Earth and Planetary Sciences ETDs

Publication Date

Summer 6-26-2018

Abstract

In the beginning of the Late Cretaceous, the Western Interior Seaway experienced the effects of a global ocean anoxic event (OAE2, or the Bonarelli Event) across the Cenomanian-Turonian (C/T) boundary (~94 Ma). This event resulted in major environmental and biological disturbances creating significant biotic turnover, with recent research suggesting near mass extinction levels in some clades. In this study we utilize a paleobiological application of a modern ecological modeling technique (PaleoENM), to test whether changes in species’ survivorship and distribution patterns across this event relate to changes in their predicted suitable habitat area and abiotic niche dimensions.

Results suggest that survivorship across the C/T is not strongly correlated with available suitable habitat. Additionally, a quarter of the taxa demonstrate significant abiotic niche stability across the C/T. These findings are consistent irrespective of higher taxonomic groups (i.e., genera), which suggests taxon-specific responses to environmental changes at the macroevolutionary scale of this study. This research supports the importance of biogeography in understanding and predicting species longevity and the maintenance of biodiversity. Application of the general principles described here to modern biological systems perturbed by human-induced anoxia may positively inform conservation efforts and predictions of modern extinction dynamics.

Degree Name

Earth and Planetary Sciences

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences

First Committee Member (Chair)

Corinne Myers

Second Committee Member

Jason Moore

Third Committee Member

Maya Elrick

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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