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Future Research Directions in PALEONTOLOGY

Report of a Workshop Held April 8-9, 2006

Sponsored by the National Foundation

Hosted by the Department of , National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution

Organized by the Paleontological Society

In Cooperation With the Society of

1 Executive Summary

3 Future Research Directions in Paleontology (FRDP)

5 Section 1 A Proposal for Deep Time Earth Life Observatories (DETELOs)

9 Section 2 A Proposal for Paleontological Probes (PALPROBEs) to Determine the Effects of Human-Induced Environmental Change

13 Section 3 Database and Museum Collection Development and Integration

16 Section 4 Development of the Role of Professional Paleontological Societies to Promote Paleontology and Paleontological Research

20 Section 5 Increase in Federal Research Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

23 Conclusions

24 Contributors

Executive Summary

Five initiatives are proposed that will allow paleontologists to fully take advantage of the extraordinary opportunities which currently exist for paleontological research. These include proposals for the development of two new paleontological research programs, as well as initiatives aimed at improving the support and management of paleoinformatics and museum resources, increasing involvement of professional societies in the promo- tion of paleontology to other and the public, and provision of necessary opportunities for the next generation of paleontologists.

Deep Time Earth Life Observatories (DETELOs) coordinated field work and analyses. DETELOs Studies of deep time provide a unique perspective would provide significant opportunities for junior on the processes driving the Earth-Life system that faculty and postdoctoral scholars and include joint cannot be studied in the present or in recent history. training of graduate students. Typically research on deep time has proceeded within Given the variety of problems of sufficient scope to the framework of the single investigator. Deep Time require such attention, we suggest that allocation of Earth Life Observatories are proposed as a program $4 million per (2007 dollars) by the National that would allow focused efforts by teams of scientists Science Foundation (NSF) would be sufficient to fund to increase the pace towards solution of highly signifi- three such observatories at approximately $1 million cant problems within a systems framework. per year with an additional $1 million per year devoted These DETELOs would involve integrated teams to supporting the associated infrastructure costs. of perhaps 10-20 paleontologists, geochemists, stratigraphers, geochronologists, paleoclimatologists, Paleontological Probes (PALPROBEs) modelers and other geoscientists focusing on ques- Anthropogenic influences are adversely affecting tions of sufficient interest as to justify such an effort. biodiversity and in ways that might be Each observatory would last for 5-10 (an initial irreversible. Present-day environmental and biologi- 5 year grant followed by a possible renewal). Projects cal monitoring of these systems is insufficient for would need to integrate existing data sets, develop understanding anthropogenic effects because they quantitative, process-based models, as well as plan

Future Research Directions in Paleontology

lack a critical, deep-time perspective. A program of Increasing the Role of Professional Paleontological Probes (PALPROBEs) is proposed to Paleontological Societies generate studies that will provide unique information The professional societies have a major role to play on species response to rapidly changing environmen- in fostering and sustaining future research directions tal conditions. PALPROBE grants would be smaller in paleontology, including the growth of new com- than those for DETELOs, involving several PIs, but munity-wide research programs. It is generally agreed would be larger than the typical NSF individual that the societies would benefit from more frequent investigator grants. As for DETELOs, PALPROBE interactions and improved coordination. Benefits grants would emphasize providing support for junior could include establishment of circumstances to faculty, postdoctoral scholars, and training of grad- foster innovative research, development of a more uate students. unified vision of research goals and opportunities, For the PALPROBE program to obtain a sufficient and creation of opportunities to educate the public start we envision this would entail $1 million per on subjects of general relevance. year for 5 years which would fund 5 projects run- ning in any given year. Thus grants for the PAL- Increased Funding Opportunities for Graduate PROBE program would be significantly smaller than Students and Postdoctoral Scholars those envisioned for DETELOs. Intellectual interest in paleobiology is growing among a range of disciplines. However there is a lack Database and Museum Collection Development of funds for graduate student research as well as and Integration postdoctoral positions available for paleobiologists. Paleoinformatics is proving to be of increasing Several solutions are apparent. These include adjust- importance to both biology and to geology. ing funding allocations within NSF so as to allow Increasingly, research couples both databases and routine funding of postdoctoral positions through collections in order to answer broad evolutionary paleobiology grants, as well as reconstitution of NSF and/or deep time questions. Databases and museums Division of Earth (EAR) funded postdoc- undergird integrative multiuser research initiatives as toral positions for paleobiology. To improve funding well as individual projects. Being able to combine for graduate students it is recommended that NSF different datasets provides opportunities to ask new EAR establish a Doctoral Dissertation Improvement and more widely ranging questions in deep time Grant program. Special attention for inclusion of studies. Development and integration of museum funds for graduate student training and postdoctoral collections and comprehensive databases such as the support should also be a high priority in the Paleobiological Database (PBDB) and CHRONOS DETELO and PALPROBE programs. requires long-term support and stability from funding agencies.

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Future Research Directions in Paleontology (FRDP)

Never before has the study of past life been as coherent and prioritized set of scientific goals that exciting and as urgent. Technical advances present will guide its research activities over the next decade. unprecedented opportunities for dissecting causal These research goals will establish the context for relationships between patterns of organic and specific projects that will be devoted to reaching environmental change chronicled in the sedimentary them and will define what resources will be required record of deep time. Elevated rates of global change to accomplish them. give such studies pressing societal significance. New These goals will need to be addressed not just by understanding of the relationships between paleontologists, but by teams of scientists represent- and organismal form offer a wider perspective on the ing a broad variety of expertise. This contrasts with evolutionary , with paleobiology serv- the traditional academic approach of the science, ing as an empirical arbitrator in debates that span a which emphasized the role of individual investigators vast array of biological disciplines. For example, the in pursuit of their own research agendas. use of has become a critical part of calibrating the molecular clock and establishing the divergence As a major step towards developing these goals, the times of lineages. Paleontological Society (PS), in conjunction with the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP), has At the same time, funding levels to support launched a community based effort on Future paleontological research have proven increasingly Research Directions in Paleontology (FRDP). This inadequate, both for the development of new and effort has focused on: promising research directions and for the growth and maintenance of critical intellectual and physi- > Recognizing large-scale collaborative projects cal infrastructure. Paleobiological research current- that will attract substantial new funding. ly receives about $3 million per year through > Emphasizing the crucial insights that paleonto- NSF’s EAR budget. This accounts for approxi- logical research can return to society in efforts to mately 2.5 % of the EAR budget and 0.5% of understand and manage environmental change NSF’s overall Geosciences budget. Thus we have caused by anthropogenic influence. reached a critical juncture: although the intellectu- al prospects of paleobiology have never been > Developing mechanisms to enhance paleonto- brighter, funding opportunities are lagging well logical infrastructure, particularly in the form of behind needs. additional support for museum collections and databases. Consequently, it has become increasingly clear that the paleontological community needs to articulate a > Improving funding for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

