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Research in the Evolutionary Morphology Research Group (EvoMoRG) at the Department of Palaeontology of the University of Vienna is at the interface between palaeobiology and evolutionary developmental biology of vertebrates. For this we integrate living and fossil organisms, knowledge of their evolutionary relationships, anatomy and morphology, developmental (palaeo)biology and genetic information, but also past diversity patterns to provide a holistic understanding of their evolutionary history. We have particular interests in, but not restricted to, the evolutionary origin, morphological rate changes, adaptive trait developments, and diversity and disparity patterns of modern sharks, skates, and rays as well as bony fishes at the broadest temporal and spatial scales. Central questions that we seek to answer are why certain groups became successful (in terms of taxonomic diversity or position within trophic food webs) or went extinct even when they were successful in deep time.
Infrastructure
Our lab has facilities for rock digestion, high-end micro-computed tomography (Bruker Skyscan 1173 Desktop-Micro-Computertomograph; click here for more information), 3D digital microscopy (Keyence VHX-6000, 20-2000x magnification), scanning electron microscopy, high performance computing for image data processing, micro- and macro-anatomical labs, and an aquarium infrastructure (click here for watching suction feeding of Hemiscyllium ocellatum) to support individual palaeobiological projects but also providing research services for other departments of the University of Vienna (e.g., Geology, Mineralogy, Anthropology, Zoology, and Theoretical Biology) and third parties.
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J.-M. Tejero and S. Sawyer (Department of Evolutionary Anthropology), and J. Kriwet (Department of Palaeontology) have successfully secured a Seed Grant of Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS) (Link) at the University of Vienna for a pilot project to test minimally invasive aDNA extraction methods from Palaeolithic human and animal remains.
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| up Latest Publication |
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2024: Rostral and body shape analyses reveal cryptic diversity of Late Jurassic batomorphs (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from Europe. (Papers in Palaeontology)
The results of this study support the validity of Belemnobatis sismondae, Kimmerobatis etchesi and Spathobatis bugesiacus, as well as that of the previously doubtful Asterodermus platypterus. Moreover, a new taxon, Aellopobatis bavarica, is described, which has hitherto been considered to be a large-sized morphotype of Spathobatis bugesiacus. The results highlight that the diversity of batomorphs during the Late Jurassic was greater than previously thought, and suggest that this group was already well-established and diverse by this time.
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| up Address |
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Department of Paleontology
University of Vienna, Geozentrum
Josef-Holaubek-Platz 2 1090 Vienna, Austria
Contact
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Our research is/was supported by the
Austrian
Science Fund (FWF),
the CONICYT Chile,
the Austrian
Exchange Service (OeAD),
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD),
the German Research Foundation (DFG),
the Marie-Curie Actions of the
European Union, the SENACYT Panama, Sharkproject Austria, Synthesys, the University of Vienna,
Human Evolution and Archaeological Sciences (HEAS)
and the Vienna Doctoral School of Ecology and Evolution (VDSEE).
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