Plio-Pleistocene Turnover in the Caribbean Reef Coral Fauna and its Relationship to Regional Environmental Change

PI将研究与加勒比珊瑚礁珊瑚动物群重大更替事件有关的灭绝和起源事件的时间、规模和选择性。项目将包括：1)在哥斯达黎加、牙买加、库拉索岛广泛收集晚中新世至更新世剖面；2)利用微化石、古地磁和Sr同位素对剖面定年；3)形态计量学鉴定标本。将比较不同的分类和生态成分，以评估对灭绝的不同易感性并确定可能的原因。研究结果将对灭绝研究和现代热带珊瑚礁生物的保护策略具有重要意义。

PI will study the timing, magnitude and selectivity of extinction and origination events associated with a major turnover episode in Caribbean reef coral fauna. Project will entail: 1) making extensive collections in late Miocene to Pleistocene sections, Costa Rica, Jamaica, Curacao; 2) dating the sections using microfossils, paleomagnetics and Sr isotopes; 3) identifying specimens by morphometrics. Differential taxonomic and ecologic components will be compared to evaulate differential susceptibility to extinction and identify possible causes. Results will have important implications for extinction studies and for conservation strategies for modern tropical reef biotas.