This group specialises in analysing the Palaeozoic biota recorded in different marine and transitional environments, integrating the diverse palaeontological data in the construction of a biostratigraphic scale of the highest possible precision, allowing for global correlations to be integrated and contributing to the elaboration of the International Stratigraphic Chart. These data are also used in the recognition of Events (Geo and Bio, local and global), and in paleoecological, paleoclimatic and paleogeographic reconstructions.
The members of the group are international leaders in the Cambrian and Devonian Systems, as attested by the fact that Professors Gozalo and Valenzuela are Full Members (with voting rights) of the International Subcommissions on Cambrian and Devonian Stratigraphy respectively. Dr. Liao is also a Corresponding Member of the International Sub-Commission on Devonian Stratigraphy.
Another aspect that manifests this leadership is the recent organisation of a triple International Congress at the Universitat de València in which all members of the Group participated, Prof. Valenzuela being the President of the Congress and Dr. Liao the Secretary General. Last but not least, all four members have been involved in synthesising papers on the respective Cambrian and Devonian systems in prestigious journals and books.
The main scientific and technical objectives are as follows:
- Detect the existence of Global Events in selected Palaeozoic sections of Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Austria, Czech Republic, Mongolia, Siberia, Uzbekistan, Morocco, China and the United States.
- Detect the existence of Global Bioevents in different groups of macro and microfossils, mainly in trilobites, brachiopods, conodonts, fish, ostracods and plants (macrofossils and spores).
- To make high-resolution correlations between the biostratigraphic scales provided by the fossil groups mentioned above.
- Identify the boundaries of the Cambrian and Devonian Series and their Floors in selected sections and refine their study according to the agreements and criteria of the International Commission on Stratigraphy and the two corresponding sub-commissions (Cambrian and Devonian).
- Compare the data obtained in Spain with those of the other regions mentioned above.
- To elaborate a standard reference scale for the Cambrian and Devonian of Spain to serve as a world reference.
- Tracing neritic and pelagic successions in order to refine and intercalibrate regional biostratigraphic scales.
- Coordinate with other national and, mainly, international groups to carry out interdisciplinary studies, mainly geochemical, geophysical and cyclo-stratigraphic studies that integrate and complement biostratigraphic studies.
- Multidisciplinary and global studies of the Cambrian and Devonian systems based on high-resolution biostratigraphies and detailed correlations.
- Detect the existence of Global Events in selected Palaeozoic sections of Spain, Europe, Asia, Africa and the USA.
- Detect the existence of Global Bioevents in different groups of macro and microfossils and plants (macrofossils and epores).
- Perform high-resolution correlations between the biostratigraphic scales provided by the above-mentioned fossil groups.
- Identify the boundaries of the Cambrian and Devonian Series and their Floors in selected sections.
- Systematics, biostratigraphy, palaeoecology and evolution of Devonian invertebrates
Analysis of the biota of Devonian invertebrates, especially brachiopod systematics and stratigraphic and palaeogeographic distributions. Palaeoecology and evolution of brachiopods from the Devonian System. Devonian oysterpods, palaeoecology and biostratigraphy.
- Systematics, biosynostratigraphy, evolution and palaeoecology of Devonian vertebrates and plants
Analysis of the biota of Devonian vertebrate and plant remains, especially systematics and phylogeny of conodonts, fish and spores and stratigraphic distributions. High-resolution biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, definition and official subdivision of the Devonian Floors.
- Stratigraphy, palaeogeography and evolution of the Devonian of the Iberian Peninsula
Palaeoenvironmental analysis and evolution of Devonian carbonate paltforms. Detailed multidisciplinary records and analysis of climatic and palaeographic changes in the Devonian. Palaeogeographical distribution of taxa.
- Systematics, biostratigraphy and paleogeography of Cambrian invertebrates
Analysis of the Cambrian invertebrate biota, mainly trilobite systematics and stratigraphic and palaeogeographic distributions. High-resolution biostratigraphy, chronostratigraphy, definition and official subdivision of the Cambrian Floors.
Contributors
- Noel Alexandre Fontes Moreira - Universidade de Évora (Portugal)
- Jacinto Machado Gil Monteiro - Chronosurveys Lda. Portugal (Portugal)
- Héctor Barrera Lahoz
Workteam
- Luis Collantes Ruiz - Universidade de Coimbra (Portugal)
- Gonçalo Gomes Silvério - Universidade de Évora (Portugal)
Burjassot/Paterna Campus
C/ Doctor Moliner, 50
46100 Burjassot (Valencia)
