A. Elewa – Computational Paleontology (2011)

Автор: A. Elewa
Название книги: Computational Paleontology (2011)
Формат: PDF
Жанр: Палеонтология
Страницы: 241
Качество: Изначально компьютерное, E-book

Computers and quantitative methods are fundamental tools in all branches of modern science, and paleontology is no exception. It has not always been this way, however. Quantitative approaches were of course always used by paleontologists, but the mainstream literature used to focus on qualitative description. In general, paleontology was surprisingly slow in adopting quantitative methods, compared with geology and particularly biology. One reason could be the idea that the fossil record is too incomplete for statistical treatment. What is the point of using sophisticated methods on such poor data? This is a misunderstanding – in fact the opposite is the case. It is precisely when the data are incomplete that we need the machinery of statistics to assess the effects of sampling. On the subject of mathematical modelling, a common objection is that the complexities of biological systems cannot be captured in a simple model. Again I would argue otherwise, that exactly when the system is complex beyond the capabilities of the human brain, a reduced model can lead to fundamental understanding by virtue of its very simplicity. After all, the purpose of modelling in paleontology is insight, not prediction.
Contents
Computational Paleontology
Digitizing Methods for Paleontology: Applications, Benefits and Limitations
Paleoinformatics: Past, Present and Future Perspectives
Calculating the Tempo of Morphological Evolution: Rates of Discrete Character Change in a Phylogenetic Context
Computational Model of Growth and Development in Paleozoic Echinoids
Morphometric Analysis of Polyphenism in Lower Cretaceous Ammonite Genus Knemiceras
Development and Applications of Computed Tomography in the Study of Human Fossil Crania
From a Skeleton to a 3D Dinosaur
Rates of Cranial Evolution in Neandertals and Modern Humans
The Problem of Instar Numbers in Arthropods
Future Insights in Computational Paleontology: With Special Spotlight on Visual Paleontology
Index