Molecular fossils, mass extinctions and the rise of complex algae. This project aims to illuminate the fate and role of phytoplankton during the Permo-Triassic crisis, the most severe mass extinction event in Earth's history. Despite being the vital driving force of the carbon cycle, these microscopic yet essential organisms have largely evaded fossilization and their precise history remains unknown. Leveraging innovative molecular fossil technology, this project seeks to unlock this critical in ....Molecular fossils, mass extinctions and the rise of complex algae. This project aims to illuminate the fate and role of phytoplankton during the Permo-Triassic crisis, the most severe mass extinction event in Earth's history. Despite being the vital driving force of the carbon cycle, these microscopic yet essential organisms have largely evaded fossilization and their precise history remains unknown. Leveraging innovative molecular fossil technology, this project seeks to unlock this critical information, generating insights into the mechanisms behind climate-driven mass extinctions and the subsequent recovery of marine life. By doing so, this study aims to reveal how current disruptions to the base of the food chain may escalate through all levels of marine ecosystems, causing extinction.Read moreRead less
Reading the past to predict future biodiversity: a deep-time perspective. The extent of human-moderated impact on ecosystems is rapidly increasing. To date, most current research in this field is based on short-term observations or experiments. By examining the characteristics of species and ecosystem response to climate change from a major geological Ice Age ~320-265 million years ago in eastern Australia, this study will investigate how marine species and ecological communities evolved in resp ....Reading the past to predict future biodiversity: a deep-time perspective. The extent of human-moderated impact on ecosystems is rapidly increasing. To date, most current research in this field is based on short-term observations or experiments. By examining the characteristics of species and ecosystem response to climate change from a major geological Ice Age ~320-265 million years ago in eastern Australia, this study will investigate how marine species and ecological communities evolved in response to repeated glacial/interglacial cycles and associated warming/cooling climate changes. Expected findings will help to better understand the long-term links between global warming/cooling climate regimes, sea levels, changing sea-water temperature and chemistry, and species and ecosystem responses to these drivers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE230100305
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$399,064.00
Summary
Revealing the origin and early evolution of spiralian animal body plans. This project aims to reconstruct the early evolutionary history of the Spiralia, a megadiverse animal group that extends back 540 million years. Their oldest fossils represent some of the earliest known animals and can reveal much about the speed and magnitude of evolution during the Cambrian Explosion, when most animal groups rapidly appeared. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the origin and radiation of so ....Revealing the origin and early evolution of spiralian animal body plans. This project aims to reconstruct the early evolutionary history of the Spiralia, a megadiverse animal group that extends back 540 million years. Their oldest fossils represent some of the earliest known animals and can reveal much about the speed and magnitude of evolution during the Cambrian Explosion, when most animal groups rapidly appeared. This project expects to generate new knowledge on the origin and radiation of some of the first animal body plans to better understand the early history of complex life. Anticipated outcomes and benefits include a new macroevolutionary framework for spiralians, novel approaches to studying invertebrate fossils, and highlighting the scientific importance of Australia’s natural heritage.Read moreRead less