Vertebrate Paleontology of Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica

南极洲南设得兰群岛利文斯顿岛的古脊椎动物学

• 批准号: 0636639
• 负责人: Ross MacPhee
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: American Museum Natural History
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2007
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2007-04-15 至 2011-03-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0636639&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Vertebrate; Paleontology; Livingston; Island; South

This exploratory project searches for fossils on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands off of the Antarctic peninsula. Strata there date from 125 to 99 million years in age, a critical time in the development of various flora and fauna. With so many unknowns in the biotic history of the Antarctic, any finds of vertebrate fossils on this little explored island will be of great significance. One key question is marsupial evolution. It is assumed that marsupials of South America and Australia transited through Antarctica, but a supporting fossil record has yet to be discovered. Related investigations on Mesozoic climate will be performed through stable isotope analysis of clay and rock samples. The broader impacts of the project include graduate student education and public outreach through a museum exhibit.

该探索项目在南极半岛附近南设得兰群岛的利文斯顿岛上寻找化石。那里的地层有 125 至 9900 万年的历史，这是各种动植物群发展的关键时期。南极的生物历史有如此多的未知数，在这个小岛上发现任何脊椎动物化石都将具有重要意义。一个关键问题是有袋动物的进化。据推测，南美洲和澳大利亚的有袋动物经过南极洲，但尚未发现支持性的化石记录。通过对粘土和岩石样品的稳定同位素分析，进行中生代气候的相关研究。该项目更广泛的影响包括研究生教育和通过博物馆展览进行公众宣传。