Overview

How did life start on Earth and how did it proceed? After a short discussion of the origin of life on Earth and the origin of the major body plans, the invertebrates are presented in order of increasing complexity by the most significant fossil representatives. In each case, the adaptive significance of the respective forms and/or structures which profoundly changed the original body plan is treated in detail. In the closing chapter, some general aspects of invertebrates in evolution and palaeoecology, palaeobiogeography and biochronology are outlined.

Full Product Details

Author:   Raymond Enay ,  T. Reimer ,  J. Aubouin
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. KG
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag Berlin and Heidelberg GmbH & Co. K
Edition:   Softcover reprint of the original 1st ed. 1993
Dimensions:   Width: 15.50cm , Height: 1.60cm , Length: 23.50cm
Weight:   0.470kg
ISBN:  

9783540538912

ISBN 10:   3540538917
Pages:   287
Publication Date:   22 October 1993
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

1 The Start of Life on Earth and the First Fossils.- 1.1 Some Introductory Remarks About the Biochemistry of Living Matter.- 1.1.1 Abilities and Essential Attributes of the Living Cell.- 1.1.2 The Fundamental Materials of Vital Processes.- 1.1.3 The Metabolic Processes of Energy Supply.- 1.1.4 Sources of Energy: Autotrophy and Heterotrophy.- 1.2 Physicochemical Model of the Origin of Life.- 1.2.1 The Extraterrestrial Derivation of Life.- 1.2.2 The Physicochemical Environment of Terrestrial Biogenesis.- 1.2.3 The First Syntheses of Organic Monomers.- 1.2.4 The Abiotic Formation of Polymers.- 1.2.5 Cell-Like Assemblages: Microspheres and Coacervates.- 1.3 The Development of Life During the Precambrian.- 1.3.1 Evolution Towards an Oxygenic Atmosphere.- 1.3.2 Chemical Fossils and Molecular Palaeontology.- 1.3.3 The First Fossils.- 1.4 The Ediacarian or the First Diversified Metazoan Faunas.- 1.4.1 The Ediacarian Fauna.- 1.4.2 The Ediacarian Concept and Its Evolutionary Significance.- 1.4.3 Palaeoecological Significance.- 1.4.4 The Later Development of the Ediacarian Fauna.- 2 The Invertebrates: Origin and Major Body Plans.- 2.1 Definition.- 2.2 Origin and Early Differentiation of the Metazoa.- 2.3 Body Plans of the Lower Invertebrates.- 2.3.1 Differentiation of Spongiaria and Coelenterata.- 2.3.2 Radiation of the Acoelomates.- 2.4 Radiation of the Coelomates and the Body Plans of the Higher Metazoans.- 2.5 Phanerozoic Evolution and Diversification.- 2.5.1 General Faunal Diversification.- 2.5.2 Diversification Within the Phyla.- 3 Diploblastic Metazoans: Porifera and Archaeocyatheans.- 3.1 Sponges or Porifera.- 3.1.1 General Organization.- 3.1.2 Skeletal Elements and Structures.- 3.1.3 Fossil Sponges.- 3.1.4 Distribution and Habitats.- 3.2 Archaeocyatheans.- 3.2.1 Organization and Structure.- 3.2.2 Classification and Evolutionary Trends.- 3.2.3 Distribution and Habitats.- 4 Diploblastic Metazoans: The Coelenterata.- 4.1 Major Body Plans and Origin of the Cnidaria.- 4.1.1 Basic Structural Plan.- 4.1.2 The Three Classes of Cnidaria.- 4.1.3 Origin and Affiliations of the Cnidaria.- 4.1.4 Adaptive Radiation of the Cnidaria.- 4.2 Hydrozoans and Scyphozoans.- 4.2.1 The Hydrozoans.- 4.2.2 Fossil Scyphozoans.- 4.3 The Anthozoans.- 4.3.1 The Anthozoan Body Plan.- 4.3.2 The Cerianthipatharia.- 4.3.3 The Octocorallia.- 4.3.4 The Zoantharia.- 5 Triploblastic Pseudometamerous Coelomates: The Molluscs.- 5.1 Origin and Diversification of the Different Classes of Molluscs.- 5.1.1 The Mollusc Type or Protomollusc.- 5.1.2 Initial Early Radiation.- 5.1.3 The Oldest Fossil Molluscs.- 5.2 Polyplacophorans (Loricata) and Monoplacophorans.- 5.2.1 The Polyplacophorans (Loricata).- 5.2.2 The Monoplacophorans.- 5.3 The Gastropods.