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A journey into the past -- Forests of a lost landscape -- Crisis and collapse -- Recovery of a tropical Arctic.
This is a broad but provocative examination of the evolution of plants from the earliest forms of life to the development of our present flora. Taking a fresh, modern approach to a subject often treated very stuffily, the book incorporates many recent studies on the morphological evolution of plants, enlivens the subject with current research on ancient DNA and other biomolecular markers, and places plant evolution in the context of climate change and mass extinction. Also includes special Biome Maps, showing the flora on the Earth's surface at different geological ages. Written for a non-specialist audience.
Plants have profoundly moulded the Earth's climate and the evolutionary trajectory of life. Far from being 'silent witnesses to the passage of time', plants are dynamic components of our world, shaping the environment throughout history as much as that environment has shaped them. In The Emerald Planet, David Beerling puts plants centre stage, revealing the crucial role they have played in driving global changes in the environment, in recording hidden facets of Earth's history, and in helping us to predict its future. His account draws together evidence from fossil plants, from experiments with their living counterparts, and from computer models of the 'Earth System', to illuminate the histo...
An increasing population faces the growing demand for agricultural products and accurate global climate models that account for individual plant morphologies to predict favorable human habitat. Both demands are rooted in an improved understanding of the mechanistic origins of plant development. Such understanding requires geometric and topological descriptors to characterize the phenotype of plants and its link to genotypes. However, the current plant phenotyping framework relies on simple length and diameter measurements, which fail to capture the exquisite architecture of plants. The Research Topic “Morphological Plant Modeling: Unleashing Geometric and Topological Potential within the P...
Volume 66 of Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry is based on a two day short course entitled Paleoaltimetry: Geochemical and Thermodynamic Approaches held prior to the Geological Society of American annual meeting in Denver, Colorado (October 26-27, 2007). This meeting and volume were sponsored by the Geochemical Society, Mineralogical Society of America, and the United States Department of Energy. Contents: The Significance of Paleotopography Stable Isotope-Based Paleoaltimetry: Theory and Validation Paleoelevation Reconstruction Using Pedogenic Carbonates Stable Isotope Paleoaltimetry in Orogenic Belts – The Silicate Record in Surface and Crustal Geological Archives Paleoaltimetry from Stable Isotope Compositions of Fossils A Review of Paleotemperature–Lapse Rate Methods for Estimating Paleoelevation from Fossil Floras Paleoaltimetry: A Review of Thermodynamic Methods Paleoelevation Measurement on the Basis of Vesicular Basalts Stomatal Frequency Change Over Altitudinal Gradients: Prospects for Paleoaltimetry Thermochronologic Approaches to Paleotopography Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclides as Paleoaltimetric Proxies
Based in extensive research in geology, atmospheric science, and paleontology, this book offers a detailed history of CO2 in the atmosphere, and an understanding of factors that have influenced changes in the past. The text illuminates the role of atmospheric CO2 in the modern carbon cycle and in the evolution of plants and animals, and addresses the future role of atmospheric CO2 and its likely effects on ecosystems.
The Emerald Planet is the tale of our world's past - and future - as revealed by plants. Over the immensity of geological time, plants have been powerful agents of change, shaping the climate, the planet, and affecting the evolutionary path of all life. Here, David Beerling tells how.
This biography reveals the rock music legend’s dramatic life story, from his Texas youth and rise to stardom to his personal tragedies and untimely death. A true legend of American popular music, Roy Orbison perfected the soulful rock ballad, recording such perennial hits as “Only the Lonely” and “Crying.” In Dark Star, biographer Ellis Amburn reveals the stories behind his achingly beautiful sound. Amburn explores Orbison’s rockabilly roots, his first deal with Sun Records, and his numerous Billboard Top 40 hits. Amburn then delves into the personal tragedies, including the sudden deaths of his wife and two of his children, that led to his obscurity. His return to stardom is also covered in detail, including his work with the supergroup The Traveling Wilburys and his posthumous hit single “You got It.”
This billionaire bachelor has a baby challenge... Being a father to his orphaned infant niece is out of this tech billionaire's comfort zone. Lucky for Nate Longmire, Trish Hunter is a natural at motherhood, and she's agreed to be his temporary nanny. But long glances, slow kisses and not-so-innocent touches are strictly off-limits... Trish's goal is to help Nate in exchange for a big donation to her charity for Lakota kids. Falling for her bachelor boss--and his adorable baby girl--is not part of the plan. But when the month is up, will she be able to walk away?
Leaves are all around us—in backyards, cascading from window boxes, even emerging from small cracks in city sidewalks given the slightest glint of sunlight. Perhaps because they are everywhere, it’s easy to overlook the humble leaf, but a close look at them provides one of the most enjoyable ways to connect with the natural world. A lush, incredibly informative tribute to the leaf, Nature’s Fabric offers an introduction to the science of leaves, weaving biology and chemistry with the history of the deep connection we feel with all things growing and green. Leaves come in a staggering variety of textures and shapes: they can be smooth or rough, their edges smooth, lobed, or with tiny te...