|
 |
Dr Francesco Toscano
University Federico II, Naples, Italy
Project Title: Lower Miocene Bryozoa faunas from Isili (Sardinia, Italy)
GB-TAF Host: Dr Paul Taylor, Department of Palaeontology |
Project Objectives:
Identify the taxa present and to seek correlations between taxa and particular sedimentary facies. In particular to investigate the potential of the bryozoans as tools in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction.
Project Achievements:
The results gathered from the SYNTHESYS visit are very relevant. It has been possible to identify 50 taxa and some of them are new for the Miocene of the Mediterranean region. In particular, some findings are of special interest needing detailed specialistic taxonomical studies. The faunistic list obtained represents the first dataset to investigate the sedimentary facies and their paleoenvironmental implications concerning global changes. The iconography obtained using the uncoated SEM is a further implementation for the SEM pictures database yet available at Dept of Palaeontology, which enabled the user to classify the studied specimens. These results will be of special interest in comparative investigations to seek correlation between the ancient miocenic bryofaunas and the recent Bryozoa species from the recent Mediterranean Sea representing the best analogue counterpart to evaluate paleoenvironmental changes. It has been important to have access to the extensive library resources which facilitate the taxa identification at generic and specific level, getting copy of valuable papers otherwise not available to the user. The results achieved from this project are a greater knowledge of fossil bryozoan systematics and paleoecology from an unstudied and interesting biogeographical area thanks to the implementation concerning the methodological and practical approches.
Training received:
Scanning Electron microscopy using the low-vacuum instrument LEO 1455-VP at Dept. of Mineralogy.
One-to-one with Dr Toscano
1. Why did you apply for access to GB TAF under SYNTHESYS?
I applyied to GB-TAF under SYNTHESYS after discussing the opportunities to work with with my Host Dr Paul Taylor at Dept. of Palaentology who highlighted to me the working perspectives using the facilities and the libraries at NHM, especially the specialistic one on Bryozoa.
2. What direct benefits to your personal research did you gain from the visit?
The direct benefits I got received from the visit included learning how to implement the working methodology and the use of new technologies. This enabled me to get excellent results concerning the funded project GB-TAF-2020. Moreover, I also got excellent improvements about the taxonomical knowledge of the studied Phylum either fossil than recent species.
3. How will the outputs from the visit benefit the following:
a) Environment and/or Conservation
b) Biodiversity
c) Improved Industrial Processes/products
d) Health/medicine or related issues
The expected outputs will be a talk and two posters to discuss during the forthcoming VII Larwood Meeting which will take place in Naples, Italy in February 2007. A printed contribution on a peer-reviewed journal is also expected in 2007 and will deal with biodiversity and global changes during early Miocene in the Mediterranean region.
4. Have you passed on your knowledge/training to fellow researchers in your home Institution and/or home Country?
The experience and improvements achieved concerning the use of new technologies and working methods will be not be passed on to fellow researchers as they are very specialised.
|
