Changes

'''Paleontology''', '''palaeontology''' or '''palæontology''' is the study of [[prehistory|prehistoric]] life forms on [[Earth]] through the examination of plant and animal [[Fossil|fossils]]. This includes the study of body [[fossil]]s, tracks ([[ichnite]]s), [[burrow]]s, cast-off parts, fossilised [[feces|faeces]] ([[coprolite]]s), [[palynomorph]]s and chemical residues.  Paleontology provides much of the physical evidence for the fact of [[evolution]].

'''Paleontology''', is the study of [[prehistory|prehistoric]] life forms on [[Earth]] through the examination of plant and animal [[Fossil|fossils]]. This includes the study of body [[fossil]]s, tracks ([[ichnite]]s), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilized feces ([[coprolite]]s), [[palynomorph]]s and chemical residues.  Paleontology provides much of the physical evidence for the fact of [[evolution]].

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). Major areas of study include the correlation of [[rock strata]] with their [[geologic ages]] and the study of [[evolution]] of lifeforms.

Paleontology utilises 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]]'.

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. Simply looking at the fossils contained in a rock remains one of the fastest and most accurate means of telling how old that rock is.

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. Simply looking at the fossils contained in a rock remains one of the fastest and most accurate means of telling how old that rock is.

Fossils were known by primitive humans and were sometimes identified correctly as the remains of ancient lifeforms. The organised study of paleontology dates from the late 18th century. For a more complete historical overview see the article [[History of paleontology]].

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.

==Notable paleontologists==

==Notable paleontologists==

==See also==

==See also==

* [[Timeline of geography, paleontology]], [[biology]]

* [[Biology]]

* [[Synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy]]

* [[Fossil]]s

* [[Fossil]]s

* [[Geology]]

* [[Geology]]

* [[Dinosaurs]]

* [[Dinosaurs]]

==External links==

==External links==

*[http://www.dinosaurnews.org Dinosaurnews] the free dinosaur zine (very popular site, with the latest international news about dinosaurs).

*[http://www.dinosaurnews.org Dinosaur News] the free dinosaur magazine (very popular site, with the latest international news about dinosaurs).

*[http://fossilinsects.net/index.html International Palaeoentomological Society]

*[http://fossilinsects.net/index.html International Palaeoentomological Society]

*[http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/geotime/ Smithsonian's Paleobiology website: a good introduction]

*[http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo/geotime/ Smithsonian's Paleobiology website: a good introduction]

*[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/FAQ/faq.html University of California Museum of Paleontology FAQ About Paleontology]

*[http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/FAQ/faq.html University of California Museum of Paleontology FAQ About Paleontology]

*[http://www.discoverfossils.com The Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre, biggest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada, field trips, museum tours]

*[http://www.discoverfossils.com The Canadian Fossil Discovery Center, biggest collection of marine reptile fossils in Canada, field trips, museum tours]

[[Category:Science]]

[[Category:Science]]