Why do mass extinctions occur? The demise of the dinosaurs has been discussed exhaustively, but has never been out into the context of other extinction events. This is the first systematic review of the mass extinctions of all organisms, plant and animal, terrestrial and marine, that have occurred in the history of life. This includes the major crisis 250 million years ago which nearly wiped out all life on Earth. By examining current paleontological, geological,
and sedimentological evidence of environmental changes, the cases for explanations based on climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions are all critically
evaluated.
Why do mass extinctions occur? The demise of the dinosaurs has been discussed exhaustively, but has never been out into the context of other extinction events. This is the first systematic review of the mass extinctions of all organisms, plant and animal, terrestrial and marine, that have occurred in the history of life. This includes the major crisis 250 million years ago which nearly wiped out all life on Earth. By examining current paleontological, geological,
and sedimentological evidence of environmental changes, the cases for explanations based on climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions are all critically
evaluated.
`Hallam and Wignall provide a sobering antidote to simplistic
applications of extraterrestrial "crash-bang-you're-dead"
interpretations.'
New Scientist
`the book is unique in that all major extinction intervals are
considered ... Mass Extinctions and their Aftermath will richly
reward the efforts made by students and laymen to come to grips
with the material presented ... the book is well-written,
comprehensive, copiously referenced and closely reasoned. It
succeeds in its aim to be the foremost scientific introduction to
the phenomenon of mass extinction on virtually every level. Hallam
and Wignall's
volume is the only comprehensive "single author" treatment of the
major features of the entire paleontological extinction record. It
deserves a wide audience within and outside the earth science
community.'
Times Higher Education Supplement
`The authors have provided a comprehensive and well-documented
account of all the known mass extinctions of plant and animal life
which have occurred on this planet.'
Aslib Book Guide, vol. 63, no. 3, March 1998
`'...It is a pleasure to recommend a book that should be purchased
by anyone (yes, even undergraduates) interested in geology...This
book....represents an impressive summary of the literature...a
valuable addition to the mass extinction literature...''
S.Conway Morris, Geological Mag. No.5, 1998.
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