RUI: Study of Fossils of Terrestrial Arthropods from the Paleozoic

SHEAR教授是早期陆生节肢动物化石研究领域公认的领军人物，包括昆虫、蜘蛛、螨虫、蝎子等。他之前的工作主要涉及泥盆纪吉尔波亚地层的材料，其中包括几个重要的发现，并对动物生命向陆地生命的转变提供了重要的启示。该奖项将为纽约和新不伦瑞克两个新的泥盆纪遗址的节肢动物化石的制备（通过氢氟酸浸渍技术）、摄影记录和比较研究提供资金。还建议开始对两个更古老的志留纪遗址的材料进行研究。泥盆纪遗址的标本保存非常完好，为已灭绝分类群的特征条件提供了重要的古生物证据，这将对不同类群的系统发育分析的极化特征有价值。毫无疑问，这个项目将带来重要的化石发现，并有助于我们了解在向陆地居住过渡的重要时刻灭绝的群落。Shear教授的科学贡献固然重要，但同样重要的是，他在一个以本科生为主的大学里，积极地让学生参与到研究过程中来。这些对培养未来科学家的贡献是必不可少的，Shear博士是为数不多的在这个令人兴奋的领域培养学生的专业背景工作者之一。＊＊＊

9508537 SHEAR Professor Shear is a recognized leader in the fossil studies of early land dwelling arthropods, including insects, spiders, mites, scorpions, etc.. His previous work, dealing mostly with materials from the Devonian Gilboa formation, has included several important discoveries and shed significant light on the transitions of animal life to a terrestrial existence. This award will provide funding for preparation (by hydroflouric acid maceration techniques), photographic documentation and comparative study of fossil arthropods from two new Devonian sites in New York and New Brunswick. Initiation of work on material from two older Silurian sites is also proposed. Specimens from the Devonian sites are exceptionally well preserved and should provide important paleontological evidence of character conditions in extinct taxa that will be valuable for polarizing characters for phylogenetic analysis of various groups. %%% This project will undoubtedly result in important fossil finds and contribute to our understanding of extinct communities at the important juncture of the transition to dwelling on land. While Professor Shear's scientific contributions are important, equally important is his active involvement of students at a predominantly undergraduate institution in the research process. Such contributions to the training of future scientists are essential and Dr. Shear is one of the few workers with the background specialization to train students in this exciting area. ***