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> Increasing the role of professional societies in which included an information and brain-storming enhancing and disseminating paleontological session, as well as a similar research forum at the research, as well as acting as advocates for the Geological Society of America (GSA) Annual profession. Meeting (October 14-19, 2005), held in conjunction with the PS Annual Meeting, in Salt Lake City. With a community-based aproach, this effort has Following the workshop a forum was held at the emphasized outreach to the paleontological commu- GSA Annual Meeting in Philadelphia (October 22- nity to generate ideas on 25, 2006) to present the avenues of research and results from the workshop for professional development With a community-based aproach, this broader discussion by mem- that the broad spectrum effort has emphasized outreach to the bers of the paleontological of paleontologists views as paleontological community to generate community. of great significance. ideas on avenues of research and pro- The current products The centerpiece of this fessional development that the broad of this effort are reflected effort was the FRDP spectrum of paleontologists views as in the following report. Workshop held on April 8- It should be emphasized 9, 2006 at the Department of great significance. It should be that this is an ongoing of Paleobiology, National emphasized that this is an ongoing endeavor - the ideas Museum of Natural History endeavor - the ideas contained in this contained in this report are (NMNH), Smithsonian intended to lay out general Institution, Washington, report are intended to lay out general concepts, to spark continued D.C. The demographically concepts, to spark continued discus- discussion and refinement, diverse group of 38 partici- sion and refinement, and, most and, most importantly, to pants (see Contributors, importantly, to lead to specific plans lead to specific plans for p.24) reflected the wide vari- implementation. ety of research outlook for implementation. among paleontologists This document consists today. The workshop was preceded by a research of five sections and is meant for wide distribution to forum at the North American Paleontological paleontologists and our colleagues in the broader scien- Convention (NAPC) (June 19-25, 2005) in Halifax, tific community. It will also be shared with decision- Nova Scotia that was open to all NAPC participants, makers in government and private funding agencies.

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1

A Proposal for Deep Time Earth Life Observatories (DETELOs)

Introduction itself been altered by their presence. The geological Major advances in understanding critical transitions record contains perturbations of the Earth-Life in the history of life require integration of paleonto- system that cannot be studied in the present or in logical, geochemical, biological, stratigraphic and recent history, and studying these events reveals how other information into a temporal and spatial frame- the processes of the system work. The uniformitarian work. Only within such a framework can we under- perspective that undergirds modern geology provides stand the processes that little help in understand- have driven such transi- ing the climate dynamics tions in the , of the Paleocene-Eocene whether they are mass Thermal Maximum, the , the spread of dynamics of extra-terres- novel groups such as trial impact, or the devel- angiosperms or new types opmental and ecological of , or more driving forces associated regional events such as the with the diver- changing reef architecture sification of . It in response to sea-level can truly be said that: change in the Permian “The Holocene is just a Basin of west Texas. In the past, the development of hypothesis about how the Earth works.” In addition, these integrated datasets and associated analyses have many Earth system processes operate too slowly to occurred in an uncoordinated and often haphazard be observed in the present or in the recent past, and fashion. As a result many critical questions remain the only way to observe them is through the record unresolved. For example, we still do not know, in they leave behind in deep time. detail, the pattern of selectivity of during the end-Permian mass extinction, nor the biogeo- What is a Deep-Time Earth Life graphic patterns of extinction and survival for the Observatory (DETELO)? Cretaceous-Tertiary mass extinction. Even more These observatories would involve integrated teams importantly, we have little knowledge of the underly- of perhaps 10-20 paleontologists, geochemists, strati- ing process of biotic diversification or diversity loss, graphers, geochronologists, paleoclimatologists, mod- in part because of a lack of quantitative models with elers and other geoscientists focusing on a particular testable predictions for changes in biodiversity. question in deep time. The question to be pursued Studies of deep time provide a unique perspective on would have to be of sufficient scope and interest as the processes driving the biodiversity of complex to justify such an effort. As we discuss in greater organisms. How have plants and animals changed detail below, we anticipate that such coordinated the planet, and by what processes has the planet efforts would last for 5-10 years (an initial 5 year

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grant followed by a possible renewal). Projects would with changes in marine plankton during the late need to integrate existing data sets, develop quantita- Neoprotoerozoic- and the . tive, process-based models, as well as plan coordinat- ed field work (including probably drilling) and What Processes Might DETELOs Study? analyses. DETELOs would provide significant oppor- tunities for junior faculty and postdoctoral scholars Such observatories are ultimately concerned with and include joint training of graduate students. understanding processes in a systems framework. Thus, a crucial component of such research is We anticipate that the research would require understanding the interactions between different acquisition of new collections with associated components of the Earth’s biota and the physical stratigraphic, sedimentological and geochemical data. environment and the appropriate positive and negative The systematics and paleobiology of appropriate feedbacks. At the largest scope, the questions to be groups would be buttressed through new studies addressed through such observatories would include: (perhaps in coordination with Tree of Life groups). Cores would be subject to paleontological, sedimen- > How has complex life controlled redox tological, geochemical and other studies. High-resolu- chemistry and how is it controlled by same? tion and allied chronostratigraphic > How does complex life influence surface techniques would be applied to develop an appropriate processes (e.g., erosion, deposition) and how is temporal framework. Existing museum collections of it controlled by same? fossils of target intervals would receive special atten- tion, including updating and entry into databases. > How are ecological communities assembled, and Tectonic and stratigraphic studies might be needed to how has this changed over time and in different understand paleogeography. All data would be acces- environmental settings? sioned into appropriate, publicly available databases. > What are the reciprocal interactions between life and the carbon cycle?

Examples > How does complex life control climate and how Such observatories could take a number of forms, is it controlled by same? depending on the questions of interest. All of them > How do perturbations in the Earth’s environ- will share a concern with the processes, not simply the ments affect the diversity (taxonomic, morpho- patterns, underlying major events in Earth history, but logic, ecologic) of life and its ability to modulate some will have a global scope while others will be processes like the carbon cycle, atmospheric focused more tightly on a specific region. All will composition and erosion? focus on complex life and its interactions with geo- chemical cycles and most will involve connections > How does the environment affect interactions between the oceans and continents. From a broad among organisms? variety of possibilities we suggest two examples of > What are the processes through which complex the kind of project that could be considered for a organisms control ocean chemistry, and how is it DETELO. The first would focus on the events with- controlled by same? in a single time-slice at the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary, while the second would address the major > How has life engineered habitats (local physical changes in ocean life and geochemical cycles associated and chemical conditions) over time?

