paleontologii

Paleontology is the scientific study of the history of life on Earth based on fossils. It seeks to document the diversity of past life, trace evolutionary changes, and understand the interactions between organisms and their environments across geological time, from the Precambrian to the present. Fossils may be remains of hard parts such as bones and shells, trace fossils like footprints, or chemical signals preserved in rocks.

Researchers in paleontology combine fieldwork in sedimentary rocks with laboratory analyses. They determine ages using stratigraphy and radiometric dating, reconstruct past environments through paleoecology, and infer evolutionary relationships through comparative anatomy and phylogenetics. Taphonomy studies how organisms become fossilized and how preservation biases affect the fossil record.

Subfields include vertebrate paleontology, invertebrate paleontology, paleobotany, micropaleontology, and paleoanthropology. The discipline covers the study of dinosaurs, early mammals, ancient plants, microscopic fossils, and human ancestors, among many others. Technological advances such as computed tomography, isotopic analysis, and large-scale data analysis have expanded the ability to examine fossils non-destructively and to model ancient ecosystems.

Historically, paleontology emerged in the 19th century with the consolidation of geology and evolutionary biology, contributing to understanding of extinction events and the tree of life. Today, it informs about past climate change, biogeography, patterns of diversification, and the origins of major life forms, complementing other geological and biological sciences. Museums, universities, and field stations around the world curate fossil collections that support ongoing research and education.