Plants and the K-T Boundary

by Douglas J. Nichols , Kirk R. Johnson

• ISBN13: 9780521305631
• ISBN10: 0521305632
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-09-22
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

In this 2008 text, two of the world's leading experts in palynology and paleobotany provide a comprehensive account of the fate of land plants during the 'great extinction' about 65 million years ago. They describe how the time boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene Periods (the K-T boundary) is recognised in the geological record, and how fossil plants can be used to understand global events of that time. There are case studies from over 100 localities around the world, including North America, China, Russia and New Zealand. The book concludes with an evaluation of possible causes of the K-T boundary event and its effects on floras of the past and present. This book is written for researchers and students in paleontology, botany, geology and Earth history, and everyone who has been following the course of the extinction debate and the K-T boundary paradigm shift.

Table of Contents

Preface

Background

Introduction

Resolution of the K-T boundary

Using fossil plants to study the K-T boundary

Brief history of K-T boundary paleobotany and palynology

Overview of latest Cretaceous and early Paleocene vegetation

Regional Case Studies

Williston Basin - the most complete K-T sections known

Other North American records

Eurasia

Remnants of Gondwana

Interpretations

Assessment of the K-T boundary event

Evaluation of scenarios for the K-T event

Floral effects of the K-T boundary event

References

Index

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