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Types of Data Necessary for DETELOs Data collection and modeling should be at the Resolving these process-based questions will require appropriate temporal resolution and spatial scale to a range of paleontological data, including well-devel- study the phenomenon of interest, with due consid- oped phylogenies and systematics, paleoecological eration for sedimentary and taphonomic biases that data based on standardized affect data interpretation. sampling of abundances, Although these deep-time Such observatories could take a stable isotope geochemistry observatories must begin and the generation of a high- number of forms, depending on the with the identification, resolution temporal frame- questions of interest. All of them will updating and integration of work (essential for any study existing data and collections, share a concern with the processes, of rates) based on radiometric much existing data is unlike- dating, chemo-, bio-, not simply the patterns, underlying ly to be at appropriate scale magneto- and orbital major events in Earth history, but or nature. Thus, such obser- vatories must be designed . In many cases some will have a global scope while quantitative studies of mor- around the acquisition of others will be focused more tightly on phometrics will be needed. new data, and its appropriate a specific region. All will focus on integration with existing data complex life and its interactions with and collections. In addition, Criteria for Evaluating such new data sets should be DETELO Proposals geochemical cycles and most will collected in an integrated We do not feel it is appro- involve connections between the fashion (i.e. with geo- priate to identify target time oceans and continents. chemists and paleontologists slices or questions for specific sampling the same sections, observatories, but we do offer not two different sections 10 a number of criteria for the evaluation of proposals. kilometers apart). Such sample sharing and multiple proxy study of sections should be standard practice. Observatories will clearly require a diversity of expertise, There should also be specified in each proposal how including appropriate systematic paleontologists, analysis of disparate data types and model results will paleoecologists and paleobiologists, as well as be synthesized. geochemists, geochronologists, stratigraphers and sedimentologists. We believe it is impossible to Finally, proposals must present an adequate plan understand the processes underlying paleontological to archive the data in existing community databases patterns without explicit models, ideally quantitative and an adequate plan to archive specimens and models. We therefore believe that an important com- samples and cores in existing community museums. ponent of all such observatories should be a real inte- Plans for education and outreach should also be gration of modeling and data approaches with explicit presented with each proposal. predictions from process models being used as a basis for designing field work and sampling design. Further, early field work should be used as a basis for iterative testing and refinement of the models.

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Supporting Infrastructure support is needed for the capacity to process the There are several core infrastructure needs that are additional samples expected from these observato- beyond the scope of individual observatories but ries. Geochronologists and organic geochemists which provide expertise that is required for their suc- should be incorporated in observatory teams as cess and for research across the broader paleontological full partners in the research (and not viewed as community. We therefore budget for support of service providers). these community infrastructure needs. D Support is required for long-term, stable reposito- A Ongoing support for existing community databases, ries of specimens, samples and cores. including the Paleobiology Database, CHRONOS, E Modest support is required for development GeoSystems and others. These databases are a vital of a field-to-lab-to-museum sample tracking system. resource as an archive of information and, more Biologists have developed such systems to track importantly, as a tool for broader analytical studies. specimens from the field through all analyses and B The development of continental drilling equip- collections. They greatly reduce the backlog of cata- ment and capability, including the use of non-organic loging specimens in museums and repositories, and solvents needed for isolation and recovery of organic properly designed can ensure the easy integration biomarkers. of disparate data sets.

C Support for a network of laboratories doing high-resolution geochronology (U/Pb and Ar-Ar Cost Estimates and new techniques as they become available). Given the variety of problems of sufficient scope Existing facilities are far less than the demand. to require such attention, we suggest that allocation Support must also be provided so that geochronol- of $4 million per year (2007 dollars) by NSF would ogists can continue to resolve issues of inter-labo- be sufficient to fund three such observatories at ratory calibration and laboratory standards. approximately $1 million per year with an additional Isolation and identification of organic biomarkers $1 million per year devoted to supporting the associ- is also a highly specialized area at present and ated infrastructure costs.

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2

A Proposal for Paleontological Probes (PALPROBEs) to Determine the Effects of Human-Induced Environmental Change

Introduction in the future. The accumulating record of sediments There is growing concern that anthropogenic and skeletal material (the subfossil record) provides influences are adversely affecting biodiversity and important, but largely unexploited data on both natu- ecosystems in ways that might be irreversible. That ral and human-induced transitions to ecosystems, par- said, present-day envi- ticularly in critical settings, such as coastal ronmental and biological environments along the monitoring of these eastern seaboard of the systems is insufficient for United States. A concert- understanding anthro- ed effort should be pogenic effects because undertaken to develop a they lack a critical, deep- repository of data from time perspective. This these settings, both to has been demonstrated assess the post- clearly in a variety of Pleistocene record of studies that illustrate the environmental change at influence of humans on individual localities, as ecosystems on millennial well as to correlate timescales in ways that regional transitions and would have been over- perturbations that tran- looked entirely if not for scend particular localities. the analyses of longer term, historical records dating back to the first meas- B Biotic response to rapid global change in deep urable human exploitation of these systems. time should be investigated at high spatio-temporal resolution, using the fossil record as a source of With this in mind, paleontological principles and ground truth, against which predicted effects of methods should play central roles in the investiga- anthropogenic modification of the environment can tion of present-day stresses to ecosystems in two be tested. Dovetailing on the call for the establish- important respects that are not mutually exclusive: ment of Deep Time Earth Life Observatories A Paleontological tools should be employed to better (DETELOs), the fossil record provides important understand biological responses to present-day, opportunities to investigate the local, regional, and anthropogenic environmental change, and to pre- global effects of physical perturbations that closely dict the effects of continuing anthropogenic change approximate those caused by humans in the present

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day. Investigations of the Paleocene-Eocene transi- individual investigator grants. They would overlap tion, for example, are currently providing an oppor- with DETELOs in that many would focus on deep tunity to investigate in detail the biotic response to a time settings on the order of hundreds of millions of significant pulse of global years old, but a significant warming. In conjunction number would focus on more The proposed program of PALPROBEs with the establishment of Recent time frames. PAL- DETELOs, there should should be designed to generate a PROBE grants would empha- be some focus on intervals variety of studies that bear on species size providing support for that appear based on geo- response to rapidly changing environ- junior faculty, postdoctoral chemical analyses to pro- scholars, and training of grad- vide a protracted window mental conditions. PALPROBE grants uate students. Some examples through which to investi- would be smaller than those for of research to be pursued gate the biotic impacts of DETELOs, involving several PIs, but under such a program are physical transitions, such as as follows: would be larger than the typical NSF global warming, dysoxia/anoxia, and individual investigator grants. They Present-day, anthropogenic eutrophication. would overlap with DETELOs in that environmental change: A Evaluation of changes It goes almost without many would focus on deep time set- in species distribution and saying that efforts in both tings, but a significant number would survivorship in response of these arenas should focus on more Recent time frames. to rapid shifts in Holocene integrate paleobiological, and Late Pleistocene climates, geochemical, and sedimen- based on systematic coring tological data at the finest scales of stratigraphic of coastal and estuarine wetlands. resolution attainable. A large spectrum of investiga- tions in the marine and terrestrial fossil and subfossil B Assessment of the timing and magnitude of records has demonstrated clearly that fine-scale effects of diverting river water for human purposes analyses are likely to provide meaningful data at high on productivity of estuaries along the arid Pacific temporal resolution that, in many cases, will not be Coast of North America. Can a nick point be recog- compromised unduly by time averaging or post- nized in the transition from natural conditions to mortem transport. human influence, in this and other studies?

