Diversity and Evolution of Birds from the Earliest Tertiary of Denmark

现存鸟类进化辐射的时间以及它们的谱系关系长期以来一直是科学争议的主题。将保存完好的解剖学上的现代鸟类的早期化石与它们现存亲属的谱系假设结合起来，为大大提高我们对这些关键问题的理解提供了巨大的潜力。这个为期三年的项目计划研究一系列保存非常完好的5500万年前的丹麦北部鸟类化石。这些化石包括完整的标本，是保存最完好的现代鸟类原始辐射的代表。对这些古代化石的研究将包括解剖描述和它们的进化关系分析，这些将发表在国际期刊上。该项目将对现代鸟类进化史的一个重要早期阶段进行全面研究。该项目将为一名西班牙裔女性初级博士后提供培训，也是对一名丹麦博士生专业发展的重要补充。此外，通过汇集一个国际研究团队（美国、爱尔兰和丹麦），该项目将加强美国和欧洲机构之间在鸟类进化生物学和古生物学研究方面的联系。

The timing of the evolutionary radiation of living birds, and their genealogical relationships have long been subjects of scientific controversy. The incorporation of well-preserved, early fossils of anatomically modern birds into genealogical hypotheses of their living relatives provides great potential for substantially improving our understanding of these critical issues. This 3-year project plans to study a series of exceptionally well-preserved, 55-million-year-old fossil birds from northern Denmark. These fossils include complete specimens that are the best-preserved representatives of the primitive radiation of modern birds. The study of these ancient fossils will involve anatomical descriptions and analyses of their evolutionary relationships, which will be published in international journals. This project will result in a comprehensive study of an important early phase of the evolutionary history of modern birds. This project will provide training for a junior female postdoctoral researcher of Hispanic background and an important supplement to the professional development of a Danish PhD student. Furthermore, by bringing together an international team of researchers (US, Ireland and Denmark), this project will strengthen the ties between American and European institutions conducting research on evolutionary biology and paleontology of birds.