DEST - Taxonomy Training

Description of project:
Isolated teeth might be quite difficult to identify on morphological grounds alone. We propose therefore a training programme in the study of enameloid microstructure to help differentiate between different clades of elasmobranchs, namely Batoidea, Galea, Squalea and Hybodontiformes. The project will be based primarily on the study of fossil teeth, but may be performed on teeth from modern species as well. Trainees are welcome to bring their own shark teeth (fossil or recent) for study. 

Duration of training:
3 weeks

Training period:
9 – 28 January 2012

Target Audience:
MSc students, PhD students as well as early career researchers

Practical experiences: 

• Identification of isolated shark teeth based on morphological characters
• Preparation of samples for study of enameloid microstructure with a Scanning Electron Microscope
• Acquisition and processing of digital images
• Study of the emergence and evolution of modern group of elasmobranch in the fossil record
• Experience in writing a scientific paper

Lectures: 

• Systematics of Hybodontiformes, Batoidea, Galea and Squalea
• Impact of mass extinctions (Permo-Triassic, Triassic/Jurassic and K/T) on the evolution of elasmobranchs
• Introduction to collection management

Seminar: 

• Freshwater elasmobranchs

Name of mentor/supervisor:
Dr Gilles Cuny

Institution:
Natural History Museum of Denmark. Department of Geology
Øster Voldgade 5-7, 1350 Copenhagen, Denmark

Registration fee:
€ 600 (Euros)
Participants are responsible for their own travel and subsistence expenses.

Registration:
Deadline for registration: 1 November 2011
Participants will be notified by 15 November 2011 whether accepted to the training.
Click here for the registration form.

Payment:
Payment details and deadline will be provided upon acceptance to the training.