C Assessment of changes in the transfer of nutrients What are PALPROBEs? among terrestrial, shallow shelf marine and open In general, the proposed program of PALPROBEs ocean environments, and the impact of these should be designed to generate a variety of studies transfers in each setting. How does the magnitude that bear on species response to rapidly changing of human influence on these transfers compare with environmental conditions. PALPROBE grants would perturbations recorded in the fossil record? be smaller than those for DETELOs, involving several PIs, but would be larger than the typical NSF

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D Application of new geospatial technologies to test F Response of reef-building corals and planktonic hypotheses relating changes in geographic distribu- microorganisms living at shallow depths to rapid tion and rates of speciation and extinction in shifts in atmospheric CO2. and communities to environmental perturbations. G Comparison of responses of species living in E Evaluation of the impact of major evolutionary coastal wetland and inshore marine environments to innovations, especially those that affect access to food rapid versus more gradual rates of transgression. or energy resources and the ability to process them H Biotic effects of the rapid proliferation of species rapidly, on the innovators and on their environments introduced into environments where they were F Assessment of the impact of fishing boats’ drag previously absent. nets on shallow benthic marine communities in I Evaluation of direct and indirect effects of comparison with activities of ‘biological bulldozers’ rapid shifts in vegetation cover on plant and today and in the geologic past. What sorts of species species distributions and feedback to cli- have the greatest capacity to recover from such dis- mate, not only in the Quaternary, but also earlier ruptions and which are likely to be devastated? in the .

J Studies of structure and productivity: Biotic response to rapid global change in deep time how has ecosystem structure evolved over time? Can A Impact of rapid changes in climate, oxygenation, the productivity of ancient terrestrial, shelf and open nutrient input, sea level, composition of surface ocean ecosystems be determined? Have ecosystems ocean water, disruption of habitats and vegetation become more or less resistant to major environmental cover on species distributions, ecological diversity perturbations, or resilient in response to them, over and extinction rates during transitional intervals in time? What implications do these shifts have for the the geologic past. likely impact of anthropogenic disturbance? B Biotic response to the Permian transition from icehouse to greenhouse climatic conditions. Necessary Infrastructure C Comparison of species responses to the short-lived Broadly speaking, the research agenda proposed here Late Ordovician glaciation and the later glaciation is heavily dependent on maintenance and further spanning much of Pennsylvanian-Permian time. development of basic infrastructure. Individual proj- ects may require support for field studies at key sites, D Impacts of rapid shifts in climate, coring of coastal and wetland sediments, or even including the recurrence of warm intervals after the continental drilling in some cases (see also the previ- onset of glacial conditions in the mid-Miocene. ous section on DETELOs). Funding of this research E Comparative analysis of invaders and survivors program should include direct support for facilities among species affected by temperature decline in that are essential to many of the projects envisaged several Neogene basins (multiple events in both here, including: temperate and tropical basins).

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> Enhanced development of the Paleobiology remains and other traces of past life that are preserved Database and integration of other relevant in the fossil record. As suggested earlier, however, databases with it. paleontological data have been under utilized in documenting the historical context and dynamics of > Establishment of laboratories to provide analyses present-day ecosystems, let of key geo-biochemical alone to predict the outcomes markers. Paleontological data have been under of future change. The pro- > Curation of museum utilized in documenting the historical posed program is designed to collections, with updat- take advantage of an obvious context and dynamics of present-day ing and standardization but relatively neglected of taxonomic and other ecosystems, let alone to predict the avenue of investigation. databases. outcomes of future change. The Research under this program > Maintenance of drill proposed program is designed to take will complement work that core archives. advantage of an obvious but relatively is being conducted under two other major programs. neglected avenue of investigation. Research funded through the Cost Estimates Tree of Life initiative is For the envisioned PALPROBE program we propose significantly improving our understanding of a decadal commitment from NSF, for basic research, human origins and evolutionary relationships training of students, and development of collabora- among living organisms. Evidence from the fossil tive efforts between biologists and geologists (2005 record is used extensively to test inferences drawn National Research Council Report). For this pro- from molecular data generated by this project. This gram to get a sufficient start this would entail $1 work bears most directly on where Homo sapiens and million per year for 5 years which would fund 5 other living species have come from, historically, projects running in any given year. Size of such and on how we got here. grants is based on the need for coring and other fieldwork, geochemistry support, and for two The Human Genome Project is also yielding Principal Investigators with several RAs and/or a information that bears on evolutionary relationships. postdoc. Thus grants for the PALPROBE program However, its main focus is on elucidating the would be significantly smaller than those envisioned genetic basis of developmental processes. In the for DETELOs. future, it would be desirable to couple genetic data directly with the kinds of analyses proposed here to produce more highly integrated analyses of the Concluding Remarks: Links to Other of Homo sapiens and other species in a Scientific Enterprises paleoecological context. Paleontologists routinely use knowledge of living organisms and communities to interpret the skeletal

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3

Database and Museum Collection Development and Integration

Introduction ble museum collections may differ from other data- Museum collections, databases and informatics are base needs or goals, interfaces/ontologies that allow an integral part of the infrastructure of paleontology interaction, or even simultaneous development, at present, and will continue to be so into the future. would maximize time investment, since both require In order to be dynamic and useful resources, both oversight by specialists. require long-term support. Further, these two infra- Recommendations structural resources are A Support distributed quite naturally comple- teams to develop data mentary and interlinked, sets and/or information but this aspect can be technology for a variety of developed more as suggest- question-oriented research ed in later sections. projects, including the Paleoinformatics is as Deep Time Earth Life relevant to biology as to Observatories. geology. Increasingly, A series of “Paleo SWAT research couples neo- and Teams” will focus on paleo-data, most often answering major questions using both databases and that target specific times, places, or groups. A team collections in order to answer broad evolutionary may use a combination of methods to obtain data. and/or deep time questions. Databases and muse- For example, teams may: 1 collect and describe new ums undergird integrative multiuser research ini- specimens; 2 revise and capture museum data; tiatives as well as individual projects. Being able 3 capture literature data; and/or 4 integrate diverse to combine different datasets provides opportuni- types of data. Data would be reposited into existing ties to ask new and more widely ranging ques- databases to guarantee long-term access and avoid tions in deep time studies (such as are outlined in replication of data and software development. An other parts of this document). Thus, both require example of such a currently active “team” involving long-term support and stability. a group of specialists entering and/or providing data Informatics initiatives should minimize redundancy is the Neogene Marine Biota of Tropical America and maximize interoperability and accessibility. (NMiTA) database, which focuses on Neogene While informatics needs to database or make accessi- marine neotropical organisms.

