Bivalves: An Eon of Evolution. Paleobiological Studies Honoring Norman D. Newell

Abstract

Bivalves: An Eon of Evolution. Paleobiological Studies Honoring Norman D. Newell, Paul A. Johnston and James W. Haggart (Editors), 1998, University of Calgary Press, Alberta, xiv + 461 p. (Hardcover $59.95) ISBN 1-55238-005-X; (Softcover $44.95) ISBN 1-55238-004-1. This collection of 30 papers on bivalves is centered around the papers presented at the conference on the Paleobiology and Evolution of the Bivalvia held at the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, Drumheller, Alberta, in the fall of 1995. A check against the conference participants shows that half of the papers were not read at the conference, which was dedicated to Norman D. Newell in celebration of some 60 years' work on bivalves. The Foreword is aptly penned by Stephen Jay Gould who was one of Newell's PhD students. Apart from Waller's keynote address, all the other papers in the volume are arranged in alphabetical order of authors. Why the editors chose this arrangement remains a mystery, because many groupings suggest themselves, such as paleoecology, phylogeny, molecular phylogeny, macroevolution, microevolution non-marine bivalves, etc. However, it is easy enough to find the paper you want quickly once the arrangement is grasped, without recourse to the Contents pages. This is thanks to the clear running heads. The first and longest paper in the volume is Waller's keynote address comprising a thorough review of the phylogeny of the major groups, and a phylogeny and origin of the class Bivalvia. This is based on an analysis of shared derived characters. Apomorphies are listed for each group that Waller discusses and cladograms illustrate the proposed relationships. One association that is revealed by this analysis is the grouping of the Scaphopoda with the Gastropoda and Cephalopoda as opposed to their usual grouping with the Bivalvia and Rostroconchia. The reasons for this fundamental change is based on the early development …