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CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
32nd International Geological Congress, Florence, August 20-28, 2004
Session G-17.3
Paleobiodiversity and major biotic changes in Earth History
Conveners: Francesca Bosellini, Gian Luigi Pillola & Brian Rosen
Palaeontological research on biodiversity has concentrated on global-scale patterns of diversity of taxa and of broad ecological groups, especially with respect to mass extinctions. However, biodiversity was originally defined to include all biological levels from genetics to ecosystems and landscapes. Here we invite papers that address any biodiversity level, or relationships between levels, with an emphasis on radiations and background trends through time.
Palaeontology provides historical perspectives from long-term patterns, and therefore complements studies of living biodiversity. After several decades of research however, there is still no satisfactory universal model for taxonomic biodiversity that integrates ongoing (‘maintenance’) and historical processes. Therefore we particularly encourage papers that identify problems which currently hinder our progress towards an integrated theory of biodiversity and suggest ways forward. Papers may be based on any group(s) of organisms. Possible subjects include:
- measurement and analysis of biodiversity
- development of open-access databases
- sampling controls
- phylogenetic constraints, including molecular vs palaeontological patterns
- modelling (e.g. causal links between earth system processes and life processes)
- methods for investigating controlling factors
- problems of scale (e.g. relative importance of ecological, regional and global factors)
- roles and relative importance of tectonic, eustatic, climatic, oceanographic and biogeochemical factors
- proxies for, and possible roles of, nutrients
- Adaptive innovations, including role of symbioses
The deadline for abstract submission (oral or poster presentation) is January 10th 2004. Please follow the guidelines available at .
For further information feel free to contact the conveners:
Francesca Bosellini: frabos@unimore.it
Gian Luigi Pillola: pillolag@unica.it
Brian Rosen: b.rosen@nhm.ac.uk
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