Fossil record of New Brunswick to shed new light on early vertebrate evolution

新不伦瑞克省的化石记录为早期脊椎动物进化提供了新的线索

• 批准号: 570412-2021
• 负责人: Maddin, Hillary
• 金额: $ 6.92万
• 依托单位: Carleton University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Alliance Grants
• 财政年份: 2021
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2021-01-01 至 2022-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=723203
• 关键词: Fossil; record; New; Brunswick; shed

Paleontology has an almost unparalleled ability to elicit interest and curiosity in people of all ages. Early engagement in paleontology via museums ignites passion for the natural sciences and other STEM fields. Museums provide rare opportunities for members of the public to directly engage with scientific discoveries and scientists in an environment intended to promote impactful, experiential learning. One of the greatest attractions at museums are the fossil galleries. The fossil record of Canada is central to our Nation's natural heritage. The world-class quality of Canada's rich fossil record is evident at numerous special places across the country. Several of these localities boast international accolades, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, in recognition of the globally significant fossils they produce. Although research is active in many of these places, several additional areas with great potential to further elevate Canadian discovery and exploration have yet to be fully explored. One such area primed to host the next big breakthrough in Canadian paleontological discovery is the Carboniferous of New Brunswick. The Carboniferous Period (359 to 299 million years ago) is a particularly important time interval in Earth's history because it saw the evolution of the major groups of living vertebrates (animals with backbones). Only a handful of sites globally preserve rocks of this age, with the potential to preserve vertebrates. In partnership with the New Brunswick Museum, our NSERC Alliance aims to develop and execute a multidisciplinary research project that will: 1) target and highlight the Carboniferous rocks of New Brunswick through annual field expeditions for the first time, 2) perform leading-edge, integrative research using newly discovered and existing fossil materials, 3) contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel (HQP) in multi-disciplinary research, and 4) communicate resulting discoveries with the public through the development of exhibits at our partner institution. Any research outcome has the potential to be of groundbreaking scientific importance, and will generate excitement via public engagement and promote tourism for the NBM, the province and Canada, more broadly.

古生物学有一种几乎无与伦比的能力，能引起所有年龄段的人的兴趣和好奇心。通过博物馆早期参与古生物学激发了人们对自然科学和其他STEM领域的热情。博物馆为公众提供了难得的机会，让他们在一个旨在促进有影响力的体验式学习的环境中直接接触科学发现和科学家。博物馆最吸引人的地方之一是化石陈列馆。加拿大的化石记录是我们国家自然遗产的核心。加拿大丰富的化石记录的世界级质量在全国许多特殊的地方都很明显。其中一些地方拥有国际赞誉，例如联合国教科文组织世界遗产，以表彰他们生产的全球重要化石。虽然在这些地方的许多研究都很活跃，但还有几个具有进一步提升加拿大发现和探索潜力的领域尚未得到充分探索。其中一个即将迎来加拿大古生物学发现下一个重大突破的地区是新玩法的石炭纪。石炭纪（3.59亿至2.99亿年前）是地球历史上一个特别重要的时期，因为它见证了主要脊椎动物（有脊椎的动物）的进化。全球只有少数几个地点保存着这个年龄的岩石，有可能保存脊椎动物。与新玩法博物馆合作，我们的NSERC联盟旨在开发和执行一个多学科研究项目，将：1）首次通过年度实地考察瞄准并突出新玩法的石炭纪岩石，2）利用新发现和现有的化石材料进行前沿的综合研究，3）促进高素质人才（HQP）在多学科研究的培训，和4）通过在我们的合作伙伴机构的展品开发与公众交流由此产生的发现。任何研究成果都有可能具有开创性的科学重要性，并将通过公众参与引起兴奋，并更广泛地促进NBM、该省和加拿大的旅游业。