This is the first review of all the major mass extinctions in the history of life. It covers all groups of organisms - plant, animal, terrestrial, and marine - that have gone extinct alongside the geological and sedimentological evidence for environmental changes during the biotic crises. All proposed extinction mechanisms - climate change, meteorite impact, volcanisms - are critically assessed. The demise of the dinosaurs has been amply discussed, but this is the first time that this event has been put into the proper context of other extinction events.

"It was great to see at last a volume that beautifully summarized the metrics of mass extinction, the causes of extinction, and described the events in both paleontological and geological detail. Those interested in learning about the Cenomanian-Turonian extinction, for example, will be treated to descriptions of the players, the important geological sections from which evidence has been produced, and front-running hypotheses to explain the extinction. The volume is replete with excellent illustrations, good writing, and sufficient but not stifling attention to detail. Hallam and Wignall are to be commended for a fine volume that expresses opinions, but is fair-minded enough to represent a range of viewpoints successfully. The major mass extinctions are each given a chapter, with discussions of the biotic changes, sedimentary regimes, isotopic evidence, and biogeography. . . . This book is a must for the bookshelf of every paleontologist and neontologist."--The Quarterly Review of Biology

"Complements the many popular and often sensational accounts, multi-author volumes, and studies on a particular mass extinction with a focuses scientific investigation of all the known mass extinctions with sufficient technical detail to excite geologists and paleontologists. Discusses the Big Five, one late in each of the Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, and the famous Cretaceous that saw the end of the Dinosaurs; and minor mass extinctions from the early Cambrian the Cenozoic. Also examines the current paleontological, geological, and sedimentological evidence of environmental change; and sets out the cases for causes by climate change, marine regressions, asteroid or comet impact, anoxia, and volcanic eruptions."--SciTech Book News

Mass extinctions are the most colossal catastrophes in the history of our planet. In the first work of its kind, the authors review the collective evidence--from a multidisciplinary perspective--for numerous mass extinctions by various causes such as volcanoes or meteorites. A succinct summary of the dinosaur extinction is included in the context of all other major extinctions. 102 illustrations.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [253]-307) and index.

1. The Study of Mass Extinctions

2. Extinctions in the Early History of Metazoa

3. Latest Ordovician Extinctions: One Disaster After Another

4. Crises of the Late Devonian: the Kellwasser and Hangenberg Events

5. Palaeozoic Nemesis

6. Extinctions Within and at the Close of the Triassic

7. Minor Extinctions of the Jurassic

8. Minor Mass Extinctions of the Marine Cretaceous

9. Death at the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary

10. Cenozoic Extinctions

11. The Causes of Mass Extinctions