An Overview of Conservation Paleobiology

Abstract

The field of conservation paleobiology was formally established in the early 2000s, as a growing body of literature substantiating the fidelity of paleontological data on a variety of spatial and temporal scales emerged, and paleontologists became increasingly aware of the potential insights that the fossil record could provide into the current biodiversity crisis. Conservation paleobiology contributes a temporal scope and historical perspective lacking from the relatively short time spans covered by modern ecological studies, progressively in demand in the face of changing climate and environmental degradation. The increasing number of conservation paleobiology studies in the past decade validates the potential contributions of this field to conservation efforts, and fall within a range of temporal categories (e.g., ``near-time'' and ``deep-time''). Data are not restricted to fossils, but can also include historical reports and archeological evidence (conservation archeobiology). Although temporal resolution often declines with increased assemblage age, ancient ecosystems document responses to, and recoveries from, global crises. Thus, the field of conservation paleobiology, when considered in concert with historical ecology and conservation biology, has the potential to positively affect future ecosystems and biodiversity.