Paleontological Data Analysis

About this book

An up-to-date edition of the indispensable guide to analysing palaeontological data

Palaeontology has developed in recent decades into an increasingly data-driven discipline, which brings to bear a huge variety of statistical tools. Applying statistical methods to paleontological data requires a discipline-specific understanding of which methods and parameters are the most appropriate ones, and how to account for statistical bias inherent in the fossil record. By guiding the reader to these and other fundamental questions in the statistical analysis of fossilised specimens, Paleontological Data Analysis has become the standard text for anyone with an interest in quantitative analysis of the fossil record. Now fully updated to reflect the latest statistical methods and disciplinary advances, it is an essential tool for practitioners and students alike.

Readers of the second edition of Paleontological Data Analysis will also find:
- New sections on machine learning, Bayesian inference, phylogenetic comparative methods, analysis of CT data, and much more
- New use cases and examples using PAST, R, and Python software packages
- Full colour illustrations throughout

Paleontological Data Analysis is ideal for palaeontologists, evolutionary biologists, taxonomists, and students in any of these fields.

Contents

Preface   ix
Acknowledgements   xi

1. Introduction   1
2. Statistical concepts   9
3. Introduction to data visualization   24
4. Univariate and bivariate statistical methods   38
5. Introduction to multivariate data analysis   81
6. Morphometrics   96
7. Directional and spatial data analysis   162
8. Analysis of tomographic and 3D-scan data   174
9. Estimating paleobiodiversity   184
10. Paleoecology and paleobiogeography   216
11. Calibration - estimating paleoenvironments   263
12. Time series analysis   273
13. Quantitative biostratigraphy   299
14. Phylogenetic analysis   338

References   368
Index   371

Customer Reviews

Biography

Øyvind Hammer, PhD, is Professor of Paleontology at the University of Oslo, Norway. He has published very widely on paleontological subjects, and is co-author of the paleontological data analysis software PAST.

David A.T. Harper, DSc, is Emeritus Professor of Paleontology at Durham University, UK. He has published extensively, including numerous monographs and textbooks, and developed the software PAST along with Øyvind Hammer.