J. Vertebrate diversity and evolution during the Early Mesozoic

Adriana Lopez-Arbarello, Oliver Rauhut & Richard Butler, LMU München

The early (pre-Cretaceous) Mesozoic is an important time for our understanding of the origin of modern vertebrate biodiversity. After the greatest mass extinction in earth history at the Permian-Triassic boundary, it was this time that the majority of major vertebrate groups originated and had their first major radiations. Great advances in our understanding of early Mesozoic vertebrate evolution have been made in recent years, and especially the application of numerical analytical methods in several fields (phylogeny, ecology, diversity analysis, biogeography) has led to important new insights. Other new approaches include evolutionary perspectives on biota-environment interactions and analyses of the influence of abiotic factors on the evolution of certain groups, although these studies are still in their infancy.

This symposium will bring together leading international experts to discuss recent advances in both our understanding of early Mesozoic vertebrates, and new methodological applications.