Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/B503576/1
The Ordovician radiation of fish: a Gondwanan perspective on diversification in fluctuating palaeoenvironments.
Grant Award
- Principal Investigator:
- Dr IJ Sansom, University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Grant held at:
- University of Birmingham, Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
- Science Area:
- Earth
- Overall Classification:
- Earth
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Science Topics:
- Palaeobiology
- Sediment/Sedimentary Processes
- Palaeoenvironments
- Systematics & Taxonomy
- Abstract:
- The Ordovician represents a time of major evolutionary radiations and extinctions within the marine realm, largely attributed to dramatically fluctuating conditions within the oceans. Concomitant with diversification within invertebrate clades, the Ordovician sees a major evolutionary radiation among the early vertebrates, and represents a critical time of extreme morphological development within the clade. By the end of the Ordovician a series of major evolutionary innovations had given rise to many of the major vertebrate groups. Cambrian vertebrates are characterised by largely naked jawless taxa, with the advent of biomineralisation occurring in the Late Cambrian, possibly restricted to the oral region. By contrast the Ordovician sees the development of widespread biomineralisation characteristic of the ostracoderms. Of particular significance is the earliest evidence for jawed vertebrates. However, the fossil record of Ordovician ostracoderms and gnathostomes is more gap than record, with our knowledge concentrated on a number of key localities in both Laurentia and Gondwana, mainly in extremely shallow marine facies. Recent work has greatly expanded the available dataset for Laurentia, and this project focuses on detailed work on known localities in Gondwana in order to assess the extent and timing of ostracoderm and gnathostome diversification in this region, the phylogenetic relationships of these taxa, and the potential external driving mechanisms behind this radiation event.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/B503576/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- Standard Grants Pre FEC
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Standard Grant
This grant award has a total value of £165,467
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - T&S | Total - Staff | Total - Other Costs | Total - Indirect Costs |
|---|---|---|---|
| £21,356 | £88,023 | £15,598 | £40,490 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.