Collaborative Research: New Paleogene Mammal Faunas from the Andean Main Range, Chile

[9317943] Flynn这份提案要求拨款，以扩大PIs对智利中部安第斯山脉陆地哺乳动物化石动物群的研究。在过去8000万年的大部分时间里，南美洲作为一个岛屿大陆漂流。由于这种隔离而产生的非常奇特的陆地哺乳动物已经引起了生物学家两个多世纪的兴趣。pi最近在智利安第斯山脉的火山沉积物中发现了两个新的、非常意想不到的哺乳动物化石组合。这些组合有助于填补以前南美哺乳动物历史上一个非常不为人知的间隔。此外，这些化石出现在火山沉积物中，使各种“绝对”地质年代测定技术得以应用，至少为两个组合中较年轻的一个提供了精确的校准。该项目将集中于三个领域，以继续私人机构在该区域的研究。首先，将扩大实地收集和侦察工作，以发现新的地点和不同年龄的组合。其次，pi将为已知和新发现的组合建立一个完整的地质时间框架。第三，完成对这些种类繁多、保存完好的化石的准备、描述和分析。这将有助于澄清在南美洲陆地哺乳动物历史的关键时期发生的生物、环境和地质事件。

9317943 Flynn This proposal requests funding to extend the PIs' study of fossil land mammal faunas of the Andes mountain chain in central Chile. During most of the last 80 million years South America drifted as an island continent. The highly peculiar land mammals that arose as a result of this isolation have captured the interest of biologists for more than two centuries. The PIs have recently discovered two new and highly unexpected fossil mammal assemblages in volcanic sediments of the Chilean Andes. These assemblages help to fill in what was previously a very poorly understood interval in the history of South American mammals. In addition, occurrence of these fossils in volcanic deposits enables the application of various "absolute" geologic dating techniques, providing a precise calibration for at least the younger of the two assemblages. The project will focus on three areas in continuation of the PIs' study in this region. First, field collecting and reconnaissance efforts will be extended to discover new localities and assemblages of different ages. Second, the PIs will establish an integrated geological time framework for known and newly identified assemblages. Third, preparation, description, and analysis of these diverse, well preserved fossils will be completed. This will help clarify biotic, environmental, and geologic events during crucial intervals of South American land mammal history.