NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUMS are one of the greatest resources available to paleontologists and evolutionary biologists. Through their exhibits, they have inspired generations of children to become paleontologists, and they also serve as a tremendous repository of realized and potential data. If invertebrate fossils can be thought of as individual data points, in the United States alone there are perhaps 100 million data points. Yet, in spite of this, museums, like other sources of data, have their shortcomings. What are these short comings, and how severe are they? Are they so severe as to obviate the scientific value of the collections of fossils held by natural history museums? It is this topic that we address herein.

There is a useful analogy between the debate about the usefulness of natural history museum collections and the debate about the completeness of the fossil record. Are natural history museums representative of the fossil record, and are they complete enough to be adequate for research? We intend to pursue the analogy between the fossil record and natural history museums as we develop our ideas about paleontological collections. Just as numerous studies have concluded that the fossil record, albeit incomplete, is adequate to answer a wide variety of scientific questions, so too shall we argue that the data preserved in natural history museums are complete enough and adequate to answer a wide variety of important research questions in paleontology.

As shallow-water reefs decline worldwide, opportunities abound for researchers to expand understanding of carbonate depositional systems. Recognizing the myriad of paradoxes associated with reefs and carbonate research hopefully can stimulate new questions that will assist researchers in understanding paleoenvironmental changes and mass extinction events. Two often counter-intuitive concepts are discussed, first that coral reefs thrive in clear, nutrient-poor waters, except when they don't; and second, that aragonite is energetically efficient for reef-builders to precipitate in tropical waters, except when it isn't. Coordinated studies of carbonate geochemistry with photozoan physiology and calcification will contribute to understanding carbonate sedimentation under environmental change, both in the future and in the geologic record.

Inoceramidae (Bivalvia) was a diverse, cosmopolitan family of large Cretaceous bivalves which occupied a wide range of marine environments, and experienced high rates of speciation. For biological and taphonomic reasons inoceramid taxonomy has been based almost exclusively on only two characters: shape and ornament. These characters commonly display high degrees of intraspecific variability. Previous biometric studies, using linear and angular measurements (eg. shell length, umbonal angle), have successfully discriminated between closely related species, and have overturned earlier qualitative taxonomies. Even comprehensive linear and angular measurements suffer from several disadvantages. They are restricted by instrumental limitations, are time consuming to gather, and neglect much information inherent in outline shape. Hence, the present study attempts to quantify differences in inoceramid shape and ornament using outline shape analysis complemented by a few simple distance measures. A digitised outline can be exactly described by a set of elliptic Fourier coefficients, and sets of such coefficients are treated as variables in a multivariate analysis of shape.

These methods have been used to examine the cosmopolitan, morphologically highly plastic, and highly subdivided Albian species Birostrina concentrica (Parkinson) and related forms. Collections from New Zealand (southern high latitude), England (northern high latitude), and Switzerland (Tethyan) show significant differences in the shape and maximum size of individuals. Preliminary analyses, however, have shown that within any region it is difficult to identify distinct sub-groupings based on shape or ornament. Furthermore, the total volume of morphospace occupied by B. concentrica (s.l.) can be accounted for largely by changes in morphology through ontogeny. In other words, for example, the change in shape of an individual through ontogeny can exceed the morphological distance between described subspecies. Ongoing morphometric examination of populations from different stratigraphic horizons is helping to unravel evolutionary and biogeographic patterns which are otherwise difficult to demonstrate.

Shape analysis is a tool that is largely underexploited by macropalaeontologists, and is particularly useful for the description of taxa with few landmarks or easily defined characters.

The claim that rudist bivalves competitively displaced corals from reef frameworks in the Cretaceous combines two assertions: (1) that rudist formations commonly developed as reefs; and (2) that the autecology of rudists was convergent with that of hermatypic corals. We dispute both assertions, and thus reject the hypothesis of competitive displacement. We argue instead that mobile sediments, rather than frameworks, dominated the margins of most of the extensive carbonate platforms of the period, and that it was on these non-reefal biotopes that the rudists flourished.

