RUI: International Correlation of Lower to Middle Cambrian Trilobite Faunas Between South China and the U.S.

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9973180McCollumThe recent discovery of cosmopolitan oryctocephalid and eodiscid trilobites across the Lower-Middle Cambrian series boundary in the North America and South China provinces allows the first direct correlation between the Old World redlichid and the New World olenellid faunal extinctions. The objective of this research is to document the trilobite faunas across this boundary on both continents, and compare the pattern of extinction, survival and recovery for the endemic species in the two provinces. This study may provide enough evidence to ascertain whether there is a single, global mass extinction at the end of the Lower Cambrian, and whether faunal recovery patterns are similar in geographically separated island continents. In addition, this study will provide a strong foundation for establishing an international stratotype boundary near the traditional Lower-Middle Cambrian series.Undergraduate students will participate in an international effort to document the end-Lower Cambrian extinction and Middle Cambrian survival and recovery faunas across the Lower-Middle Cambrian series boundary. Students will be involved in all aspects of data collection in the field and laboratory preparation, taxa identification, interpretation, presentation, and publication of results.