NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for FY 2000

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This action funds an NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship for 2000.The research and training plan is in the area of Population Biology and is entitled, "Elucidation of Paleobiogeographic Patterns of Late Oligocene/Miocene Time Period". This project assesses the effects of large-scale tectonic and climatic perturbations from 30 to 5 million years ago in the western United States on the distributions of fossil and extant mammalian taxa. These effects are determined through the use of a GIS database of fossil taxa, Parsimony Analysis of Endemicity, and biogeographic information on extant taxa. Three hypotheses are tested: 1. Large-scale tectonic changes between thirty and five million years ago restricted gene flow and increased endemism in mammals; 2. Modern biogeographic patterns are more deeply rooted in Earth history rather than being the result of recent climatic events such as Pleistocene glaciation; 3. Mammalian species behave individualistically during times of climate change as opposed to maintaining static species' associations. This study will provide a better understanding of the role played by the physical environment on evolution as well as an increased understanding of how future climate and tectonic changes will affect biodiversity.