Influence of ocean gateways on the evolution of marine species: A molecular genetic approach

• Applicant: Dr. Jörg Süling
• Subject Area: Palaeontology
• Term: from 2001 to 2006
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 5468851

The main objectives of this project are (1) to examine biogeographic distribution and evolutionary patterns of benthic foraminifers, coccolithophores and bryozoans on both sides of open gateways with different sizes and threshold and (2) to test whether major evolutionary events and first appearances of modern species coincide with the opening/closing of major gateways such as the Panama-gateway and the Indonesian gateway... The combination of micropaleontological and molecular biological data sets will provide an insight into distribution patterns and migration pathways between Pacific, Indic and Atlantic Oceans. The results will be set against glacial/interglacial sea-level changes on short and intermediate (orbital) time scales (10.000 - 100.000 years) and to physical and paleoceanographic changes of ocean pathways on longer time scales (million-years).

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 451: Impact of Gateways on Ocean Circulation, Climate, and Evolution
• Participating Person: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Kuhnt