Early Sharks: The basal branching pattern and time-scale of chondrichthyan phylogeny

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。“这个项目重新审视了软骨鱼类的进化起源：鲨鱼、鳐和不太为人所知的银鲛。 鲨鱼及其亲属往往被描述为原始的和/或高度适应的掠食者，尽管最近公众的注意力已经转向它们的生态脆弱性和独特性，因为它们显然是古代遗传遗产的储存者。 这个项目解决了这样一个问题：如果有的话，什么是原始的关于活的鲨鱼类鱼类，并旨在将今天的分子遗传学发现和保护目标放在一个清晰和精确的进化背景下。 化石是这项研究的核心。 虽然化石很罕见，但已知的例子很多。 这项研究将采用最新的分析方法和成像技术来调查这些早期鱼类，以填补早期脊椎动物多样性知识的空白。这项研究将直接有助于为脊椎动物生命树提供坚实的基础。 该项目将为本科生、研究生和博士后级别的年轻科学家提供培训和就业机会，并具有进一步开展跨学科研究的巨大潜力。 鲨鱼吸引了人们的注意力，从而提供了一个极好的工具，通过推广计划，博物馆讲座和展览，学校参观和广播媒体来促进公众对科学的理解。 最后，本项目将在国家和国际一级建立和扩大机构间研究和教育网络。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5)." This project takes a fresh look at the evolutionary origin of cartilaginous fishes: sharks, rays, and the less well-known chimaeras. Sharks and their relatives tend to be presented as primitive and/or supremely adapted predators, although popular attention has shifted more recently towards their ecological vulnerability and uniqueness as an apparent reservoir of ancient genetic heritage. This project addresses the question of what, if anything, is primitive about living shark-like fishes, and aims to place today's molecular genetic discoveries and conservation targets within a clear and precise evolutionary context. Fossils are central to this research. While fossils are rare, remarkable examples are known. This research will employ the latest analytical methods and imaging techniques to investigate these early fishes to fill an outstanding gap in knowledge of early vertebrate diversity.This research will contribute directly to the ongoing effort to provide a robust foundation of the tree of vertebrate life. The project will deliver training and employment opportunities for young scientists at undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels, with high potential for further interdisciplinary research. Sharks grab attention, and thereby provide a superb vehicle for promoting the public understanding of science through outreach programs, museum talks and displays, school visits, and broadcast media. Finally, this project will build upon and extend networks of inter-institutional research and education at national and international levels.