U.S.-Romania Research: Jurassic and Cretaceous Decapod Crustaceans from Romania: Early Radiation Patterns in the Decapoda

这个由肯特州立大学的罗德尼·m·费尔德曼和凯莉·e·施韦策以及布加勒斯特大学的尤利亚娜·拉扎尔合作的美国-罗马尼亚研究项目的目标是扩大我们对侏罗纪和白垩纪时期十足动物化石多样性的认识，在这段时间里，十足动物的干类群体经历了重大的多样化事件，为现代十足动物的出现和扩张奠定了基础，比如螃蟹、龙虾和虾。这个由美国和罗马尼亚专家和学生组成的小组将共同研究喀尔巴阡山脉南部四个地点的沉积学历史和古生物学，由于以前进入该地区的限制，该地区没有得到很好的研究。稳定同位素分析和野外调查的新数据将结合起来描述这些组合的地学和古生态历史。由于这些山脉位于北欧和西欧之间的十字路口，已知侏罗纪时期有丰富的十足动物，南部是特提斯海道，研究人员希望确定两次主要多样化事件的中心位置。研究结果将丰富我们对十足类这一全球重要生物类群的分类、生物地层学、生物地理学和进化的认识。该古生物学项目通过使美国和中欧的专家在共同感兴趣和能力强的领域结合互补的人才和共享研究资源，实现了推进科学知识的计划目标。更广泛的影响包括，通过在喀尔巴阡山脉遗址进行实地考察，让美国学生了解到国际合作的好处，并直接参与该项目对古代沉积物和化石十足动物辐射的分析。

The goal of this U.S.-Romanian research project between Rodney M. Feldman and Carrie E. Schweitzer of Kent State University and Iuliana Lazar of the University of Bucharest is to expand our knowledge of the diversity of fossil decapods during Jurassic and Cretaceous time intervals when stem groups of the order experienced major diversification events that set the stage for the appearance, then expansion, of modern decapod fauna, such as crabs, lobsters and shrimp. The team of U.S. and Romanian experts and students will jointly examine the sedimentological history and paleontology of four sites in the southern Carpathian Mountains, a region that has not been well studied due to previously limited access. Stable isotope analyses and new data derived from the fieldwork will be combined to describe the taphonomic and paleoecological history of the assemblages. Because these mountains lie at a crossroads between northern and western Europe, known to contain rich decapod faunas in the Jurassic and the Tethyan seaway to the south, the researchers hope to determine where the two major diversification events were centered. Results are expected to enrich our understanding of the taxonomy, biostratigraphy, biogeography and evolution of decapods, a globally important group of organisms. This project in paleontology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling experts in the United States and Central Europe to combine complementary talents and share research resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence. Broader impacts include the introduction of U.S. students to the benefits of international collaboration through fieldwork at Carpathian sites and direct involvement in the project's analysis of ancient sediments and fossil decapod radiation.