Packrat middens : the last 40,000 years of biotic change /

Provides a detailed introduction to the study of paleoecology, using the fossilized plant and animal remains that had been accumulated by pack rats (genus Neotoma) over the last 40,000 years. The first section contains descriptions of pack rat natural history and ecology, including detailed analyses of the degrees to which the contents of the middens represent random samples of the local biota. Other sections include regional analyses for parts of western North America, Africa, Australia, and the Middle East. Five chapters consider more narrowly defined groups of organisms, including analyses of arthropods, grasses, and mammals. Because of the specialized nature of the topic, most chapters are rather densely written. However, information is presented in sufficient detail to be useful to the specialist, and the tables and figures are well designed and clearly reproduced. The book will be useful to graduate-level workers in paleoecology, particularly those interested in the more recent history of the regions covered. -P. E. Hertz, Barnard College