OPUS: Extinction of the ammonites and differential survival of the nautilids at the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary

6600万年前的白垩纪-古近纪边界标志着地球历史上最后一次大灭绝事件。 其中最显著的伤亡是菊石，有壳的头足类动物与鱿鱼和章鱼有关。兰德曼博士在这个群体工作了30多年，他将综合白垩纪末头足类动物灭绝前的多样性和丰度数据。他将把这些数据与鹦鹉螺的类似数据进行比较，鹦鹉螺是一种在灭绝事件中幸存下来并生活在今天的密切相关的外部壳头足类动物。的海洋。这项研究将在地球历史的关键时刻绘制一幅菊石和鹦鹉螺“健康”的全球图景，并调查为什么菊石灭绝而鹦鹉螺没有灭绝的假设。包括灭绝在内的进化过程导致了我们今天看到的多样性生物圈。调查为什么一些谱系灭绝而另一些幸存下来将有助于我们为现代生物多样性的威胁做好准备。 灭绝是一个引起公众兴趣的概念。美国自然历史博物馆每年接待500多万游客，其中包括50万名实地考察的儿童，有能力教育公众。首席研究员将与教育专业人士合作，通过博物馆屡获殊荣的科学公报计划来展示这一综合成果。他将向高中教师介绍古近纪灭绝事件和相关的预防措施，而老师们将反过来，包括在他们的地球历史课这个话题。

The Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, 66 million years ago, marks the last great extinction event in Earth's history. Among the most notable casualties were the ammonites, shelled cephalopods related to squids and octopus. Having worked on this group for more than 30 years, Dr. Landman will synthesize data on cephalopod diversity and abundance at the end of the Cretaceous just prior to their extinction. He will compare these data to similar data on nautilids, a closely related group of externally shelled cephalopods that survived the extinction event and live in today?s oceans. This research will develop a global picture of the "health" of the ammonites and nautilids at a critical time in Earth history and investigate hypotheses on why the ammonites went extinct while the nautilids did not. The processes of evolution, including extinction, have led to the diverse biosphere we see today. Investigating why some lineages go extinct while others survive will help us prepare for the threats to modern-day biodiversity. Extinction is a concept that captures the interest of the public. The American Museum of Natural History, which receives over five million visitors a year, including 500,000 children on field trips, is well positioned to educate the public. The principal investigator will collaborate with educational professionals to feature the results of this synthesis through the Museum's award-winning Science Bulletin program. He will introduce high school teachers to the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event and the associated extinctions, and the teachers will, in turn, include this topic in their Earth History classes.