U.S.-New Zealand Planning Visit: Evolutionary Dynamics of Neogene Turritelline Gastropods

该奖项支持纽约伊萨卡古生物研究所的沃伦·阿尔蒙博士与新西兰下赫特地质与核科学研究所的詹姆斯·克兰普顿博士会面的计划访问。这次访问将有助于制定一项合作计划，以开展对新近纪甲壳类腹足类进化动力学的研究。正在提出一种多学科方法，使用化石分类群的系统发育分析、这些化石分类群现代近亲的遗传序列数据，以及新西兰新生代异常完整和研究充分的地层和古环境框架。甲壳类是新生代最丰富、种类最多的软体动物类群之一。尽管它们曾经在世界浅海几乎无处不在，但新西兰是今天少数几个可以追溯到遥远的新生代的生物物种的地方之一。这可能为研究这一重要群体的进化动力学提供了一个无与伦比的机会。这次访问之后，将在宏观和微观层面上对现代贝壳和化石贝壳进行广泛的研究。目前的收藏可能在新西兰的多个地点，将可以访问这些收藏，以进一步开展研究。预计该项目将为美国研究生提供独特的培训和教育机会，以获得全球研究经验。预计科学家和每个国家的学生之间的这些早期合作将导致长期的合作，这将使两个机构都受益。

0616719AllmonThis award supports a planning visit to enable Dr. Warren Allmon of the Paleontological Research Institute in Ithaca, New York to meet with Dr. James Crampton of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences in Lower Hutt, New Zealand. The visit will help develop a collaborative plan for undertaking research on the evolutionary dynamics of neogene turritelline gastropods. A multidisciplinary approach is being proposed using phylogenetic analysis of fossil taxa, genetic sequence data from modern relatives of those fossil taxa, and the exceptionally complete and well studied stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental framework available in the New Zealand Cenozoic. Turritellines are one of the most abundant and diverse mollusk groups in the Cenozoic period. Although they were once almost ubiquitous in the worlds shallow seas, New Zealand is one of the few places today where numerous living species can be traced backeward far into the Cenozoic. This potentially provides an unparalleled opportunity to study evolutionary dynamics in this important group. This visit will be followed by an extensive examination of both the recent and fossil shells at macro-and microscopic levels. Access to the current collections, potentially in multiple locations in New Zealand, will be available to further the research. It is also anticipated that this project will provide unique training and educational opportunities for a U.S. graduate student to obtain a global research experience. It is anticipated that these early collaborations between the scientists and students from each country will lead to long-term collaborations that will benefit both institutions.