Definitions of reefs tend to combine two major elements: (1) a robust biogenic framework (with accompanying sedimentary and diagenetic components); and (2) topographical relief. Such definitions are clearly rooted in Recent coral reefs, in which endosymbiotic zooxanthellae permit the extensive growth of colonial coral frameworks in shallow but relatively nutrient-poor waters and topography is largely the legacy of Pleistocene changes in sea-level. In rudist formations, in contrast, individual rudist aggregations are volumetrically limited, relative to sediment, often loosely constructed, and evidently showed little relief. Tabular and small lenticular units predominate.

Differences in structure and palaeoenvironmental situation between rudist and coralgal associations are the effect of the different autecologies of the constituent organisms. While the clonal growth of corals predisposed them to framework development, the aclonal development of rudists was better suited to the opportunistic occupation of a variety of temporarily available substrata. Moreover, the tolerances and growth responses of rudists to such factors as water turbidity, nutrients and current regime were quite different from those of hermatypic corals. Despite repeated assertions in the literature that rudists possessed zooxanthellae, only a few species show any evidence for such a symbiosis and other evidence suggests that most lacked them.

Rudist/coral competition is therefore doubtful, even though members of both groups co-occur in many areas. The relative demise and migration into deeper water of coral frameworks in the Cretaceous was thus probably independently caused.

In the most effective learning environments, undergraduates go beyond memorization to become more deeply engaged with the material. Active learning approaches, in which students participate in activities that result in improved learning, promote this sort of deep experience. Educational theories such as constructivism and recent research in cognitive and learning sciences demonstrate the importance of allowing students opportunities to confront misconceptions, reason out solutions, work collaboratively, and construct their own understandings of key concepts. Numerous studies have documented improved learning in classes using active learning approaches when compared to traditional class formats. Various obstacles to implementing active learning strategies exist, such as student and faculty resistance to such practices and the academic reward structure, which penalizes faculty who invest time in innovative teaching. These obstacles, however, are not insurmountable—effective communication of the benefits of active learning for improving student learning outcomes and the recruitment and retention of STEM majors can help. Paleontology instructors have a wide variety of active learning techniques to choose from, including some that make use of our field's uniquely visual and temporal characteristics (e.g., concept sketches, timelines), current research areas (e.g., textual analysis, case studies, guided inquiry), and classic controversies (e.g., role-playing, debates, and panel discussions). New technologies, such as classroom response devices and Web 2.0 tools, can facilitate many of these activities both in and out of the classroom. Incorporating active learning approaches into paleontology courses can help instructors clarify their course goals and learning outcomes while empowering students to succeed.

Lateral fluctuations of shoreline positions along shallow basinal margins often result in spatially and temporally overprinted (palimpsested) firmground or hardground surfaces (Frey and Basan, 1981). Recent palimpsested surfaces can teach us a great deal about the fossil record, particularly when we view them taphonomically. For the last few years we have been studying such surfaces along the seaward coast of St. Catherines Island, Georgia. In this paper we will first briefly discuss the modern salt marsh at St. Catherines Island, and its invertebrate inhabitants. This will form a basis for recognition and description of relict marsh surfaces. We will next describe the relict salt marsh surface that is currently being exhumed by coastal erosion and palimpsested by other invertebrate communities. Such palimpsested events also represent heterochronous community replacement–the disjunct temporal and (usually) spatial overprinting of an older community (or biogenic surface) by one (or more) younger communities. This interprets “replacement” as a passive, generally species non-interactive, phenomenon (contra Miller, 1986). Lastly, we will make some rather broad comparisons between the St. Catherines Island setting and what we interpret as analogous situations recorded in the Carboniferous strata of the Appalachian Basin.

