Vertebrate Paleontology of Livingston Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica

这个探险项目在南极半岛南设得兰群岛的利文斯顿岛上寻找化石。那里的地层可以追溯到1.25亿到9900万年前，这是各种动植物发展的关键时期。在南极生物史上有如此多的未知数，在这个小小的探索岛屿上发现脊椎动物化石都将具有重要意义。一个关键问题是有袋类动物的进化。据推测，南美洲和澳大利亚的有袋类动物途经南极洲，但尚未发现支持这一现象的化石记录。将通过粘土和岩石样品的稳定同位素分析来进行中生代气候的相关研究。该项目的更广泛影响包括研究生教育和通过博物馆展览进行公众宣传。

This exploratory project searches for fossils on Livingston Island in the South Shetland Islands off of the Antarctic peninsula. Strata there date from 125 to 99 million years in age, a critical time in the development of various flora and fauna. With so many unknowns in the biotic history of the Antarctic, any finds of vertebrate fossils on this little explored island will be of great significance. One key question is marsupial evolution. It is assumed that marsupials of South America and Australia transited through Antarctica, but a supporting fossil record has yet to be discovered. Related investigations on Mesozoic climate will be performed through stable isotope analysis of clay and rock samples. The broader impacts of the project include graduate student education and public outreach through a museum exhibit.