Re: some articles from American Scientist (was: Ever Since _Wonderful Life_)

["Steve Brusatte" <dinoland@lycos.com>]

On Fri, 20 Apr 2001 12:26:20  
 Mickey Rowe wrote:
>
>Daniel Bensen <dbensen@gotnet.net> asked:
>
>> Can anybody recommend books, websites, or publications where I can
>> learn more about the Cambrian explosion?
>
>The first thing that popped into my head was an article by Erwin,
>Valentine, and Jablonski published in _American Scientist_ four years
>ago.  It's still on the web:
>
>http://www.AmericanScientist.org/articles/97articles/Erwin.html

Since Mickey has commented on this, it cannot be off topic, so I guess I'll 
chime in :-)

Erwin (or is it Andrew Knoll??) has also written a book on the Cambrian 
explosion, I believe.  There is also an excellent Time Magazine article from 
1995 which discusses the work of Erwin, Andrew Knoll, and John Hayes in regard 
to what led to the Cambrian explosion, how oxygen levels are involved, etc., 
etc.  
Of course, although it isn't Cambrian per se, there is also a book out entitled 
"The Garden of Ediacara," written by Mark A. S. McMenamin.  This book, as the 
title suggests, discusses the discovery and study of the Vendian fauna in 
Australia, Russia, Canada, and a few other places.  I recall that invertebrate 
paleontologist Ben Waggoner gave it a somewhat poor review, but I've seen the 
book and the parts that I've read are fine.  

I like vertebrates much better than invertebrates, with the possible exception 
of Cambrian animals.  I always enjoy looking at Cambrian specimens in museums.  
The Redpath Museum in Montreal has an incredible collection of Burgess Shale 
animals.  I would love for a nice, detailed study of the Burgess Shale to come 
out in book form...

Steve

-----
Steve Brusatte
Dino Land Paleontology
http://www.geocities.com/stegob
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