Book dossier

Plants and the K-T boundary

by Douglas J. Nichols

"The Cretaceous Period of geologic time ended abruptly about 65 million years ago with global extinctions of life in the sea and on land - most probably caused by a catastrophic meteorite impact. Although much popular interest has focused on the fate of the dinosaurs at that time, the plants that existed in Cretaceous rime also underwent extensive and permanent changes, and they reveal much more about the nature of this devastating event." "In Plants and the K-T Boundary, two of the world's leading experts in the fields of palynology and paleobotany integrate historical records and the latest research to provide a comprehensive account of the fate of land plants during this "great extinction." The book begins with chapters on how the geological time boundary between the Cretaceous and Paleogene Periods (the K-T boundary) is recognized with varying degrees of resolution, and how fossil plants can be used to understand global events some 65 million years ago. Subsequent chapters present detailed evidence from case studies in over 100 localities around the world, including North America, China, Russia, and New Zealand. The book concludes with an evaluation of the various scenarios for the cause of the K-T boundary event and its effects on floras of the past and the present." "This book is written for researchers and students in paleontology, botany, geology, and Earth history, and will be of interest to everyone who has been following the course of the extinction debate and the K-T boundary paradigm shift."--Jacket.