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Line 8: − + − − The primary economic importance of paleontology lies in the use of fossils to determine the age and nature of the rocks that contain them or the layers above or below. This information is vital to the [[mining]] industry and especially the [[petroleum]] industry.
→Overview
[[vertebrate paleontology]], dealing with fossils of animals with backbones, including fossil hominids ([[paleoanthropology]]). Micropaleontologists study microscopic fossils, including organic-walled microfossils whose study is called [[palynology]].
[[vertebrate paleontology]], dealing with fossils of animals with backbones, including fossil hominids ([[paleoanthropology]]). Micropaleontologists study microscopic fossils, including organic-walled microfossils whose study is called [[palynology]].
There are many developing specialties such as [[paleobiology]], [[paleoecology]], [[ichnology]] (the study of tracks and burrows) and [[taphonomy]] (the study of what happens to organisms after they expire). Major areas of study include the correlation of [[rock strata]] with their [[geologic ages]] and the study of [[evolution]] of lifeforms.
There are many developing specialties such as [[paleobiology]], [[paleoecology]], [[ichnology]] (the study of tracks and burrows) and [[taphonomy]] (the study of what happens to organisms after they expire).
Paleontology utilizes the same classic [[binomial nomenclature]] scheme, devised for the biology of living things by the mid-[[18th century]] [[Swedish people|Swedish]] biologist [[Carolus Linnaeus]] and increasingly sets these species in a genealogical framework, showing their degrees of interrelatedness using the still somewhat controversial technique of '[[cladistics]]'.
Paleontology utilizes the same classic [[binomial nomenclature]] scheme, devised for the biology of living things by the mid-[[18th century]] [[Swedish people|Swedish]] biologist [[Carolus Linnaeus]] and increasingly sets these species in a genealogical framework, showing their degrees of interrelatedness using the still somewhat controversial technique of '[[cladistics]]'.
Fossils were known by primitive humans and were sometimes identified correctly as the remains of ancient lifeforms. The organized study of paleontology dates from the late 18th century.
Fossils were known by primitive humans and were sometimes identified correctly as the remains of ancient lifeforms. The organized study of paleontology dates from the late 18th century.