Research Training Program

John Perrine
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, Tennessee

William DiMichele, Ph.D.
Supervising Scientist
Department of Paleobiology

"This program gives students the unique experience of running their own project with some of the most noted researchers in the field.

Computer assisted reconstruction of the frond of Pecopteris oregonensis, a Carboniferous Fern

In 1941, members of the US Geological Survey collected numerous specimens of a fossil fern from a flora dating from the Carboniferous (approximately 320 mya). Due to the shape of the pinnae, this fern was identified as Pecopteris oregonensis by Arnold (1951). Recent observations by Dr. William DiMichele have revealed that the internal morphology of Pecopteris oregonensis is inconsistent with other members of the family Marratiales, and may more closely resemble the family Zygopterales. Fragments of specimens in the collections were analyzed to determine the exact morphometric relationships dictating the growth of the frond, and these relationships were added to a special growth simulation to produce a computer image of the entire frond. Since P. oregonensis comprised up to 70% of the flora of the Spotted Ridge Area of Oregon, a major step has been taken towards determining the appearance of the Carboniferous landscape. Hopefully, this technique can be used to determine the appearance and development of other fossil plants.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program ( Award: DIR-9200203).