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

肯特州立大学的Rodney M.Feldman和Carrie E.Schweitzer以及布加勒斯特大学的Iuliana Lazar共同开展的这一美国-罗马尼亚研究项目的目标是扩大我们对侏罗纪和白垩纪十足类化石多样性的了解，当时该目的茎类经历了重大的多样化事件，为现代十足类动物的出现和扩展奠定了基础，如螃蟹、龙虾和虾。由美国和罗马尼亚的专家和学生组成的团队将联合研究喀尔巴底山脉南部四个地点的沉积学历史和古生物学，该地区由于之前访问机会有限而没有得到很好的研究。稳定同位素分析和从野外工作中获得的新数据将结合起来描述这些组合的挖掘学和古生态历史。由于这些山脉位于北欧和西欧的十字路口，以侏罗纪丰富的十足类动物群和南部的特提斯海而闻名，研究人员希望确定这两个主要的多样化事件的中心位置。这些结果有望丰富我们对十足类的分类学、生物地层学、生物地理学和进化的理解，十足类是全球重要的一类生物。这个古生物学项目通过使美国和中欧的专家能够结合互补的人才并在相互感兴趣和能力很强的领域共享研究资源，实现了促进科学知识发展的计划目标。更广泛的影响包括向美国学生介绍国际合作的好处，通过在喀尔巴斯山遗址进行实地考察，以及直接参与该项目对古代沉积物和十足类化石辐射的分析。

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.