TITLE
Circum-Arctic Lower-Middle Palaeozoic Vertebrate Palaeontology and Biostratigraphy

PROPOSED BY
Dr. Mark V. H. Wilson (Canada)
Dr. Tiiu Mä rss (Estonia)

BRIEF OUTLINE AND MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT
A major problem in Lower-Middle Palaeozoic biostratigraphy and vertebrate paleontology is the difficulty of correlating strata and faunas across the Circum-Arctic region, caused by insufficient study, the inconvenience and expense of doing appropriate field work, insufficient international collaboration, and apparent examples of provincialism and endemism of faunas. Several researchers with interests in this area began discussions and joint work under IGCP 328 (Palaeozoic Microvertebrates). We propose a project to further this cooperation by coordinating and stimulating research into Lower and Middle Palaeozoic vertebrates from remote northern areas; to study their taxonomy, succession and the most important stratigraphic levels of biological changes and events in vertebrate evolution; to determine their evolutionary relationships; to improve knowledge of the stratigraphic and geographical ranges of vertebrates using also data on conodonts, chitinozoans, spores, and other associated fossils; to elaborate regional vertebrate biozonal schemes; to correlate sedimentary rocks within and among northernmost parts of the Laurentian, Baltican, Barentsian and Siberian paleocontinents; and to contribute to compilation of paleogeographic maps for the Silurian and Devonian.

ESTIMATED DURATION

5 years (1996-2000)

TENTATIVE WORK SCHEDULE
(additional workshops, field trips, and symposia to be added as possible)

Each year organization and participation in symposia at major geological and paleontological meetings publication of project news and lists of results in Ichthyolith Issues and on World-Wide Web annual meeting and workshops by working groups participation in relevant meetings of subcommissions on Palaeozoic systems (SOS, SSS, and SDS)
1996 advertising of project and recruitment of working group members and participants gathering information and samples from all possible previous Arctic field parties, especially those from various parts of the Russian Arctic participation in Mackenzie Mountains and Anderson River (Canada) expeditions in July Conference on the Silurian System, Rochester, USA, in August workshop on Severnaya Zemlya and other Russian Arctic vertebrates at 3rd Baltic Stratigraphical Conference, Tallinn, in October to plan further work for those areas.
1997 joint field work in the Canadian Arctic; preparation and study of rock samples and fossils.
1998 joint field work in Greenland and Spitsbergen, supported by different institutions and organizations (e.g. UNESCO/IUGS, NATO Scientific Affairs Division; National Geographic Society); study of samples and fossils; preparation of publications.
1999 symposium/workshops/technical sessions at the Lower Vertebrate Symposium in Flagstaff, Arizona; publication of taxonomic, stratigraphic, and related papers.
2000 final project symposium; publication of symposium proceedings and results of working group collaborations.

CONCRETE RESULTS EXPECTED OF THE PROJECT
(a) in theoretical sciences:

Significant additions to knowledge about taxonomic composition of Lower and Middle Palaeozoic vertebrates on each paleocontinent; improved ability to distinguish endemic and cosmopolitan taxa to determine their value for biostratigraphic correlations; comparison of microfossil and macrofossil records of vertebrates from the same sections when possible; elucidation of patterns of early evolution of vertebrates, faunal provinces, barriers and migration routes.

(b) in applied science and technology:

Data on biostratigraphic distribution of vertebrates will be used to improve regional and global correlation, contribute to more accurate geological mapping, and help in paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental reconstructions. Vertebrate fossils have special advantages for these purposes in that they can be successfully used for both carbonate and terrigenous marine deposits, of shallow and deep water origin. Also important is their utility for correlation of monotonous dolomitic formations where graptolites or shelly fauna are absent or destroyed.

The project will foster detailed field studies in areas that have been surveyed geologically on a reconnaissance basis only; improvements to knowledge of such areas may lead to discovery of paleontological sites worthy of protection and designation by national and international bodies (such as the World Heritage Sites program); other findings could contribute to discovery of valuable mineral or petroleum deposits.

The following short term results are expected:

1. Gathering together all possible vertebrate samples brought from different Arctic expeditions (1996, first half);
2. Description of fauna and biostratigraphical analysis of the Silurian and Devonian of Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago - preparation of the material for publication (1996-1997);
3. Preparation for publication of the material brought by the IGCP 328 expedition to Baillie Hamilton, Cornwallis , and Prince of Wales Islands in 1994 and 1995 (1996-1997).
4. Preparation, study, and publication of microvertebrates and stratigraphically important macrovertebrates from the Delorme Formation collections in Edmonton, Ottawa, and Bristol (1996-1997).
5. Completion of part of PhD thesis on Greenlands Silurian and Lower Devonian agnathans by H. Blom (1997), MSc theses on Mackenzie Mts. heterostracans by K. Soehn (1996), and PhD thesis by G. Hanke (1998).

The present state of activities in this field:

Regions have until now been studied differently depending on accessibility of areas and economic resources of the country. Most attention has been paid to regional mapping, in the course of which fish localities have been found, fossil fauna and flora described, and stratigraphic framework elaborated. Work on vertebrates in Spitsbergen is perhaps most advanced, while studies of the Canadian and Russian Arctic (using vertebrates) are less developed. Research in Greenland, other than on sarcopterygians and tetrapods of Devonian age, is relatively new (see reference list). The now completed IGCP 328 (Palaeozoic Microvertebrates) project was important for bringing many international researchers together for the first time; the present proposal aims to build on that initiative.

What countries and institutions are in your opinion likely to participate

Researchers from many countries including Australia, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden, UK and USA are involved. We will also try to cooperate with researchers in Denmark and Norway, and with institutions of other countries that have Palaeozoic vertebrate material from the Arctic or interested researchers.

What countries, institutions (or individuals) have already expressed interest:

Nearly 60 active paleontologists have strongly supported or have expressed interest in the project (1 - has agreed to participate; 2 - will assist and support; others are considered likely to be interest and are being contacted):
Australia - Dr. S. Turner1, C. Burrow1, Z. Johanson
Canada - Drs M. Wilson1, R. Thorsteinsson1, B. Chatterton1, C. Barnes1,P. Johnston2, G. Nowlan2, P.-Y. Gagnier1, M. Caldwell1, F. Brunton2, graduate students G. Hanke1, K. Soehn1
China - Drs Change Mee-mann1, Zhu Min
Estonia - