Vertebrates from the Kimmeridgian of Brunn (Oberpfalz)

• Applicant: Professor Oliver Rauhut, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2013 to 2015
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 244179799

The so-called "Solnhofen limestones" are one of the most important fossil lagerstätte of the Late Jurassic globally. However, the fossils that are often collectively called the "Solnhofen fauna" are actually derived from numerous localities, representing different depositional environments and different time horizons, spanning from the Late Kimmeridgian to the Early Tithonian. Due to our generally excellent understanding of the geological and stratigraphic framework of these different localities, this lagerstätte represents a unique opportunity to study the evolutionary dynamics of a regional Jurassic ecosystem over a geologically short span of time, but this aspect of the "Solnhofen fauna" has largely been neglected so far. In our ongoing research, we are currently trying to establish differences and similarities between the vertebrate faunas of different localities within the Solnhofen archipelago, starting with the oldest locality in this setting, that of Brunn, Oberpfalz. The rather poorly represented reptile fauna of this locality shows significant taxonomic differences to other sites, which might be due to the stratigraphic difference between this and other localities. However, to decide whether this is a general pattern seen in the vertebrate fauna of Brunn, we need data from the much more abundant fish fauna from this site. The aim of the current proposal is thus to give an overview of the systematic and taxonomic composition of the fish fauna from Brunn and compare it with the fauna of other localities within the Solnhofen archipelago. The results showing differences and similarities to other faunas will be of central importance for interpretations of the evolutionary processes that led to the different faunal associations.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants