Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
University of Saskatchewan
$61,000.00
Ichnologic evidence of ecospace utilization in mid to late Paleozoic marine environments
EF 2020-21
Résumé
Ichnology comprises the study of biogenic structures that result from the interactions between organisms and the substrate. Because trace fossils are commonly produced by soft-bodied animals, they are not subjected to the same preservational constrains than body fossils. The study of trace fossils has much to contribute to our understanding of the changing ecology of the past by providing a perspective of animal-substrate interactions in deep time. Also, because trace fossils typically display a close link with environmental factors and facies analysis has become an increasingly refined technique, it is possible to provide a more detailed characterization of facies constraints for trace fossils than for body fossils. Although the majority of ichnologic studies dealing with macroevolutionary implications has focused on degree of bioturbation, a more sophisticated and rich set of conceptual and methodological tools is currently available, including ichnodiversity, ichnodisparity and analysis of benthic ecospace occupation and ecosystem engineering. This proposal aims to further explore patterns of ecospace utilization during the mid to late Paleozoic. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to: (1) document Silurian to Permian marine ichnofaunas in their environmental context, (2) assess ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity trajectories during the Silurian to Permian, and (3) analyze ecospace utilization and ecosystem engineering along the marine depositional profile during the middle to late Paleozoic. This project implies compilation of a database for the Silurian-Permian, revision of trace-fossil collections, and fieldwork in various key Silurian-Permian localities. By expanding research to the rest of the Paleozoic, this project represents a continuation of a broader research program undertaken by the applicant. The significance of this project is demonstrated by the fact that the suggested approach has already generated the publication of high-impact papers for the Ediacaran-Ordovician timespan.
Programme
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Saskatchewan, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
RGPIN-2020-03974
Name nom
Buatois, Luis
Department département
Geological Sciences
Organization id
16
Institution établissement
University of Saskatchewan
Province en
Saskatchewan
Province fr
Saskatchewan
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2020
Competition year année de concours
2020
Award amount
61000
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
Discovery grants programs
Group fr
Programmes de subventions à la découverte
Committee code
1506
Committee name en
Geosciences
Committee name fr
Géosciences
Area of application code
1203
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Earth sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences de la terre
Research subject code
4000
Research subject group en
Earth science
Research subject group fr
Sciences de la terre
Research subject en
Earth science (see also marine geology 4604)
Research subject fr
Sciences de la terre (voir aussi géologie marine, 4604)
Installment
inst:1-5
Partie
5
Nb partie
5
Application title
Ichnologic evidence of ecospace utilization in mid to late Paleozoic marine environments
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Ichnology comprises the study of biogenic structures that result from the interactions between organisms and the substrate. Because trace fossils are commonly produced by soft-bodied animals, they are not subjected to the same preservational constrains than body fossils. The study of trace fossils has much to contribute to our understanding of the changing ecology of the past by providing a perspective of animal-substrate interactions in deep time. Also, because trace fossils typically display a close link with environmental factors and facies analysis has become an increasingly refined technique, it is possible to provide a more detailed characterization of facies constraints for trace fossils than for body fossils. Although the majority of ichnologic studies dealing with macroevolutionary implications has focused on degree of bioturbation, a more sophisticated and rich set of conceptual and methodological tools is currently available, including ichnodiversity, ichnodisparity and analysis of benthic ecospace occupation and ecosystem engineering. This proposal aims to further explore patterns of ecospace utilization during the mid to late Paleozoic. Therefore, the objectives of this project are to: (1) document Silurian to Permian marine ichnofaunas in their environmental context, (2) assess ichnodiversity and ichnodisparity trajectories during the Silurian to Permian, and (3) analyze ecospace utilization and ecosystem engineering along the marine depositional profile during the middle to late Paleozoic. This project implies compilation of a database for the Silurian-Permian, revision of trace-fossil collections, and fieldwork in various key Silurian-Permian localities. By expanding research to the rest of the Paleozoic, this project represents a continuation of a broader research program undertaken by the applicant. The significance of this project is demonstrated by the fact that the suggested approach has already generated the publication of high-impact papers for the Ediacaran-Ordovician timespan.