- 5.3.1 The Basic Organization of a Gastropod.- 5.3.2 The Gastropod Shell.- 5.3.3 Palaeontological History of the Gastropods.- 5.3.4 Heteropods and Pteropods.- 5.4 Rostroconchs and Scaphopods.- 5.4.1 The Rostroconchs.- 5.4.2 The Scaphopods.- 5.5 Bivalves (or Lamellibranchs, Pelecypods, Acephalia).- 5.5.1 Typical Body Plan of the Bivalves.- 5.5.2 Characteristic Aspects of the Bivalve Shell: Hinge and Ligament.- 5.5.3 Functional Morphology of the Shell.- 5.5.4 Adaptive Radiation of the Bivalves.- 5.6 Cephalopods.- 5.6.1 The Major Cephalopod Groups and Their Relationships.- 5.6.2 The Nautiloids.- 5.6.3 The Bactritoids and the Origin of the Ammonoids.- 5.6.4 The Ammonoids.- 5.6.5 Phylogenetic History of the Ectocochlian Cephalopods.- 5.6.6 The Coleoids.- 6 Triploblastic Eumetamerous Coelomates: The Arthropods.- 6.1 Major Distinctive Features of the Arthropods.- 6.1.1 The First Fossil Arthropods.- 6.1.2 The Carapace and the Arthropod Segments.- 6.1.3 The Paired Appendages of the Arthropods.- 6.1.4 The Major Body Sections of the Arthropods.- 6.1.5 The Arthropods: A Monophyletic Group or a Functional Degree of Organization?.- 6.2 Arthropod Radiation in the Aquatic Environment: Trilobites and Crustaceans.- 6.2.1 The Trilobites.- 6.2.2 The Crustaceans.- 6.3 Arthropods and the Conquest of the Terrestrial Environment-The Chelicerata and Uniramia (Onychophores, Myriapods, Hexapods).- 6.3.1 Conditions for Adaptation to Terrestrial Life.- 6.3.2 The Chelicerata.- 6.3.3 The Onychophorans (= Proarthropods).- 6.3.4 The Myriapoda and Arthropleurida.- 6.3.5 The Hexapods.- 7 Triploblastic Oligometamerous Lophophorian Coelomates: Brachiopods and Bryozoans.- 7.1 The Brachiopods.- 7.1.1 Basic Body Plan.- .1.2 Particulates (= Ecardina).- 7.1.3 Articulates (= Testicardina).- 7.1.4 Palaeontological History of the Brachiopods.- 7.2 The Bryozoans.- 7.2.1 General Organization.- 7.2.2 The Phylactolaemates.- 7.2.3 The Stenolaemates.- 7.2.4 The Gymnolaemates.- 7.2.5 Palaeontological History of the Bryozoans.- 8 Triploblastic Deuterostomian Epithelioneural Coelomates: Graptolites and Echinoderms.- 8.1 The Graptolites (Phylum Hemichordata).- 8.1.1 Pterobranchs and Graptolites.- 8.1.2 The Dendroidea and the Initial Radiation of the Benthic Graptolites.- 8.1.3 The Graptoloidea and Adaptations to a Planktonic Lifestyle.- 8.1.4 Palaeontological History of the Graptolites.- 8.2 The Echinoderms.- 8.2.1 Common Features and Diversity of Echinoderm Organization.- 8.2.2 The Homalozoa (or Carpoidea).- 8.2.3 The Helicoplacoidea and Camptostromatoidea.- 8.2.4 The Pelmatozoa.- 8.2.5 The Eleutherozoa.- 8.2.6 Palaeontological History of the Echinoderms.- 9 The Invertebrates in Evolution and Palaeoecology, the Geography of Evolution: Palaeobiogeography and the Evolution as Basis of Biochronology.- 9.1 Invertebrates and Evolution.- 9.1.1 Evolution at the Species Level.- 9.1.2 Trans-Specific Evolution or Evolution Beyond the Species.- 9.2 Invertebrates and the Environment: Palaeoecology.- 9.2.1 Actualism - The Basis for the Advance of Palaeoecology.- 9.2.2 Questioning Classical Concepts from a New Actualistic Model.- 9.2.3 Morphofunctional Analysis.- 9.2.4 Morphological Convergence and Homeomorphy.- 9.2.5 Relationships Within Communities and Between Communities and Their Environments.- 9.3 Invertebrates in Their Geographical Framework: Palaeobiogeography.- 9.3.1 The Place of Palaeobiogeography.- 9.3.2 Palaeobiogeography - Test of Geotectonic Reconstructions 259.- 9.3.3 Biogeography and Biological Evolution.- 9.4 Invertebrates and Time: Biostratigraphy and Biochronology.- 9.4.1 Fossils as Objects of Time in Biochronology.- 9.4.2 Biochronology and Biological Evolution.- 9.4.3 The (Bio)Zones in Time and Space.- 9.4.4 Biochronology and Physical Markers or Correlations.- References.

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