Systematic, Palaeoecology, and Palaeobiogeography of Nematocera from the Early Eocene Indian amber

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Jes Rust
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2014 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 241700976

The historical geodynamics and biogeography of India has been a scientific object for nearly 150 years, resulting in controversial debates and the establishment of various inconsistent hypotheses. So far the biogeographical reconstructions are based on geological and geomorphological analyses, on examinations of fossil vertebrates and plants as well as on phylogenetic analyses of extant vertebrates, plants, freshwater crabs and gastropods. In the reconstruction, the insects played only a minor role and have not really been taken into consideration. Providentially the only recently explored amber deposit located in the vicinity of Vastan, western India, produced an exceptional abundance of insect inclusions which display a great diversity with more than 1,000 insects already recovered and recognized. The amber is dated to be of Early Eocene age (53.7 Ma),placing it within the Second Eocene Thermal Maximum (ETM2) which is contemplated to be an important transient climatic event. This estimated age determination also coincides with the supposed time period of the collision of the Indian subcontinent with Asia, due to plate tectonics. The amber was produced in an extensive Dipterocarpaceae forest, which additionally represents one of their oldest fossil evidences. Those temperate rain forests are currently mainly distributed in Southeast Asia. The main focus of the here requested project will lie on the preserved abundant nematoceran fauna of the Indian amber with about 500 nematoceran inclusions so far as well on the analyses of their biogeographic and palaeoecological implications. The nematoceran flies are particularly qualified for biogeographical and paleoecological analyses due to their adaptation to specific habitats as well as the aquatic lifestyle of most larvae. In the synthesis with already existing data of fossil and extant organisms the expected results will significantly contribute to the reconstruction of the historical geodynamics and biogeography of India.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants