What is paleontology?

Paleontology is more than just dinosaurs! Paleontology is the study of the history of life on Earth, as reflected in the fossil record. Fossils are the remains or traces of organisms (plants, animals, fungi, bacteria and other single-celled living things) that lived in the geological past and are preserved in the crust of the Earth. There are many subdivisions of the field of paleontology, including vertebrate paleontology (the study of fossils of animals with backbones), invertebrate paleontology (the study of fossils of animals without backbones), micropaleontology (the study of fossils of single-celled organisms), paleobotany (the study of plant fossils), taphonomy (the study of how fossils form and are preserved), biostratigraphy (the study of the vertical distribution of fossils in rocks), and paleoecology (the study of ancient ecosystems and how they developed). Paleontologists also frequently are involved in studies of evolutionary biology.

BLM - San Rafael Swell Paleontolgy Study

History of Paleontology in Utah National Parks - Extract from ‘ Geology of Utah's Parks and Monuments 2000 Utah Geological Association Publication 28 D.A. Sprinkel, T.C. Chidsey, Jr., and P.B. Anderson, editors’

Paleontological resources Management & Protection - Extract from ‘ Geology of Utah's Parks and Monuments 2000 Utah Geological Association Publication 28 D.A. Sprinkel, T.C. Chidsey, Jr., and P.B. Anderson, editors’

Links

Utah Friends of Paleontology - a statewide non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to preserving Utah's fossil resources through public education and volunteer support of sponsoring institutions.

The Paleontological Society (http://www.paleosoc.org) - The Paleontological Society is an international organization devoted exclusively to the advancement of the science of paleontology. The Society was founded in 1908 in Baltimore, Maryland, and was incorporated in April 1968 in the District of Columbia. The Society is a nonprofit organization exempt from taxes under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. At the end of 1994, the Society had 1,591 members in several membership categories, including regular, student, retired, emeritus, and spousal. Members, representing 40 countries, consist of professional paleontologists, academicians, explorationists, science editors, earth-science teachers, museum specialists, land managers, students, amateurs, and hobbyists.

Paleontology & Fossil Resources - A selected list of web links dealing with Paleontology and Fossils.

Paleontology in the 21st century - "Museums and institutes have long been the public's first contact with paleontology. The broad public support of paleontology reflects the fascination people, particularly children, develop with exposure to worlds of the past. The unique and irreplaceable role of museums lies in the importance of objects as a spur to public imagination, as a basis for scientific research, and as a record of the history of life".

Western Interior Paleontological Society - A Denver, Colorado nonprofit organization that primarily focuses on paleontology . All aspects of the earth sciences are encouraged, however,  including geology, paleoarcheology and occasionally space sciences. Research is always strongly encouraged.The Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS) has three outstanding benefits. They are the programs, the field trips and the newsletter

Association of Applied Paleontological Sciences - a professional association of commercial fossil dealers, collectors, enthusiasts, and academic paleontologists with the purpose of promoting ethical collecting practices and cooperative liaisons with researchers, instructors, curators and exhibit managers in the paleontological academic and museum community.

Northwest Paleontological Association (NPA) - serves the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.  Formed to bring avocational and professional paleontologists together for mutual benefit and to further the science

Abstracts

NPS Paleontology Research Abstract Volume - Technical Report NPS/NRPEFO/NRTR-93/11

Dinosaur Diamond Partnership