The Vegetation of Antarctica through Geological Time

The fossil history of plant life in Antarctica is central to our understanding of the evolution of vegetation through geological time and also plays a key role in reconstructing past configurations of the continents and associated climatic conditions. This book provides the only detailed overview of the development of Antarctic vegetation from the Devonian period to the present day, presenting Earth scientists with valuable insights into the break up of the ancient supercontinent of Gondwana. Details of specific floras and ecosystems are provided within the context of changing geological, geographical and environmental conditions, alongside comparisons with contemporaneous and modern ecosystems. The authors demonstrate how palaeobotany contributes to our understanding of the palaeoenvironmental changes in the southern hemisphere during this period of Earth history. The book is a complete and up-to-date reference for researchers and students in Antarctic palaeobotany and terrestrial palaeoecology.

Authors
David J. Cantrill is Chief Botanist and Director of the National Herbarium of Victoria at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Australia. Throughout his academic life he has undertaken extensive work across the Southern Hemisphere, particularly Antarctica, researching fossil floras from the Permian to early Cenozoic. His research into Antarctic biotas has concentrated on the systematic composition of floras, palaeoecology, the role of
Antarctica in mediating climate and biogeographic patterns during Gondwana break-up, and developing present-day patterns of austral plant distribution.
Imogen Poole is a Senior Research Fellow at Utrecht University and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen. She has worked extensively on palaeovegetational, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic interpretations of Cretaceous and younger floras from both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. A particular focus of her research has
been determining the floristic composition of high latitude Antarctic floras and reconstructing the palaeoenvironment and climate of these early angiospermous ecosystems.

Authorship sequence is purely alphabetical as both authors contributed equally to thecompilation of this book.