Cel Coloration is a multifunctional attribute of modern animals but its evolutionary history is poorly resolved, in part due to our limited ability to recognize and interpret fossil evidence of colour. Indeed, original coloration was considered one of the most enigmatic aspects of the biology of ancient organisms, but recent studies on fossil feathers and the cuticles of fossil insects have led to advances in the field. Research to date, however, has focussed on very specific aspects of colour, i.e. fossil melanosomes in feathers and structural colours in fossil insects. As a result, key aspects of the fossil record of colour in insects and feathers are unknown, and the evolutionary histories of the diverse colours and colour patterns deployed by modern insects and birds are poorly resolved. The innovative and multidisciplinary research proposed herein will resolve these issues by employing a powerful three-fold approach combining decay experiments, maturation experiments and fossil analysis to the study of the taphonomy of key pigments (melanins, carotenoids and pterins) and colour-producing structures in insects and feathers. Experiments will simulate the processes of autolytic decay and deep burial, and will elucidate, for the first time, the chemical steps involved in the alteration of key pigments in insects and feathers during decay and diagenesis, and the extent to which this process, and alteration of structural colours, is impacted by sedimentological and taxonomic factors. The experimental results will ground truth data obtained from comprehensive analysis of diverse fossil insects and feathers from the Cenozoic and Mesozoic, facilitating the first systematic attempt to map preservation of colour in fossil insects and feathers through deep time. In doing so the research will resolve outstanding questions regarding the taphonomy of colour and will enhance our ability to infer original coloration and its evolution and functions in fossil insects and theropods. Dziedzina nauki engineering and technologymaterials engineeringcolorshumanitieshistory and archaeologyhistorynatural sciencesbiological scienceszoologyentomology Program(-y) FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Temat(-y) FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG - Marie-Curie Action: "Career Integration Grants" Zaproszenie do składania wniosków FP7-PEOPLE-2013-CIG Zobacz inne projekty w ramach tego zaproszenia System finansowania MC-CIG - Support for training and career development of researcher (CIG) Koordynator UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK Wkład UE € 100 000,00 Adres WESTERN ROAD T12 YN60 Cork Irlandia Zobacz na mapie Region Ireland Southern South-East Rodzaj działalności Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Kontakt administracyjny David O'connell (Dr.) Linki Kontakt z organizacją Opens in new window Strona internetowa Opens in new window Koszt całkowity Brak danych