Paleontologic and Paleoecologic Record of the Cambrian Radiation Event: Stratigraphic Paleontology of Central Nevada

该项目涉及详细的分类学、生物地层学和古环境分析，对以前未被研究的内华达州中部下寒武统化石动物群和地层单位(肖肖尼、托亚贝和托基马山脉)进行了分析。这项研究将提供以下内容：1)下寒武统地层单位的详细描述；2)当地下寒武统动物群的描述；3)下寒武统相的古生态分析；以及4)与北美西部其他下寒武统单位的生物地层对比。这些信息将被应用于更一般的早寒武世问题，包括：1)寒武纪辐射事件期间多样化的时间模式；2)北美西部下寒武统沉积堆积的大旋回假说的检验；3)早寒武世后生动物群的生物地理关系；4)早期后生动物群的系统发育关系；以及5)记录变化的古生态对辐射事件的实际性质的影响(以及其表观记录)。简而言之，该项目的目标是提供详细的地层学和古生物学数据，这些数据对于理解早寒武世后生动物的演化和寒武纪辐射事件的过程至关重要。

This project involves detailed taxonomic, biostratigraphic, and paleoenvironmental analyses of previously unstudied Lower Cambrian fossil faunas and stratigraphic units in Central Nevada (Shoshone, Toiyabe, and Toquima Ranges). This research will provide the following: 1) detailed descriptions of the Lower Cambrian stratigraphic units; 2) descriptions of the local Lower Cambrian faunas; 3) paleoecological analyses of Lower Cambrian facies; and 4) biostratigraphic correlations with other Lower Cambrian units in western North America. This information will then be applied to more general problems of the Early Cambrian including: 1) the temporal pattern of diversification during the Cambrian radiation event; 2) tests of the Grand Cycle hypothesis of sediment accumulation in the Lower Cambrian of western North America; 3) biogeographic relationships of Early Cambrian metazoan faunas; 4) reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationships of the early metazoan taxa; and 5) documentation of the influence of changing paleoecologies on the actual nature of the radiation event (as well as its apparent record). In short, the goal of this project is to produce the detailed stratigraphic and paleontologic data critical to understanding Early Cambrian metazoan evolution and the processes responsible for the Cambrian radiation event.