| title: | Vertebrates of the Palaeobaltic Sea: taxonomy, phylogeny and distribution in the Silurian and Devonian |
|---|---|
| reg no: | ETF5726 |
| project type: | Estonian Science Foundation research grant |
| subject: |
1.10. Geology |
| status: | accepted |
| institution: | Institute of Geology at Tallinn Technical University |
| head of project: | Tiiu Märss |
| duration: | 01.01.2004 - 31.12.2007 |
| description: | In the Silurian and Devonian the Palaeobaltic Sea was inhabited by the agnathans (thelodonts, heterostracans, osteostracans and anaspids) and gnathostome fishes (acanthodians, placoderms, chondrichthyans and osteichthyans (sarcopterygians and actinopterygians)) of the vertebrate phylum. Their diversity and abundance grew from the Silurian to the Devonian. By now, the taxonomy of Silurian thelodonts and anaspids, and of Devonian heterostracans, acanthodians and placoderms is well studied. Silurian heterostracans and osteostracans, and Devonian chondrichthyans and actinopterygians with micromeric dermal skeleton are less investigated. The presence of Silurian and Devonian vertebrate remains in our sections offers a unique opportunity to study the early history of these animals in the Palaeobaltic Sea.The aim of the project is to elucidate the taxonomic content of agnathans and their phylogenetic relationships within and between different groups, and with gnathostome fishes, and give their spatio-temporal distribution. For that the morphology, sculpture and microstructure of both articulated and disarticulated specimens of agnathans, and selected fish groups will be studied and a large number of characters will be used in the cladistic analyses. Phylogenetical investigations help to revise the systematics of early vertebrates, to fix the position of controversial taxa in the vertebrate phylum, and to find out the origin of gnathostomes, among others tetrapods. Biostratigraphical data help to optimize the topology of the phylogeny tree. Detailed sedimentological analyses of Baltic sections show how the environmental changes influenced the presence or absence of species. Establishing the regularities of the burial conditions of fossils will contribute to finding their remains. The results of the project will be used in the vertebrate classification, biostratigraphical studies, mapping geology, and palaeogeographical reconstructions; they will be included in the palaeoichthyological handbooks and used in teaching at the universities. |
| project group | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| no | name | institution | position | |
| 1. | Henning Blom | Cambridge Ülikooli Zooloogia Teaduskond | teadur | |
| 2. | Anne-Liis Kleesment | TTÜ Geoloogia Instituut | ||
| 3. | Tiiu Märss | Institute of Geology at Tallinn Technical University | senior scientist | |