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B Support a repository, which will be the paleon- databases, but taxonomic classifications, synonymies, tology equivalent to GenBank, which is the National measurements, ecological and taphonomic categoriza- Institutes of Health (NIH) genetic sequence database. tions of taxa, digital images, stratigraphic sections, Such a repository will require long-term funding. and numerous separate time scales. Its system is Funding will be targeted for both software develop- extensively normalized and dynamically updates its ment and database manage- integration of , ment, so that the database occurrences, and time scale Paleoinformatics is as relevant to will be current and interac- data sets upon entry of new tive. Such a repository will biology as to geology. Increasingly, data records. It has been house both data newly research couples neo- and paleo-data, built by more than 180 con- reposited by individual most often using both databases and tributors from 22 countries teams and data currently and has seven years of expe- collections in order to answer broad stored in databases that are rience with creating web- no longer being developed. evolutionary and/or deep time based data entry and editing Archival data sets exist as questions. Databases and museums software. It has uploaded both electronic databases many existing data files pro- undergird integrative multiuser [e.g., the Palynological vided by individual contribu- Literature Information research initiatives as well as individual tors, as well as entire Collection (Palynodata)] and projects. Being able to combine differ- stand-alone databases such as card catalogs, so extra fund- ent datasets provides opportunities to Sepkoski’s Compendium, the ing for digitization will be Paleogeographic Atlas ask new and more widely ranging needed. A major feature of Project Databases (PGAP), the repository is that it will questions in deep time studies. the Evolution of Terrestrial be interoperable, and thus Ecosystems (ETE) Program, will employ cutting edge standards and protocols to and the Bibliography and Index of Paleozoic provide web services. Interoperability with biological Crinoids. It also exchanges data with CHRONOS, databases will be accomplished using internationally GBIF, the Geosciences Network (GEON), and agreed-upon biological protocols like Darwin Core 2 NMITA. and ABCD, which already are being employed by Unlike the PBDB, CHRONOS is designed to the Paleobiology Database to provide data to the function as an Earth history portal spanning not just Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). paleontology but cognate parts of the Earth sciences, Equally important, the repository database(s) will such as geochronology and stratigraphy. CHRONOS be interoperable with museums (see next). currently is the home of some fossil taxonomic C Support existing databases which have already dictionaries or atlases (Mesozoic Planktonic demonstrated a great utility for paleontology. Two Foraminifera Dictionary, Atlas of Paleocene existing databases involving cooperative efforts of Planktonic Foraminifera, Foraminifera Guide ) and many individuals are the Paleobiology Database has linked or federated such paleontology databases (PBDB) and CHRONOS. as the PBDB, the late Quaternary distribu- tion database FAUNMAP, the Miocene Mammal The community-governed PBDB includes not just occurrences, which are the focus of most paleontology

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Mapping Project (MIOMAP), and the Integrated remains the only government program with a Ocean Drilling Program database Janus. defined mission that includes large-scale paleontolog- ical research. The current mechanism of having these Databases can link to CHRONOS and PBDB, be organizations compete for funding within small pro- housed by CHRONOS, or be uploaded by the grams like the NSF EAR Sedimentary Geology and PBDB. Both house “data-streams” of newly generated, Paleobiology program, that are intended to handle as well as literature-based, data, but each possesses narrow research proposals, is not viable, and it is unique attributes. These organizations can be recommended that EAR set aside funding for infor- supported and further developed as the main paleon- matics and explicitly make it available for long-term tological data repositories, if the community so growth and maintenance of paleontological databases, desires. The PBDB and CHRONOS are in a position not just their initial development. to provide leadership in promoting common standards and protocols within the paleontological community, D To implement and facilitate the above initia- and to also lead the way in developing necessary tives, and to minimize redundancy, various tools technologies for interoperability. must be developed. At the interdisciplinary scale, a portal such as CHRONOS needs to develop tools CHRONOS and the PBDB were previously funded that enable simultaneously analyzing different data by NSF, but have recently not received additional types from different parts of the Earth sciences, such funding. EAR program officers have stated that NSF as geochemistry, geochronology, and lithostratigra- does not intend to provide long-term funding for phy. At the disciplinary scale, analytical tools specific such efforts. However, other sources of support are to paleontology already exist within such databases not evident: no program within NSF’s Directorate as the Paleobiology Database that handle common for Biological Sciences will fund paleontological and readily exchanged data types (e.g., maps and databasing for its own sake, NASA’s diversity curves based on occurrences, ecological program has significantly reduced support for pale- statistics based on abundances, confidence intervals ontology, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric based on stratigraphic ranges). Tools for systematic Administration (NOAA) does not fund deep time work to be performed by specialist teams also research, and no major private foundations support already exist within, for example, CHRONOS’ Earth sciences databases. Nonetheless, precedent for foraminiferal databases, NMITA, the phylogenetic long-term support does exist: NOAA has funded the web-application MorphoBank, and the PBDB, North American Database since 1990, NIH including fossil identification keys and methods for has funded the National Center for Biotechnology storing and displaying measurements, diagnoses, (NCBI) (which runs GenBank) since 1988, and character descriptions, and digital images. However, NSF has funded the Long Term Ecological Research tools for exchanging these data, as opposed to (LTER) network since 1980. occurrences, have yet to be developed. Other types Comprehensive databases are a prerequisite for of tools that will need to be developed include those future studies of paleontology. It is recommended specific to each team’s research project. Again, com- that these databases be considered core disciplinary munication within the paleontological community, infrastructure instead of short-term research projects, and also between it and both the geological and bio- and thus eligible for truly long-term funding by logical community, is critical so that redundant NSF. Although efforts must be made to find other efforts are not made. funding streams for discipline-wide databases, EAR

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4

Development of the Role of Professional Paleontological Societies to Promote Paleontology and Paleontological Research

