Dissertation Research: Pliocene Mammalian Fauna of the Ndolanya Beds, Laetoli, Northern Tanzania

上新世是一个戏剧性的进化时期， 东非的气候变化，但人们对此知之甚少。 这个项目将增进我们对哺乳动物进化的了解 在这一时期，通过分析丰富的材料， 坦桑尼亚北方莱托利的Ndolanya床。 这是其中一 几个网站，日期到这个重要时期;其地理 位置和时间之间的放置莱托利尔床和 Olduvai床我使它特别重要。 具体而言是 学生，与著名的地质学家，人类学家， 生物学家们将试图精确确定恩多兰亚河的年代 动物区系和确定以前没有充分记录的脊椎动物 分类群 这将使学生能够重建 该地区的古环境。 这项研究有可能产生重要影响 古人类学和我们对环境的了解 上新世人类生活的地方 它将提供适当的 地质和时间上的控制， （南方古猿鲍氏和能人）可以放在他们的 环境背景。

The Pliocene was a time of dramatic evolutionary and climatic change in East Africa, yet it is poorly understood. This project will enhance our knowledge of mammalian evolution during this period by analyzing the abundant materials from the Ndolanya Beds at Laetoli, northern Tanzania. This is one of the few sites that dates to this important period; its geographical location and temporal placement between the Laetolil Bed and Olduvai Bed I make it especially important. Specifically, the student, working with noted geologists, anthropologists, and biologists, will attempt to refine the dating of the Ndolanya fauna and identify previously inadequately documented vertebrate taxa. This will enable the student to reconstruct the paleoenvironment of the area. The research has the potential to have an important impact on paleoanthropology and our knowledge of the environment in which Pliocene hominidae lived. It will provide proper geological and temporal controls so that hominidae finds (Australopithecus boisei and Homo habilis) can be placed in their environmental context.