The structure and evolution of the hexactinellid skeleton has been conditioned by: (1) the rectangular form of the spicule (ultimately due to the square cross-section of the axial canal), and (2) the sheet-like form of the choanocyte-membrane, properly the choano-syncytium (Reiswig, 1979) as individual choanocytes with proper nuclei do not exist, which is a continuous syncytial sheet bearing outpocketings (diverticula) that correspond to the choanocyte chambers of other sponge groups. In most species the diverticula are separate, and attached to one another by syncytial filaments, but their arrangement as part of a sheet-like structure is still apparent. In a few species the choanocyte membrane becomes a labyrinth of anastomosing tubes. Accompanying these are the essential absence of mesogloea and the paucity of collagen (spongin), which results in the soft parts being essentially confined to the space occupied by the skeleton. The place of mesogloea is taken by a syncytial network of filaments which also form the dermal and gastral membranes.

Trophic classification. Appreciation of the ecologic functions of echinoderms is derived from an understanding of the diverse feeding methods and food preferences found within the group. Echinoderms are dominantly benthonic marine organisms but exploit a wide variety of food resources on the bottom, within the sediment, and from the water masses near the bottom (Table 1). The only echinoderms that are not strictly benthonic are some of the elasipodid holothurians, which have been captured at the surface and swimming above the bottom at great depth (Barnes et al., 1976). By rhythmic undulations of a fan of oral tentacles these bizarre holothurians capture suspended food particles from the water mass near the sea floor. Their anomalous form and habits, so far removed from the typical sea cucumber, serve to emphasize that holothurians and all other echinoderms cannot be readily characterized by a single trophic classification for each group. Each major living group of echinoderms has diversified in feeding methods and/or food preferences.

Since the inception of their use in commercial micropaleontology, benthic foraminifera have proven to be eminently useful in the solution of geological problems. The utilitarian credentials of benthic foraminifera in estimating paleodepths from marsh through neritic environments with a reasonable degree of accuracy and to indicate approximate ages (viz. subdivision of series/epochs) have been established in both commercial and academic applications. Benthic foraminifera are generally more resistant to dissolution than planktonic foraminifera, and have wide distributions; many taxa have restricted stratlgraphic ranges, making them suitable for correlation and paleo-environmental studies. Yet, three problems have tended to limit the utility of benthic foraminifera: 1) there is a lack of uniformity in taxonomy (Boltovskoy, 1980; Douglas & Woodruff, 1982); 2) attempts to erect zonal schemes using benthic foraminifera have resulted in boundaries which are later proven to be diachronous relative to planktonic zonatlons (e.g. the California provincial stages, Poore, 1976); and 3) attempts to interpret paleodepths from deep-sea benthic foraminifera have produced widely-varying results. One could perhaps conclude, as Boltovskoy (1965a) did over a decade ago, that these problems indicate “…the near future of this science is rather bleak.”

This lecture reviews Geologic Time Scale 2004 (Gradstein, Ogg et al., 2004; Cambridge University Press), constructed and detailed by 40 geoscience specialists, and indicates how it will be further refined. Since Geologic Time Scale 1989 by Harland et al., many developments have taken place: (1) Stratigraphic standardization through the work of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS) has greatly refined the international chronostratigraphic scale. In some cases, traditional European-based stages have been replaced with new subdivisions that allow global correlation. (2) New or enhanced methods of extracting high-precision age assignments with realistic uncertainties from the rock record. These have led to improved age assignments of key geologic stage boundaries and other global correlation horizons. (3) Orbital tuning has greatly refined the Neogene, and improved parts of Paleogene and Mesozoic. (4) Statistical techniques of compiling integrated global stratigraphic scales within geologic periods.

