Research Training Program

Megan Paustian
Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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

"I am quite grateful to have been invited to participate in the RTP program, which has made this about the most interesting and enlightening summer I have experienced yet."

A Baseline Floral Study of the Early Permian Lueders Formation, North-Central Texas

During the Early Permian, the earth experienced a shift from an ice age to globally warm conditions. This was the only period in the history of life with such a climatic shift except for the present, when human activities have led to global warming. By studying the late Paleozoic fossil record, long-term ecological changes may be observed and a better understanding may be gained of current climate-driven ecological trends. The intent of this study was to generate baseline data on the vegetation of one ancient flora, to be compared with earlier and subsequent species assemblages in later studies. The fossil plant species and genera of the Early Permian (Leonardian) Lueders Formation, north-central Texas, were identified and quantified. The study was performed upon seven fossil collections gathered from four localities in the Lueders Formation, which had once been a coastal floodplain. Early Permian vegetation experienced increased aridity caused by global warming. Dryness-tolerant, seed-producing plants became dominant in plant communities over swamp-loving, spore-producing plants. The Lueders flora captured this trend: seed plant foliage was the most common element. Gymnosperm groups, mainly conifers such as Walchia sp. and Brachyphyllum sp., dominated the flora. Pteridosperms, seed ferns, were also common. The remnants of swamp flora, including calamite and lycopod stems and pecopteris foliage, occurred relatively infrequently.

This research was supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program, Award Number DBI 9820303.

Letter of Gratitude