Key question
How can we get more accurate phylogenies for fossil taxa?
Outline
Evolutionary trees (phylogenies) reveal patterns of evolution and biodiversity through time. For modern animals, DNA is used to make trees, with results quite stable and accurate. For fossils, DNA is lost, so morphology is used. For extant groups, DNA and morphology often conflict often due to convergent evolution masking phylogenetic signal from morphology. This aims to investigating how to use morphological data better to infer phylogenies, solving this problem. The project focuses on Archosauria, including crocodiles and birds, and bracketing the extinct dinosaurs and pterosaurs.
Methods and approaches
The project combines traditional anatomy with modern approaches such as Bayesian phylogenetics and 3D scan data.
Partners
Jérémy Anquetin – JURASSICA Museum, Fribourg, Switzerland
Duration
01.05.2017 - 30.04.2019
Funding
The project is based on a Humboldt Foundation award to Roland Sookias