Introduction Increased Role of Professional Societies The professional societies have a major role to There are three major areas in which the professional play in fostering and sustaining future research societies could enhance the field of paleontology. directions in paleontology, including the growth of The first area concerns activities within and among new community-wide the societies to enhance research programs. Most research and funding professional paleontologists prospects. The second belong to one or more aspect involves promoting professional societies with paleontology to other paleobiology as their focus. scientists. The third area The societies publish involves promoting pale- scholarly journals, sponsor ontology to the public at annual meetings, and pro- large. Although the themes vide venues for regular are interrelated, each communication with their theme has its own goals members. Historically, the and audience. professional societies have not worked closely togeth- Increased Activity er, although members from Within and Between Professional Societies different societies have organized joint symposia, Several mechanisms within and among the profes- Geological Society of America (GSA) Penrose confer- sional societies should be pursued in order to ences, and short courses from time to time. In addition, enhance future paleontological research, including the societies have not functioned as advocates for our shaping its future directions and increasing the fund- science with the larger scientific community and the ing for them. The audiences for these activities are public, nor have they spoken with one voice on areas paleontologists actively involved in scholarly research of common interest. It is generally agreed that the (at universities, museums, and other organizations) societies would benefit from more frequent interac- and funding agencies, including the NSF. In order tions and improved coordination. Benefits could to create the circumstances in which synthetic, include establishment of circumstances to foster community-wide research initiatives would arise, innovative research, development of a more unified more communication and interaction among the vision of research goals and opportunities, and creation societies are needed. To address these needs, the of opportunities to educate the public on subjects of general relevance.

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following recommendations are made for increased > Each society can regularly schedule a town-hall interactions among paleontological societies: meeting at its annual meeting to discuss new > Within each society, appoint a member of the research frontiers so that all members in atten- executive committee/council with the specific dance can participate in developing goals and responsibility to be a liaison with other societies strategies. and funding agencies. > Include amateur members of the societies in > Arrange for the Paleontological Society and the these discussions to maintain involvement and Society of Vertebrate Paleontology (SVP) to communication with this part of the paleonto- meet in the same city on overlapping dates every logical community. few years (e.g., every 5 years). This overlap > Improve communications about research would enhance opportunities for jointly initiatives and funding opportunities via digital sponsored events and interaction in a broader methods (e.g., society website, wikis, etc.). paleontological group. > Arrange for a representative from each profes- > Co-sponsor symposia with one or more of the sional society to visit NSF on a regular basis. other paleontological societies at the annual This activity could also be coordinated among meetings. Co-sponsor conferences (e.g., Penrose, the societies (and combined with visits to Gordon) or working groups involving paleontol- Congress as described below). ogists from two or more societies. > Urge paleontologists to apply for rotating and > Jointly apply (PS and SVP) to NSF for funding permanent positions at NSF in order for the for workshops or fieldwork. interests of the paleontological community to > Ensure that several paleontological societies [e.g., have better representation in the NSF leadership. PS, SVP, the Paleobotanical Section of the A final recommendation appears in all three areas of American Botanical Society, American activity because the core concept has implications for Association of Stratigraphic Palynologists, all three audiences. We propose that the paleontolog- American Quaternary Association, Cushman ical societies organize and co-sponsor a cross-cutting Society, Society for Sedimentary Geology Darwin Conference every other year. This conference (SEPM)] contribute substantially to the organi- would have activities for professional paleontologists, zation of the North American Paleontological other scientists, and the public. This two-day confer- Conventions (next in Cincinnati in 2009). ence would occur in Washington, DC, and would Investigate the possibility of reviving the func- feature a high-profile lecture for the general public, tions of the Association of North American specialized sessions on a research theme for profes- Paleontological Societies (ANAPS). sional paleontologists and other interested scientists, In addition, opportunities exist within each paleon- and pre-arranged visits to NSF and members of tological society to broaden the discussion of com- Congress. The Darwin Conference would have a munity-wide research initiatives. different theme each time and would produce a paper for publication in a journal for a general scien- tific audience (e.g., American , Bioscience).

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Promoting Paleontology to Other Scientists builds upon the National Center for Ecological Promoting paleontology to other scientists is critical to Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS) model in the future of paleontology. It should demonstrate the which working groups have sometimes been relevance of paleontology to many fields of biology, quite interdisciplinary and brought together sci- Earth history, and education, among others. It should entists who would not otherwise cross each enhance the knowledge and regard that scientists in other’s paths. other fields have for paleontological research. And it > The biannual Darwin Conference should have a may retard the loss of academic positions in paleon- theme of broad significance to other scientists so tology at many U.S. universities, colleges, and muse- that some attend the public lecture or are invit- ums. The audience includes academic colleagues at ed to participate in the technical sessions. A per- our home institutions, scientists at funding agencies, son from another field could be invited to give and the professional scientific readership. The fol- the public lecture. lowing activities are recommended: > Create a booklet about evolution and the fossil > Two or more professional paleontological record for a general scientific audience. societies co-sponsor a symposium at the annual meeting of the American Association for the > Sponsor an evolution theme semester/year at Advancement of Science (AAAS). This meeting your home institution with links to a wide range is attended by a broad range of scientists, policy of courses and events. makers, and media representatives. High-profile > The professional societies should consider the subjects can receive good media coverage. benefits of joining the Council of Scientific > Co-sponsor a paleobiological symposium at the Society Presidents (CSSP). It meets twice a year annual meeting of a related scientific society that in Washington, provides regular opportunities to typically has relatively little paleontological rep- interact with heads of other scientific societies resentation (e.g., Ecological Society of America, and with leaders in government agencies, and American Geophysical Union). also arranges meetings on Capitol Hill.

> Encourage the writing of synthetic review papers for journals read by a wide range of scientists Promoting Paleontology to the Public, Including (e.g., Bioscience, Trends in & Elected Representatives Evolution, Science, PNAS). Such papers can Promoting paleontology to the public, including convey the interdisciplinary nature and broad elected representatives, is the final area in which the relevance of paleontological research. professional societies can take a more active role. > Co-sponsor a National Evolutionary Synthesis At a time when the teaching of evolution is under Center (NESCent) working group with scien- attack in many state and local school boards, tists from other disciplines. This suggestion paleontologists can ill afford to be complacent about communicating the nature of their subject to the

