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Geophysics – Physics of the Earth and its vicinity; Magnetochemistry – Study of magnetic properties of chemical compounds; Paleoclimatology – Study of changes in ancient climate; Plate reconstruction – Process of reconstructing the positions of tectonic plates in the geological past; Rock magnetism – The study of magnetism in rocks
Hence, paleontology overlaps with geology (the study of rocks and rock formations) as well as with botany, biology, zoology and ecology – fields concerned with life forms and how they interact. The major subdivisions of paleontology include paleozoology (animals), paleobotany (plants) and micropaleontology (microfossils).
Paleontology (/ ˌ p eɪ l i ɒ n ˈ t ɒ l ə dʒ i, ˌ p æ l i-,-ən-/ PAY-lee-on-TOL-ə-jee, PAL-ee-, -ən-), also spelled palaeontology [a] or palæontology, is the scientific study of life that existed prior to the start of the Holocene epoch (roughly 11,700 years before present).
It incorporates aspects of chemistry, physics, and biology as elements of geology interact. Historical geology is the application of geology to interpret Earth history and how it has changed over time. Geochemistry studies the chemical components and processes of the Earth. Geophysics studies the physical properties of the Earth.
Paleozoology uses the methods and principles of paleobiology to understand fauna, both vertebrates and invertebrates. See also vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology, as well as paleoanthropology. Micropaleontology applies paleobiologic principles and methods to archaea, bacteria, protists and microscopic pollen/spores.
[1] In 2007 he was awarded the Society's Paleontological Society Medal, which is "awarded to a person whose eminence is based on advancement of knowledge in paleontology." [1] In 2006 Stanley was awarded the Mary Clark Thompson Medal by the National Academy of Sciences [2] and in 2008 the William H. Twenhofel Medal by the Society for ...
A third way is by approaches, such as field biology, theoretical biology, experimental evolution, and paleontology. These alternative ways of dividing up the subject have been combined with evolutionary biology to create subfields like evolutionary ecology and evolutionary developmental biology.