SGER: Climate Change in the Middle Miocene and the Distribution of Marine Mammals - An Example from Eastern Virginia

该奖项支持野外挖掘和实验室制备一个罕见的中新世完整标本（即，1500万年前）的鲸鱼化石保存在弗吉尼亚州的一个采石场。曾经有生命的生物体的化石标本，特别是鲸的化石标本，相对稀少，但却提供了一个独特的窗口，可以了解特定地点特定时间的环境状况。虽然众所周知，鲸的多样性随着时间的推移而发生变化，但这种变化的原因尚不清楚，但科学证据暗示是气候原因。在它们的鼎盛时期，鲸鱼有20多个不同的属。今天只有六个属。有人认为，过去洋流和海面温度的变化导致了现代鲸鱼的辐射，这种动物群的变化可能与全球环境变化和大西洋的物理变化有关。例如，西南极冰盖的形成和地中海西部开口的关闭（从而减少了温暖的海水流入）导致了冷却，更陡峭的温度梯度和更复杂的洋流模式。这些变化反过来可能导致了各种海洋栖息地的发展和食物资源的分配增加。鲸鱼的挖掘工作将由当地志愿者担任现场助理。采石场的挖掘将为志愿者提供一个出色的公共教育经验，为他们提供动手科学的经验。此外，一旦挖掘出来，标本将在国家支持的弗吉尼亚自然历史博物馆公开展出。这项研究提供了一个极好的机会，以具有成本效益的方式分享联邦和州的研究和推广资源。

This award supports the field excavation and laboratory preparation of a rare whole specimen of a Miocene (i.e., 15 million years old) fossil whale preserved in a rock quarry in Virginia. Fossil specimens of once living organisms, especially those of whales, are relatively scarce and offer a unique window on environmental conditions prevailing at a particular site at a particular time.Although it is well known that whale diversity has changed over time, the reasons for such changes are unknown but the scientific evidence hints at a climatic cause. At their height, whales were represented by over twenty different genera. Today there are just six genera. It has been suggested that shifting ocean currents and sea surface temperatures in the past resulted in the radiation of modem whales and that such faunal changes might be correlated with worldwide environmental change and physical changes in the Atlantic Ocean. For example, establishment of a West Antarctic ice sheet and closure of the western opening of the Mediterranean Sea (with a consequent decrease in warm water influx) contributed to cooling, steeper temperature gradients, and more complex ocean current patterns. These changes in turn may have resulted in the development of a variety of ocean habitats and increased partitioning of food resources.The excavation of the whale will be accomplished with a crew of local volunteers serving as field assistants. The quarry excavation will provide an outstanding public educational experience for the volunteers by affording them hands-on science experience. In addition, once excavated, the specimen will be publicly displayed at the state-supported Virginia Museum of Natural History. This research presents an excellent opportunity to cost-effectively share federal and state resources for research and outreach.