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public. Rather a series of ongoing efforts is needed to paleontology and Earth history and give the to educate the public about evolution and the fossil attendees an opportunity to talk with profes- record and the value of the deep-time perspective. sional paleontologists. The audience includes teachers, students, law-mak- > The societies should hire a media specialist ers, and the public at large. Included in our recom- either to give workshops in presenting informa- mendations are the following. tion to the media or to prepare regular releases > The paleontological societies should consider for broadcast or print. jointly sponsoring a Congressional Fellow. These recommended activities will require a commit- Sponsorship would be more feasible as a joint ted effort from members of the professional societies effort than for any society alone. It would over many years to become more outward looking— provide paleontologists with a voice in Congress. to other paleontologists, other sciences, and the A related suggestion is to use the American public. We cannot afford to do otherwise if the Institute of Biological Sciences (AIBS) office public is to understand the basic principles of evolu- to set up Congressional visits and possibly to tion and the fossil record and if universities are to co-sponsor their Congressional Fellow. continue hiring paleontologists and supporting > Professional (and amateur) paleontologists research collections. Many of these activities should should schedule visits with their representatives create circumstances for fostering community-wide ini- in Congress to discuss funding for basic science, tiatives that will also stimulate creative basic science. teaching of evolution in public schools, protec- This is an ambitious agenda, especially given the tion of fossils on public lands, and other relevant volunteer organization of the societies. Copies of this issues. We need more visibility in Congress. document will be submitted to the council and exec- > The paleontological societies should continue utive committees of the societies for discussion at to sponsor teacher-training workshops at their their meetings. Additional copies will be sent to the annual meetings and at NAPC. The PS and leaders of the other member societies of ANAPS. SVP have been doing this for some time and The goal will be to produce a prioritized list of these workshops are very popular. actions for the societies to carry out and plan for their accomplishment. > Have a cadre of professional paleontologists attend the annual national and state meetings of the National Science Teachers Association to talk about evolution and fossils to K-12 teachers.

> Develop a paleontological speakers bureau for talks to the public and amateur groups.

> The Darwin Conference should provide a stimulating public lecture on a subject relevant

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5

Increase in Federal Research Funding Opportunities for Graduate Students and Postdoctoral Scholars

Introduction future. Thus we have reached a critical juncture: Never before has the study of past life been as excit- although the prospect of paleobiology has never been ing and as urgent. Technical advances present brighter and the training for our students has unprecedented opportunities for dissecting causal become increasingly demanding, funding opportuni- relationships between pat- ties for such training are lag- terns of organic and environ- ging well behind needs. mental change chronicled in the sedimentary record of The Critical Lack of deep time. Elevated rates of Postdoctoral Positions in global change give such stud- Paleobiology ies pressing societal signifi- Intellectual interest in paleo- cance. New understanding of biology is growing among a the relationships between range of disciplines, ranging genetics and organismal form from , offer a wider perspective on geochronology and tectonics, the evolutionary history of to developmental genetics. life, with paleobiology serving as an empirical Advertisements for academic positions in the envi- arbitrator in debates that span a vast array of biological ronmental and biological sciences increasingly list disciplines. Accordingly, young scientists need to paleobiology as a potential area of research interest. master a broad and integrated set of geological and This encouraging trend reflects paleobiology’s pivotal biological skills. This requires extensive cross-discipli- position as a cross-disciplinary science. Yet the number nary training. of paleobiologists hired in such positions is small. The current level of paleobiological funding in NSF’s One explanation is the lack of postdoctoral positions EAR budget virtually precludes PI’s from hiring available for paleobiologists, which limits the postdocs through grants funded by the NSF competitiveness of our students. Scientists from Sedimentary Geology and Paleobiology program other disciplines routinely benefit from a number of because the average award levels are much lower than years of postdoctoral experience, often undertaken in in other geological disciplines. Concomitantly, the several different labs. Such positions enhance recent funding window offered through NASA’s academic maturity and provide opportunities for Astrobiology and Exobiology programs, which pro- exploring other fields and for acquiring new techni- vided significant postdoctoral support for some lead- cal skills. The lack of similar opportunities for paleo- ing younger paleobiologists, now has an uncertain biologists leaves our students at risk of being seen as

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uncompetitive. Those who do successfully obtain The specific purpose of such postdocs should be to positions commonly have a more limited range of foster interdisciplinary training. This focus requires experience than colleagues in other fields. that the program have the following characteristics:

Two solutions are apparent. The first is to adjust A Monies should be linked to individuals, rather funding allocations within NSF so as to bring paleo- than specific lab groups (to encourage PIs to accept biology funding in line with that of sister disciplines postdocs coming into their labs from different in geosciences. Current funding levels reflect tradi- backgrounds). tional low-cost approaches to paleobiology. As the B There should be operational resources in addition to discipline expands into new areas and employs new salary (to prevent burdening Principal Investigators). approaches, funding levels need adjustment to reflect these changes, with particular attention paid to train- C The duration should be long enough to permit ing needs. This will necessitate documenting how comprehensive training (minimum 3 years). increased funding for paleobiology will materially enhance the discipline in a cost-effective manner. Other possible sources of postdoctoral support The second solution, which is specifically related to In addition to reconstituting the EAR postdoctoral NSF funding of postdoctoral positions in paleobiolo- program, we see two additional possibilities for gy, is a targeted request that can serve as a pilot increasing postdoctoral training opportunities specif- approach for the first goal. ically within paleobiology. These would both be linked to new initiatives that draw additional fund- Reconstitution of NSF EAR ing into the SGP program. Postdoctoral Program A Positions associated with the DETELO and NSF traditionally has supported independent post- PALPROBE initiatives should be built into those doctoral positions, and still does so in the proposals. Mathematics and Biology directorates. Current staff B A specific training program along the lines of that changes in the EAR education directorate (which has proposed in the report of the Molecular Paleobiology an annual budget comparable to that of paleobiology Workshop should be developed. That document funding) present an opportunity for reconsidering argued that young workers in paleontology must be support of postdoctoral positions, constituted along trained to understand both the genomic and geologi- the lines of those supported by other directorates, cal records with equal ease, and to integrate both but tailored to specific disciplinary needs. types of historical information to address questions

Implementation about the history of life on Earth, especially in today’s climate of “post-genomics”. Traditionally, stu- The establishment of EAR funded postdocs will dents in paleontology receive little or no training in require a coordinated approach among EAR-funded during their graduate years, espe- disciplines. Officers of the Paleontological Society and cially since historically paleontology is often taught Society of Vertebrate Paleontology would approach within geology departments. Funds for postdoctoral other professional societies within the EAR remit to training in the molecular sciences are essential for discuss a coordinated approach to NSF. young paleontologists, because their postdoc is usually Representatives of these societies would then approach the only time that they can become exposed to the the NSF EAR education director collectively.

