Extinction: A Very Short Introduction

Extinction: A Very Short Introduction by Paul B Wignall

Most people are familiar with the dodo and the dinosaur, but extinction has occurred throughout the history of life, with the result that nearly all the species that have ever existed are now extinct. Today, species are disappearing at an ever increasing rate, whilst past losses have occurred during several great crises. Issues such as habitat destruction, conservation, climate change, and, during major crises, volacanism and meteorite impact, can all contribute towards the demise of a group. In this Very Short Introduction, Paul B. Wignall looks at the causes and nature of extinctions, past and present, and the factors that can make a species vulnerable. Summarising what we know about all of the major and minor exctinction events, he examines some of the greatest debates in modern science, such as the relative role of climate and humans in the death of the Pleistocene megafauna, including mammoths and giant ground sloths, and the roles that global warming, ocean acidification, and deforestation are playing in present-day extinctions ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

By covering a currently hot topic, this book will capture the interest of students, researchers, and nonprofessionals alike* Conservation Biology *
This book will capture the interest of students, researchers, and nonprofessionals alike * Conservation Biology *
Extinction is a pressing societal and political problem, but we must get the science right. In this excellent book, Paul Wignall draws on a broad range of recent studies on the great mass extinctions of the past and the present biodiversity crisis to provide the evidence that will inform the debate. * Michael J. Benton, Professor of Vertebrate Palaeontology, University of Bristol *

Paul Wignall is Professor of Palaeoenvironments at the University of Leeds, and a leading expert on extinctions. He has published over 200 papers on a multitude of research areas, including the causes of major environmental change such as the deoxygenation of the oceans, and the establishment of super greenhouse climates. In addition to his considerable research output, he has authored a popular science book, The Worst of Times (Princeton University Press, 2015), and has contributed articles to popular science magazines. He has also appeared in many television documentaries, including the recent Walking through Time (Channel 4).

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9780198807285
ISBN 10	0198807287
Title	Extinction: A Very Short Introduction
Author	Paul B Wignall
Series	Very Short Introductions
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Oxford University Press
Year published	2019-06-27
Number of pages	144
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
Note	Unavailable