The enigmatic origins of the dominant flowering plant groups are reviewed in this book.

This book was originally published in 1989. The dramatic radiation of the angiosperms towards the end of the Early Cretaceous initiated major changes in terrestrial ecosystems throughout the world. Dramatic changes in the flora and fauna were exemplified by the development of angiosperm-dominated plant communities and the rapid diversification of mammals, birds and insects. Written specifically for use by advanced undergraduate and graduate students, the book presents an overview of works on the origins of angiosperms and the ecological effects upon terrestrial life of their rapid radiation. It will be of particular value to students of palaeobiology and ecology, as well as to those studying evolutionary biology and systematics.

This book discusses the controversial and conflicting hypotheses on the origin of angiosperms, which was generally assumed to be restricted to the Cretaceous and later ages. Since publishing the first edition of “The Dawn of Angiosperms” in 2010, several important advances have been made in this field of science, namely 1) the discovery of new fossil angiosperms from the Jurassic; 2) European researchers discovering angiosperm-like pollen from the Triassic; and most importantly 3) the discovery of a perfect flower from the Jurassic. All of these findings are at odds with the currently widely accepted evolutionary theories, and thus call upon us to critically reassess botanical theory. Accordingly, the new edition of this book not only includes more new fossil taxa, but also documents them in greater detail and corrects many commonly held misconceptions. In so doing, it makes related studies and teaching on the early history of angiosperms more realistic, concrete, and tangible, providing concrete fossil evidence as the basis for future research, and helping to distinguish the most accurate botanical hypotheses.

A paleontologist awakens us to the "extinction event" that human activity is bringing about today The natural world as humans have always known it evolved close to 100 million years ago, with the appearance of flowering plants and pollinating insects during the age of the dinosaurs. Its tremendous history is now in danger of profound, catastrophic disruption. In Terra, a brilliant synthesis of evolutionary biology, paleontology, and modern environmental science, Michael Novacek shows how all three can help us understand and prevent what he (and others) call today's "mass extinction event." Humanity's use of land, our consumption, the pollution we create, and our contributions to global warming are causing this crisis. True, the fossil record of hundreds of millions of years reveals that wild and bounteous nature has always evolved not quietly but thunderously, as species arise, flourish, die off, and are replaced by new species. We learn from paleontology and archaeology that for 50,000 years, human hunting, mining, and agriculture have changed many localities, sometimes irrevocably. But today, Novacek insists, our behavior endangers the entire global ecosystem. And if we disregard—through ignorance, antipathy, or apathy—the theory of evolution that developed with our modern understanding of the Earth's past, we not only impede enlightenment but threaten any practical strategy for our own survival. The evolutionary future of the entire living planet depends on our understanding this.