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techniques and methodologies routine in molecular A DDIG demonstrates to potential employers that a studies. In addition, funding for these postdoctoral candidate can apply for and win NSF funding—a positions must be tailored to the specific needs of this major advantage for anyone entering academia. integrative field. Specifically, the cross-disciplinary Additionally, DDIGs improve the quality of disserta- nature of this area is necessary to provide an initial tion research. Finally, DDIGs are an excellent value period of training at the start of postdoctoral for the money, given the number and quality of pub- appointments to permit researchers to become lications that typically result from doctoral work. familiar with approaches they have not employed Even ten $10,000 grants could have an immeas- previously (how many paleontologists have sequenced urable impact on the field. However, as a DDIG a gene or determined the expression pattern of a gene?). program would draw from SGP general funds, the community needs to evaluate whether to fund this Graduate student support from existing resources. Paleobiologists have enjoyed recent success in the In addition, because most paleontologists are trained NSF Graduate Research Fellowship competition, within the context of geology departments, we which provides three years of tuition and stipend for recommend developing an expanded range of short predoctoral students. Such appointments are valuable courses aimed at graduate training in the sub-disci- both in allowing students to focus on their own plines related to evolutionary research rather than teaching commitments and also and adequate funding to permit this. Ideas include: as a demonstration of ability to secure NSF support. However, paleobiology students have a disadvantage A Establishment of weeklong workshops, offered relative to many disciplines in that many paleobiolo- annually, aimed at encouraging extremely strong gists are not eligible for Doctoral Dissertation undergraduates to enter the field at graduate school. Improvement Grants (DDIGs). Entry would be competitive and open nationally.

Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grants are cur- B Monies for students to attend established short rently available for students in anthropology, animal courses currently available to graduate students at the behavior, environmental biology, systematic biology, Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratories and and a handful of other fields. These grants, typically Friday Harbor $10,000 or less, can be applied toward any aspect of Laboratories, the University of Southern California a student’s work, particularly that which cannot be Wrigley Course, and the National accomplished with the resources available. For Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis instance, a DDIG could fund fieldwork, museum Paleobiology Course. travel, sample analysis, or equipment. This is particu- Arrangements to promote enhanced student mobility larly critical for paleobiology students, given that among labs through the establishment of a formalized many work quite independently of their academic scheme for funding and facilitating lab rotations advisors. Although some students from the paleobiology between paleontology labs and molecular labs in community—particularly those studying paleoanthro- order to foster cross-disciplinary training are also rec- pology or systematics—are eligible for DDIGs, ommended. The ability to provide extended lab visits the majority are not. Most importantly, no DDIG (a month or months in duration) is key to providing program exists in SGP, nor in any part of EAR. the range of experience necessary to further this area.

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Conclusions

With the growth of science over the past few sary to ensure the best possible training for the next decades, many of the most important problems can generation of paleontologists. only be solved with interdisciplinary teams of scien- It is with the strongest recommendation of the tists using the best available technology. Those FRDP Workshop that over the next ten years these engaged in paleontological recommendations be imple- research would agree that mented. The potentially eas- many challenges towards our iest program to be understanding of how life implemented is that for has evolved and survived on postdoctoral and graduate Earth would be best student funding, which we approached in a collabora- place as the highest priority tive, integrative fashion. The and in need of immediate FRDP Workshop and associ- action. Devising a funding ated research forums have support system for the provided a community-based variety of growing paleontological databases, such as platform where several of these most important the Paleobiology Database and CHRONOS, is also a research problems have been addressed through devel- critical need, and warrants immediate solution. opment of research initiatives in the form of DETELOs and PALPROBEs are both key initiatives DETELOs and PALPROBEs. Such activities will for paleontology and we propose that these programs provide numerous opportunities for research training be founded and in place over the next two to five and experience in forefront areas of science, particu- years. Our longest-term goal, an increase in the larly the growing number of women and other scope and interaction of the major paleontological under-represented groups which are currently enter- societies, is recommended to steadily grow over the ing the Earth sciences. Additional funding is also nec- next ten years to the levels envisioned herein. essary for maintenance and development of databases and museum collections, which play a crucial role in A key agenda of contemporary science is the the future development of paleontology. The profes- impact of global climate change with biodiversity sional infrastructure of paleontology, our professional change. Paleontology is the only discipline that societies, also must play an increasing role in the can provide a foundational perspective to which development and promotion of paleontology to other modern-day changes can be calibrated. This is an scientists and the public. Perhaps most importantly, essential component of this research agenda, but mechanisms for provision of increased resources for present funding levels prevent a full contribution graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are neces- by paleontologists.

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Future Research Directions in Paleontology Nigel Hughes, University of California, Riverside (FRDP) Contributors Shuhai Xiao, Virginia Tech

Steering Committee Anne Raymond, Texas A&M University David J. Bottjer, Chair, University David Jablonski, of Southern California Roy Plotnick, University of Illinois at Chicago Warren D. Allmon, Paleontological Greg Retallack, University of Oregon Research Institution Lisa Park, University of Akron Arnold I. Miller, University of Cincinnati Johnny Waters, Appalachian State University Steven M. Stanley, University of Hawaii at Manoa Elizabeth Heise, University of Texas at Brownsville Scott Wing, Smithsonian Institution Lisa Amati, SUNY Potsdam Rich Lane, National Science Foundation

FRDP Workshop Attendees, April 8-9, 2006 Mary Droser, University of California, Riverside David Bottjer, University of Southern California Nancy Budd, University of Iowa Roger Thomas, Franklin and Marshall College Brian Huber, Smithsonian Institution , Gene Hunt, Smithsonian Institution Bill Ausich, Andrew Farke, SUNY Stony Brook Mark Patzkowsky, Penn State University Jason Head, University of Toronto Scott Wing, Smithsonian Institition Jaelyn Eberle, University of Colorado Catherine Badgley, University of Michigan Colin Sumrall, University of Tennessee Pat Gensel, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Arnie Miller, University of Cincinnati Final Report Tricia Kelley, University of North Carolina Wilmington Editor David J. Bottjer , University of California, Santa Barbara Dick Bambach, Smithsonian Institution Section Preparation Rowan Lockwood, College of William and Mary 1 Douglas Erwin Doug Erwin, Smithsonian Institution 2 Roger Thomas, Arnold Miller 3 Pat Gensel, John Alroy Peg Yacobucci, Bowling Green State University 4 Catherine Badgley Susan Kidwell, University of Chicago 5 Nigel Hughes Jocelyn Sessa, Penn State University Mark Wilson, The College of Wooster Kevin Peterson, Dartmouth College

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Cover Bored limestone clast with Pennsylvanian edrioasteroids, courtesy of Colin Sumrall.

Page 5 Conophyton from the Mesoproterozoic Belt/Purcell Supergroup, courtesy of Frank Corsetti.

Page 9 Bivalve and shell bed from Permian Bundella Formation of Tasmania, courtesy of Matthew Clapham.

Page 13 Archaeocyathid from Lower Cambrian Poleta Formation of California, courtesy of Katherine Marenco.

Page 16 Climactichnites from Upper Cambrian of Wisconsin, courtesy of Katherine Marenco.

Page 20 Scleractinian corals from the Upper Steinplatte reef of Austria, courtesy of Nicole Bonuso.

Page 23 Oncolites and tragulid (Artiodactyla) dentary from Miocene conglomerate in Pakistan, courtesy of Catherine Badgley.