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.
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
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.
Reviews of the first edition:
"I would definitely encourage students, later-year undergraduate or graduate, embarking on palaeontological research involving more than the most trivial statistics to buy this book, not just rely on the library copy."
– Newsletter of Micropalaeontology
"I warmly encourage all graduate students, post-docs, and academics in palaeontology to acquire a copy – and to use it."
– Geology Today
"All in all this is to my mind and excellent book."
– Geological Magazine