New refs #7

[Ralph Chapman <CHAPMAN.RALPH@NMNH.SI.EDU>]

A few more refs popped up. For your consideration...

First, a big-old review article by the Spencer Lucas on the
biochronology of vertebrates in the Mesozoic of China
that just came in. Spencer concludes that 1) Northern
China has an Early and Middle Triassic vertebrate record
to compete with any available. 2) The Late Triassic record
is pretty much non-existent. 3) The Chinese Jurassic
preserves the most complete continental vertebrate fauna
available anywhere. 4) More collecting, especially of 
microverts needs be done in the Cretaceous to catch up
with the Mongolian record (ok I'm game). 5) No real
evidence of provinciality in Chinese Mesozoic verts.

Lucas, S.G. 1996. Vertebrate Biochronology of the
   Mesozoic of China. Memoirs of Beijing Natural
   History Museum 55:110-148.


A nice review of Niles' view on extinction, etc. Real
classic Niles with some comments on the K-T.

Eldredge, N. 1997. Extinction and the evolutionary
   Process. Pp. 59-73. In Abe, T., S.A. Levin & M.
   Higashi, eds. Biodiversity. An Ecological
   Perspective, Springer, NY. ISBN 0-387-94702-7.


Next, an important paper on developing stratocladistic
approaches - a method of trying to incorporate strati-
graphic data within phylogenetic reconstructions. This
time in the Paleocene-Eocene but certainly worth
checking out. A controversial topic worth exploring
no matter what the outcome. Was a symposium at
SVP on this matter.

Polly, P.D. 1997. Ancestry and species definition in
   Paleontology. A stratocladistic analysis of
   Paleocene-Eocene Vicerravidae (Mammalia,
   Carnivora) from Wyoming. Contrib. Mus. Paleont.
   Univ. Mich. 30(1):1-53.


Yet another eggshell paper from China - you'd think
they had a lot of eggs or something. This one tries to
relate isotopes to temperature, etc.

Wang, D. 1996. Carbon and Oxygen isotopic
   compositions of the dinosaur eggshells from
   the late Cretaceous in different areas of
   China.  Memoirs of Beijing Natural
   History Museum 55:63-67.


And finally, a large and detailed analysis of
a new type of lizard named in 1992, Estesia
mongoliensis, based on nice new material. 
Rejects past inferences of the varanids as the
sister group to this new group, which also
includes Heloderma.

Norell, M.A. & K. Gao. 1997. Braincase and
   phylogenetic relationships of Estesia
   mongoliensis from the Late Cretaceous of
   the Gobi Desert and the recognition of a
   new clade of lizards. American Museum
   Novitates, #3211: 25 p.

Haver a good weekend all...

Ralph Chapman