Research in the Department Paleobotany & Paleoecology focuses on a global view of paleoecology and plant evolution, with emphasis on how the interactions between biotic and abiotic elements of an ecosystem might have impacted the evolution of mammalian lineages within that ecosystem.
Current fieldwork and research
Zhaotong Paleontological Research Project, Shuitangba, China
Eyasi Plateau Paleontological Research Project, Laetoli, Tanzania
Woranso-Mille Paleontological Research Project, Afar, Ethiopia
Other departmental research
The Distribution and Paleoecology of the Palm Genus Nypa
Dr. David Jarzen with colleague Dr. David Pocknall (Houston, Texas). A look at the palm Nypa, through an investigation of the fossil record of the pollen to better understand the world distribution of this genus and its significance in elucidating the nature of the environment during the Cretaceous and Paleogene. The unique pollen morphology of Nypa palm makes identification of this genus in the fossil record unmistakable and allows for a clear picture of the environment preferred by this angiosperm taxon.
Turonian Angiosperm pollen from Tanzania
This project carried out by Dr. David Jarzen in cooperation with Professor Sophie Warny, (Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA), is nearing completion, and describes for the first time the angiosperm pollen from the dinosaur-correlated beds of the Turonian (89 to 94 million years ago).
Angiosperm Pollen recovered from the Chicxulub Crater, Mexico
Dr. David Jarzen with colleagues at the Louisiana State University studied the now famous Chicxulub Crater, regarded as the site of the asteroid impact off the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, which sealed the extinction of the dinosaurs 65-66 million years ago. A drilling expedition in Chicxulub crater sediments has provided cores containing pollen, spores and other palynomorphs. An investigation of the angiosperm flora via the contained pollen will help to describe the floristic conditions just before impact time and just after the extinction process.
Palynomorphs Associated with a PaleoIndian site in Northwestern, Ohio
Dr. David Jarzen with colleagues at Kent State University, Department of Anthropology are continuing an ongoing project at the Libben Burial site (1,250 ybp), near Lacarne, Ottawa County, Ohio. The archaeologists will look at the human remains while a study of the pollen and spores recovered from the site may help in a better understanding of the living conditions and vegetational patterns surrounding the site at or near the time of burial.
Previous study areas of note
Devonian plant fossils from Northeast Ohio
Former Curator of Paleobotany Dr. Shya Chitaley described the plant life that existed in Northeast Ohio during the Devonian. She named several new genus and species of plants, including
Clevelandodendron ohioensis,
Bisporangiostrobus harrisii, and
Smeadia clevelandensis.