High-resolution signatures of vegetational collapse and resilience in the Mesozoic

The effect on and response of terrestrial flora during and after severe climatic events is still to be fully understood. Using palynological techniques, the project will investigate floral extinction and diversity patterns through key periods of climatic change during the Mesozoic. With pioneering high-resolution techniques of analysing the fossil record, we are now understanding how these past changes can be used to understand current climate fluxes and advise on future climate change.
Through a thorough fieldwork programme and study of museum collections, the project will identify the differences between continuous background biodiversity change and the effects of more sudden fluxes caused by rapid climate fluctuations and subsequently how floral ecosystems recover from these episodes. There are many exceptional fieldwork sites in the UK to utilise as well as some overseas with potential research partners. The specific time Mesozoic events studied is open depending on the direction of research the student wants to take. These could include one or multiples of the Permo-Triassic; Triassic-Jurassic; Toarcian or Cretaceous events.

The student will be given full training in fieldwork techniques, palynological preparation and analysis and will also provided with opportunities to expand their expertise in statistical analyses and other methods open to the DTN.