferous-early Permian : high-oxygen, fires and giants -- 7. The Permian extinction and the evolution of endothermy -- 8. The Triassic explosion -- 9. The Jurassic : dinosaur hegemony in a low-oxygen world -- 10. The Cretaceous extinction and the rise of large mammals -- 11. Should we fear the oxygen future? -- References -- Appendix -- Index.

Summary:

Discusses the effect of changing oxygen levels in Earth's atmosphere on evolution and mass extinctions, and presents the theory that saurischian dinosaurs were able to weather two mass extinctions because of a new, more efficient respiratory system, which was in turn inherited by their descendants the birds.

ISBN:

9780309100618 (cloth)
0309100615 (cloth)

LCCN:

2006020396

Locations:

USUX851 -- Iowa State University - Parks Library (Ames)

UQAX771 -- Des Moines Area Community College Library - Ankeny (Carroll)

UNUX074 -- University of Northern Iowa - Rod Library (Cedar Falls)

OMAX631 -- Geisler Learning Resource Cntr (Pella)

SFPH074 -- Waterloo Public Library (Waterloo)