Characterizing diversity and evolutionary patterns of Amniota: systematics, macroevolution and paleoecology

• Grant number: 24/09825-7
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2025
• End date: February 28, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Zoology - Paleozoology
• Principal Investigator: Pedro Lorena Godoy
• Grantee: Pedro Lorena Godoy
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Paulo
• Associated researchers: Carlos Dapolito Júnior ; Daniel Martins dos Santos ; Emma Dunne ; Felipe Chinaglia Montefeltro ; Francisco William da Cruz Junior ; Gabriel de Souza Ferreira ; Júlio Cesar de Almeida Marsola ; Max Cardoso Langer ; Priscila de Souza Rothier Duarte ; Thayara Silveira Carrasco ; Yohan Pochat-Cottilloux
• Associated research grant(s): 25/13689-4 - Reconstructing the past: isotopic analysis of fossil vertebrates from the Bauru Basin with paleoecological and paleoenvironmental implications, AP.R; 25/13688-8 - Investigating fossils at a molecular scale: characterization of the effect of diagenetic processes in bones from the Bauru Basin through FTIR, AP.R
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/05271-0 - Osteological and phylogenetic reassessment of Purussaurus brasiliensis (Crocodylia, Caimaninae): examination of cranial and mandibular material, BP.MS; 25/05145-4 - Processing 3D data for systematics and phenotypic evolution studies, BP.TT; 24/22761-8 - Description of new Chelidae (Testudines, Pleurodira) fossil material from the Tremembé Formation (Oligocene), with the proposal of a new species, BP.IC

Abstract

The origin of Amniota, about 325 million years ago, marks the definitive transition to terrestrial habitats by vertebrates. Since then, the group has diversified significantly, with its two sister lineages, Synapsida and Sauropsida, becoming highly successful. Currently, both lineages are represented by almost 30 thousand living species, divided between mammals and reptiles (including birds). Sucha a high species richness is reflected in even more impressive ecological and morphological diversity. Coupled with a rich fossil record, this makes the different subgroups of Amniota excellent models for deep-time evolutionary studies. Using an integrative and transdisciplinary approach, this project aims to broaden our knowledge about the evolution of amniote groups. Both paleontological and neontological data will be sued to, among other objectives, discover new specimens, describe the morphology and phylogenetically position new or already known taxa, document phenotypic macroevolutionary patterns and diversification dynamics, and characterize the paleoecology of environments inhabited by amniotes. The project will also seek to create a new research group in paleobiology, focusing on vertebrates. The combination of different subareas, such as Taxonomy, Systematics, Macroevolution and Paleoecology, will allow the project to produce results that will significantly advance our understanding of the evolution of different groups of Amniota, in line with modern practices of Paleontology. (AU)