Dr. Niles Eldredge (born August 25, 1943) is a paleontologist, who, along with Stephen Jay Gould, propsed the theory of Punctuated equilibrium in 1972.

Education

Eldredge began his undergraduate studies in Latin at Columbia University. Before completing his degree he changed focus, switching to the study of anthropology under Norman D. Newell . It was at this time that his work at the American Museum of Natural History began, under the combined Columbia University-American Museum graduate studies program.

Eldredge graduated summa cum laude from Columbia University in 1965, and enrolled in the doctoral program at Columbia College while continuing his research at the Museum. He completed his PhD in 1969.

Paleontology

That same year, Eldredge became Curator in the Department of Invertebrates at the American Museum of Natural History, a position which he still holds . He is also Adjunct Professor at the City University of New York. His specialty is the evolution of mid-Paleozoic phacophid trilobites: a group of extinct arthropods that lived between 543 and 245 million years ago.

Evolutionary theory

Eldrige and Stephen Jay Gould proposed punctuated equilibrium in 1972. Punctuated equilibrium is a refinement to evolutionary theory which describes patterns of descent taking place in "fits and starts" separated by long periods of stability.

Eldredge went on to develop a hierarchical vision of evolutionary and ecological systems. Around this time, he became focussed on the rapid destruction of many of the world's habitats and species. Throughout his career, he has used repeated patterns in the history of life to refine ideas on how the evolutionary process actually works.

Eldredge is a critic of the gene-centered reductionist evolutionary theory of ultra-Darwinians and the notion that evolutionary theory can be held accountable to patterns of historical data. His most recent venture is the development of an alternative account to the gene-based notions of evolutionary psychology to explain why human beings behave as they do.

Niles has published more than 160 scientific articles, books, and reviews, including "Reinventing Darwin", an examination of current controversies in evolutionary biology, and "Dominion", a consideration of the ecological and evolutionary past, present, and future of Homo sapiens.

Personal life

Eldredge enjoys playing jazz trumpet and is an avid collector of 19th century cornets. He shares his home is Ridgewood, New Jersey with his wife and more than 400 cornets.

Bibliography

• Cracraft, J. and N. Eldredge (eds.) 1979. Phylogenetic Analysis and Paleontology. Columbia University Press, New York

• Eldredge, N. and J. Cracraft. 1980. Phylogenetic Patterns and the Evolutionary Process. Method and Theory in Comparative Biology. Columbia University Press, New York, 349 p. Japanese edition, Soju Shobo, 1990

• Eldredge, N. 1982. The Monkey Business. A Scientist Looks at Creationism. Pocket Books, New York. 157 p. Japanese edition, 1992

• Eldredge, N. and I. Tattersall. 1982. The Myths of Human Evolution. Columbia University Press, New York. 197 p. Japanese edition arranged through Columbia U. Press.; Spanish edition 1986: Fondo de Cultura Economica, Mexico; Portuguese ed.: 1984, Zahar Editores, Rio de Janeiro; Italian ed., 1984: Boringheri

• Eldredge, N. and S. M. Stanley (eds.). 1984. Living Fossils. Springer Verlag, New York.

• Eldredge, N. 1985. Time Frames. Simon and Schuster, New York. 240 pp. Great Britain: Heilman; Princeton University reprint edition. Italian edition, 1991, hopefulmonster editore

• Eldredge, N. 1985. Unfinished Synthesis. Biological Hierarchies and Modern Evolutionary Thought. Oxford University Press, New York

• Eldredge, N. 1987. Life Pulse. Episodes in the History of Life. Facts on File, New York. Pelican edition (Great Britain)

• Eldredge, N. (ed.). 1987. Natural History Reader on Evolution. Columbia University Press, New York

• Eldredge, N. 1989. Macroevolutionary Dynamics: Species, Niches and Adaptive Peaks. McGraw Hill, New York. Japanese edition: McGraw Hill Publishing Co., Japan, Ltd.

• Eldredge, N., D. Eldredge and G. Eldredge. 1989. The Fossil Factory. Addison Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Massachussetts

• Eldredge, N. 1991. The Miner's Canary. Extinctions Past and Present. Prentice Hall Books, New York; English edition: Virgin Publishing, Ltd.; Korean edition: Moeum Publishers; Italian edition: Sperling and Kupfer. German Edition: Spektrum; U.S. paperback edition: Princeton University Press

• Eldredge, N. 1991. Fossils. The Evolution and Extinction of Species. Photographs by Murray Alcosser. Abrams, New York; Australian edition: Houghton Mifflin; English edition: Aurum Press; German edition: Belser Verlag

• Eldredge, N. (ed.). 1992. Systematics, Ecology and the Biodiversity Crisis. Columbia University Press, New York

• Eldredge, N. and M. Grene. 1992. Interactions. The Biological Context of Social Systems. Columbia University Press, Cambridge, Massachussetts

• Eldredge, N. 1995. Reinventing Darwin. The Great Debate at the High Table of Evolutionary Theory. John Wiley and Sons, New York; English edition: Orion; Italian edition: Einaudi Editore

• Eldredge, N. 1995. Dominion. Henry Holt and Co; paperback edition, University of California Press, 1997

• Eldredge, N. 1998. Life in the Balance. Humanity and the Biodiversity Crisis. Princeton University Press. Portugal: Dinalivre; China/Taiwan: International Publishing Co.; Poland: Proscynski; Japan: Seidosha; Spain: TusQuets; Italy: Guilo Einaudi Editore

• Eldredge, N. 1999. The Pattern of Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Co., New York

• Eldredge, N. 2000. The Triumph of Evolution...And the Failure of Creationism. W.H. Freeman and Co., New York

• Eldredge, N. (ed.). 2002. Life on Earth. An Encyclopedia of Biodiversity, Ecology and Evolution. ABC-CLIO, Santa Barbara, California

• Eldredge, N. 2004. Why We Do It. Rethinking Sex and the Selfish Gene. W.W. Norton, New York

External links

• Biographical Sketch at the American Museum of Natural History