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.

该探索性项目在南极半岛附近的南设得兰群岛的利文斯顿岛上寻找化石。那里的地层的年龄从125至9,900万年，这是各种动植物和动植物开发的关键时期。在南极的生物史上，有这么多未知数，在这个被探索的小岛上的任何脊椎动物化石的发现都将具有重要意义。一个关键问题是有袋动物的进化。假定南美和澳大利亚的有袋动物通过南极过渡，但尚未发现支持化石记录。中生代气候的相关研究将通过粘土和岩石样品的稳定同位素分析进行​​。该项目的更广泛影响包括通过博物馆展览的研究生教育和公共宣传。