A virtual world of paleontology

J. A. Cunningham; I. A. Rahman; S. Lautenschlager; E. J. Rayfield; P. C. J. Donoghue

doi:10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004

A virtual world of paleontology

J. A. Cunningham, I. A. Rahman, S. Lautenschlager, E. J. Rayfield, P. C. J. Donoghue

Earth and Environmental Sciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

124 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Computer-aided visualization and analysis of fossils has revolutionized the study of extinct organisms. Novel techniques allow fossils to be characterized in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail. This has enabled paleontologists to gain important insights into their anatomy, development, and preservation. New protocols allow more objective reconstructions of fossil organisms, including soft tissues, from incomplete remains. The resulting digital reconstructions can be used in functional analyses, rigorously testing long-standing hypotheses regarding the paleobiology of extinct organisms. These approaches are transforming our understanding of long-studied fossil groups, and of the narratives of organismal and ecological evolution that have been built upon them.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	347-357
Number of pages	11
Journal	Trends in Ecology & Evolution
Volume	29
Issue number	6
Early online date	10 May 2014
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014

Keywords

paleontology
digital visualization
computed tomography
functional analysis
computer modeling

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title = "A virtual world of paleontology",

abstract = "Computer-aided visualization and analysis of fossils has revolutionized the study of extinct organisms. Novel techniques allow fossils to be characterized in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail. This has enabled paleontologists to gain important insights into their anatomy, development, and preservation. New protocols allow more objective reconstructions of fossil organisms, including soft tissues, from incomplete remains. The resulting digital reconstructions can be used in functional analyses, rigorously testing long-standing hypotheses regarding the paleobiology of extinct organisms. These approaches are transforming our understanding of long-studied fossil groups, and of the narratives of organismal and ecological evolution that have been built upon them.",

keywords = "paleontology, digital visualization, computed tomography, functional analysis, computer modeling",

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AU - Cunningham, J. A.

AU - Rahman, I. A.

AU - Lautenschlager, S.

AU - Rayfield, E. J.

AU - Donoghue, P. C. J.

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - Computer-aided visualization and analysis of fossils has revolutionized the study of extinct organisms. Novel techniques allow fossils to be characterized in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail. This has enabled paleontologists to gain important insights into their anatomy, development, and preservation. New protocols allow more objective reconstructions of fossil organisms, including soft tissues, from incomplete remains. The resulting digital reconstructions can be used in functional analyses, rigorously testing long-standing hypotheses regarding the paleobiology of extinct organisms. These approaches are transforming our understanding of long-studied fossil groups, and of the narratives of organismal and ecological evolution that have been built upon them.

AB - Computer-aided visualization and analysis of fossils has revolutionized the study of extinct organisms. Novel techniques allow fossils to be characterized in three dimensions and in unprecedented detail. This has enabled paleontologists to gain important insights into their anatomy, development, and preservation. New protocols allow more objective reconstructions of fossil organisms, including soft tissues, from incomplete remains. The resulting digital reconstructions can be used in functional analyses, rigorously testing long-standing hypotheses regarding the paleobiology of extinct organisms. These approaches are transforming our understanding of long-studied fossil groups, and of the narratives of organismal and ecological evolution that have been built upon them.

KW - paleontology

KW - digital visualization

KW - computed tomography

KW - functional analysis

KW - computer modeling

U2 - 10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004

DO - 10.1016/j.tree.2014.04.004

M3 - Review article

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VL - 29

SP - 347

EP - 357

JO - Trends in Ecology & Evolution

JF - Trends in Ecology & Evolution

IS - 6

ER -

A virtual world of paleontology

Abstract

Keywords

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