Anticipated advances to the Geologic Time Scale during the next 8 years include: a geologically realistic Precambrian scale, formal definition of all Phanerozoic stage boundaries, orbital tuning of polarity chrons and biostratigraphic events for entire Cenozoic and Cretaceous, a detailed database of high-resolution radiometric ages that includes “best practice” procedures, full error analysis, monitor ages and conversions, resolving age dating controversies (e.g., zircon statistics and possible reworking) across Devonian/Carboniferous, Permian/Triassic, and Anisian/Ladinian boundaries, improved and standardized dating of several ‘neglected’ intervals (e.g., Upper Jurassic – Lower Cretaceous, and Carboniferous through Triassic, and detailed integrated stratigraphy for Upper Paleozoic through Lower Mesozoic.

The geochronological science community and ICS are focusing on these issues. A modified version of the time scale to accompany the standardization (boundary definitions and stratotypes) of all stages is planned for 2008 (to be presented at the 33th International Geologic Congress in Oslo), with a totally revised version of GTS available in 2012.

“You are what you eat,” so the health food devotees claim, but if you are a bryozoan, “you are where you eat,” as well. Bryozoans are suspension feeders, dependent for their food on extracting edible particles from the water currents surrounding them. Most bryozoans are also sessile, unable to move from the place where the larva attached (except by that slow “movement” over the substratum that occurs by growth and decay of portions of the colony). Thus, colony morphology is inextricably linked to the way in which the colony processes water for food.

Geological and paleontological data derived from the Upper Cretaceous Two Medicine Formation of Montana indicates that at least some dinosaur species exhibited complex social behaviors comparable to many living birds. Two species of duck-billed dinosaurs, a hypsilophodontid and a troodontid, nested in colonies and attended their respective young. Duckbilled dinosaurs had altricial young, whereas the hypsilophodontid and troodontid had precocial young. Morphological evidence indicates that several of the cranial elements of the nestling duckbills experienced retarded development, and a retention of juvenile features. Following their respective nesting periods duck-billed and horned dinosaurs aggregated into large herds, and apparently migrated seasonally. Cranial ornamentations possessed by duck-billed and horned dinosaurs were most likely used for sexual display and mate recognition.

Osteohistological data indicates that the duck-billed dinosaurs hatched from their eggs at .50 to .75 meters in length, and exited their nests at 1.5 to 2 meters in length, at an age of about one month. These dinosaurs reached 3 to 4 meters in length their first year, and 7 to 8 meters in length after about 5 years. Growth and metabolic rates decreased substantially upon reaching adult size.

Until the mid-1960's, procedures for studying shell microstruetures were laborious and, for many purposes, unsatisfactory. Depositional surfaces were observed with binocular microscopy, and shell material was embedded in various media, sectioned, mounted on a glass slide, and observed with ordinary light and polarized light microscopy. These procedures revealed the major microstructural organization of shell layers and their optical crystallographic properties, but they provided little information regarding what is now termed shell ultrastructure. Nevertheless, these techniques provided the basis for a number of important pioneering works on molluscan shell microstructure between 1921 and 1967.

Most paleontological textbooks deal with tracheates and chelicerates in only a cursory way because of their putatively poor fossil record. However, recent investigations into the paleobiology of these groups reveal that the fossil record is not only more extensive than previously assumed, but provides a wealth of information regarding both broad and detailed patterns of evolution of the two most diverse subphyla on the planet. Tracheata, including insects, entognaths and the various myriapod groups, are the most diverse subphylum. Insects alone are the most diverse class of animals known, outnumbering the combined species level diversity of all other animals. The Chelicerata, composed of the eurypterids, xiphosurids, arachnids and pycnogonids, are the second most diverse subphylum, with the diversity of arachnids exceeding all classes except for the insects. Consequently, not only does the evolution of tracheates and chelicerates provide an interesting story in itself, but these groups also provide us with insight into more general aspects of the evolutionary process that are of interest to the general evolutionary biologist as well as to the arthropod specialist.

Coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystems on the planet, with at least one quarter of all marine species associated with reefs today. This diversity, which remains very poorly understood, is nevertheless extraordinary when one considers the small proportion of ocean area that is occupied by coral reefs. Networks of competitive and trophic linkages are also exceptionally complex and dense. Reefs have a long fossil record, although extensive reef building comes and goes. In the present, coral reefs sometimes respond dramatically to disturbances, and collapses are not always followed by recoveries. Today, much of this failure to recover appears to stem from the fact that most reefs are chronically stressed by human activities, judging by observations of recovery at exceptional locations where local human activity is minimal. How long reefs can continue to bounce back in the face of warming and acidification remains an open question. Another big uncertainty is how much loss of biodiversity will occur with the inevitable degradation of coral reefs that will continue in most places for the foreseeable future.

In all species, geographic range is constrained by a combination of ecological and historical factors. Ecological factors relate to the species' niche, its environmental or biotic limits in multidimensional space, while historical factors pertain to a species' ancestry, specifically the location at which a species evolved. Historical limitations are primary during speciation, while ecological factors control the subsequent expansion and contraction of species range. By assessing biogeographic changes during the lifespan of individual species, we can assess the relationship between paleobiogeography, paleoecology, and macroevolution. Quantitative paleobiogeographic analyses, especially those using GIS-based and phylogenetic methods, provide a framework to rigorously test hypotheses about the relationship between species ranges, biotic turnover, and paleoecology. These new tools provide a way to assess key questions about the co-evolution of life and earth. Changes in biogeographic patterns, reconstructed at the species level, can provide key information for interpreting macroevolutionary dynamics–particularly speciation mode (vicariance vs. dispersal) and speciation rate during key intervals of macroevolutionary change (biodiversity crises, widespread invasion events, and adaptive radiations). Furthermore, species ranges can be reconstructed using ecological niche modeling methods to examine the effects of environmental controls on geographic range shifts. Particularly fruitful areas of investigation in future paleobiogeographic analysis include (1) the relationship between species ranges and speciation events/mode, (2) relationship between shifting ecological regimes and range expansion and contraction, (3) the impact of interbasinal species invasions on both community structure and macroevolutionary dynamics, (4) the mechanics of transitions between endemic to cosmopolitan faunas at local, regional, and global scales, (5) how ecology and geographic range impacts species extinction during both background and crisis intervals.

Three case studies are presented to illustrate both the methods and utility of this theoretical approach of using paleobiogeographic patterns to assess macroevolutionary dynamics. The first case study examines paleobiogeographic patterns in shallow marine invertebrates during the Late Devonian Biodiversity Crisis. During this interval, speciation by vicariance declined precipitously and only species exhibiting expanding geographic ranges survived the crisis interval. Patterns of biogeographic change during the Late Ordovician Richmondian invasion (Cincinnati Arch region) reveal similar patterns; speciation rate declines during invasion intervals and widely distributed endemic species are best able to survive in the new invasive regime. Phylogenetic biogeographic patterns during the Miocene radiation of North American horses suggest climatic parameters were important determinants of speciation and dispersal patterns.

The evolutionary history of scleractinian corals, based on morphological taxonomy and inferences from the fossil record, has been poorly understood. Molecular techniques developed over the past ten years are now being used to gain a new perspective on scleractinian phylogeny. DNA sequences, mitochondrial genome structure, and morphological characters support a basal position for the Anthozoa in the phylum Cnidaria. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences suggest a relatively derived position of the order Scleractinia within the class Anthozoa. Mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences have provided a new hypothesis for evolution within the Scleractinia that is different from hypotheses based on morphological characters of extant and fossil taxa. Groupings within the two major lineages defined by molecular data do not correspond to morphological suborder groupings although groupings of genera within families do correspond to traditional taxonomy. This new molecular hypothesis suggests that the Scleractinia are represented by two major lineages that diverged from each other before the appearance of the scleractinian skeleton in the fossil record. This divergence time supports the hypotheses that the Scleractinia are not related to the Rugosa of the Paleozoic and that the scleractinian skeleton has evolved more than once. These two major lineages may represent two architectural strategies within the Scleractinia that have led to their great morphological diversity.