A Sea without Fish: Life in the Ordovician Sea of the Cincinnati Region (Life of the Past)

The region around Cincinnati, Ohio, is known throughout the world for the abundant and beautiful fossils found in limestones and shales that were deposited as sediments on the sea floor during the Ordovician Period, about 450 million years ago -- some 250 million years before the dinosaurs lived. In Ordovician time, the shallow sea that covered much of what is now the North American continent teemed with marine life. The Cincinnati area has yielded some of the world's most abundant and best-preserved fossils of invertebrate animals such as trilobites, bryozoans, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoderms, and graptolites. So famous are the Ordovician fossils and rocks of the Cincinnati region that geologists use the term "Cincinnatian" for strata of the same age all over North America. This book synthesizes more than 150 years of research on this fossil treasure-trove, describing and illustrating the fossils, the life habits of the animals represented, their communities, and living relatives, as well as the nature of the rock strata in which they are found and the environmental conditions of the ancient sea. The Region Around Cincinnati, Ohio, Is Known Throughout The World For The Abundant And Beautiful Fossils Found In Limestones And Shales That Were Deposited As Sediments On The Sea Floor During The Ordovician Period, About 450 Million Years Ago - Some 250 Million Years Before The Dinosaurs Lived. In Ordovician Time, The Shallow Sea That Covered Much Of What Is Now The North American Continent Teemed With Marine Life. The Cincinnati Area Has Yielded Some Of The World's Most Abundant And Best-preserved Fossils Of Invertebrate Animals Such As Trilobites, Bryozoans, Brachiopods, Mollusks, Echinoderms, And Graptolites. So Famous Are The Ordovician Fossils And Rocks Of The Cincinnati Region That Geologists Use The Term Cincinnation For Strata Of The Same Age All Over North America. This Generously Illustrated Book Synthesizes More Than 150 Years Of Research On This Fossil Treasure Trove. It Details The Life Habits Of The Animals Whose Remains These Are, Their Communities, Their Living Relatives, And The Environmental Conditions Of The Ancient Sea, As Well As The Nature Of The Rock Strata In Witch The Fossils Are Found. The Book Also Traces The Long History Of Scientific Study In This Field Laboratory That Spawned Generations Of Paleontologists And Geologists Who Were Inspired By The Cincinnatian Fossils. Intended For Amateur Scientists As Well As Trained Students And Researchers, This Exceptional Volume Reveals Not Only What, But How We Know What We Know About This Remarkable Sea Without Fish.--book Jacket. Introduction -- Science In The Hinterland : The Cincinnati School Of Paleontology -- Naming And Classifying Organisms -- Rocks, Fossils, And Time -- Algae : The Base Of The Food Chain -- Poriferans And Cnidarians : Sponges, Corals, And Jellyfish -- Bryozoans : Twigs And Bones -- Brachiopods : The Other Bivalves -- Molluscs : Hard, But With A Soft Center -- Annelids And Worm-like Fossils -- Arthropods : Trilobites And Other Legged Creatures -- Echinoderms : A World Unto Themselves -- Graptolites And Conodonts : Our Closest Relatives? -- Type-cincinnatian Trace Fossils : Tracks, Trails, And Burrows -- Paleogeography And Paleoenvironment / By Steven M. Holland -- Life In The Cincinnatian Sea -- Diving In The Cincinnatian Sea. David L. Meyer And Richard Arnold Davis ; With A Chapter By Steven M. Holland. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 295-[322]) And Index. A “superbly written, richly illustrated” guide to the animals who lived 450 million years ago—in the fossil-rich area where Cincinnati, Ohio now stands (Rocks & Minerals).The region around Cincinnati, Ohio, is known throughout the world for the abundant and beautiful fossils found in limestones and shales that were deposited as sediments on the sea floor during the Ordovician Period, about 450 million years ago—some 250 million years before the dinosaurs lived. In Ordovician time, the shallow sea that covered much of what is now the North American continent teemed with marine life. The Cincinnati area has yielded some of the world's most abundant and best-preserved fossils of invertebrate animals such as trilobites, bryozoans, brachiopods, molluscs, echinoderms, and graptolites.So famous are the Ordovician fossils and rocks of the Cincinnati region that geologists use the term “Cincinnatian” for strata of the same age all over North America. This book synthesizes more than 150 years of research on this fossil treasure-trove, describing and illustrating the fossils, the life habits of the animals represented, their communities, and living relatives, as well as the nature of the rock strata in which they are found and the environmental conditions of the ancient sea.“A fascinating glimpse of a long-extinct ecosystem.” —Choice Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 12 1 Introduction......Page 18 2 Science in the Hinterland: The Cincinnati School of Paleontology......Page 32 3 Naming and Classifying Organisms......Page 54 4 Rocks, Fossils, and Time......Page 62 5 Algae: the Base of the Food Chain......Page 84 6 Poriferans and Cnidarians: Sponges, Corals, and Jellyfish......Page 88 7 Bryozoans: "Twigs" and "Bones"......Page 102 8 Brachiopods: the Other Bivalvs......Page 116 9 Molluscs: Hard, But With a Soft Center......Page 134 10 Annelids and Worm-Like Fossils......Page 160 11 Arthropods: Trilobites and Other Legged Creatures......Page 164 plates......Page 177 12 Echinoderms: A World Unto Themselves......Page 200 13 Graptolites and Conodonts: Our Closest Relatives?......Page 228 14 Type-Cincinnatian Trace Fossils: Tracks, Trails, and Burrows......Page 236 15 Paleogeography and Paleoenvironment......Page 248 16 Life in the Cincinnatin Sea......Page 262 Appendix 1 Resoruces: Where to to for more information......Page 288 Appendix 2 Individuals and institutions associated with the type-Cincinnatian......Page 292 Glossary......Page 312 References Cited......Page 328 Index......Page 356 About the Authors......Page 380 Introduction Science in the Hinterland Naming and classifying organisms Rocks, fossils, and time Algae Poriferans and Cnidarians Bryozoans Brachiopods Molluscs Annelids and worm-like fossils Arthropods Echinoderms Graptolites and conodonts Type-cincinnatian trace fossils Paleogeography and paleoenvironment / by Steven M. Holland Life in the Cincinnatian sea Diving in the Cincinnatian sea Where to go for more information Individuals and institutions associated with the type-Cincinnatian Glossary.