IGCP 572 Session at the North American Paleontological Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.; June 21-26, 2009

IGCP 572 Session at the North American Paleontological Convention, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.; June 21-26, 2009

Convenors: Margaret L. Fraiser1 & Richard J. Twitchett2

1University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA.Email: mfraiser@uwm.edu

2University of Plymouth, UK. Email: rtwitchett@plymouth.ac.uk

Much evidence indicates that many of Earth’s ecosystems are underthreat during the present day. This is nothing new, as Earth has suffered major extinction and upheaval on numerous occasions over the geological past, the most serious of which occurred during the Permian-Triassic transition. Of the major factors proposed to have caused the Permian-Triassic biotic crisis, including increased carbon dioxide concentrations, oceanic anoxia, hypercapnia, and rapid global warming, some are observed in the present day, and others are predicted for the near future. The Permian-Triassic rock and fossil records may thus record a natural experimenting lobal-scale ecosystem collapse that, if properly deciphered, could provide insights into the possible responses of modern ecosystem stop resent day climate and environmental change.

This symposium aims to investigate the recovery of ecosystems following the end-Permian mass extinction through analyses of the rock and fossil records via studies of biostratigraphy, paleontology, paleoecology, sedimentology, geochemistry and biogeochemistry. The topics will address recovery patterns of various fossil groups; reconstruct global Permian-Early Triassic oceanic and climatic conditions; outline P/Tr ecosystem types; and correlate these types of data with a global stratigraphic framework. Ultimately, this symposium will: reveal the patterns and processes of marine ecosystem restoration following the P/Tr mass extinction; elucidate the factors controlling the recovery rates of communities in various habitats and climate zones; determine the similarities and differences in the responses of different groups to the environmental crisis; and assess the effects of climate or other geological events on the restoration of the ecosystems.

If you are interested in contributing to this session please contact the convenors or submit your abstracts directly via the NAPC website at http://www.napc2009.org/

Abstract deadline: February 12 2009.

Application for Funds for the

North American Paleontological Convention

Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.; June 21-26, 2009

The International Geoscience Programme (IGCP) is sponsoring a session at the North American Paleontological Convention titled “IGCP 572: Recovery of ecosystems after the Permian-Triassic mass extinction”. A small amount of money is available from IGCP 572 (Restoration of marine ecosystems following the Permian-Triassic mass extinction: Lessons for the present) to help defray meeting costs for students and persons from developing countries. If you are interested in applying for funds from the IGCP, please fill out this form and either e-mail it or send it via postal mail to the addresses below by February 12, 2009. The amount awarded will depend on the number of applicants, geography of applicants, and stated need for funds.

Deadline for applying for funds: E-mailed applications must be received by 12:00 midnight CST on February 12, 2009, and mailed applications must be postmarked by February 12, 2009.

Send applications to: Dr. Margaret Fraiser

Department of Geosciences

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

3209 N. Maryland Avenue

Milwaukee, WI 53211

U.S.A.

E-mail: mfraiser@uwm.edu

Applicant’s Name:

Institution and E-mail Address:

Are you a student? ________________

If so, who is your thesis or dissertation advisor? ________________________

If you are planning on presenting a talk in the special session, please state its title:

Please briefly state in 1-2 sentences your need for funds to help with costs related to attending NAPC and presenting at the IGCP 572 session.