Discovery Projects - Grant ID: DP150104659

Funded Activity Summary

Geomolecular dating with biologically relaxed clocks, and mammal evolution. This project aims to use DNA, fossils and biological cues to synergistically model evolutionary rate changes. Molecular dates allow direct comparison of evolutionary and ecological patterns and processes across the tree of life. However, current models struggle to identify the location and magnitude of molecular clock rate changes on phylogenies, often resulting in wildly inaccurate dates. Expected outcomes include improved dating accuracy, and a novel statistical framework for morphological data, which allows fossils to be more accurately merged into the tree of life. In turn, the project aims to resolve intense debate on the origins of marsupial and placental mammals, and to trace the responses of these two groups to past environmental changes.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2015

End Date: 30-04-2019

Funding Scheme: Discovery Projects

Funding Amount: $392,700.00

Funder: Australian Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Palaeontology (incl. Palynology) | Phylogeny and Comparative Analysis | Animal Systematics and Taxonomy | Evolutionary Biology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity of environments not elsewhere classified | Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences |

Other Keywords

Animal Systematics and Taxonomy | Evolutionary Biology | Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity of environments not elsewhere classified | Palaeontology (incl. Palynology) | Phylogeny and Comparative Analysis

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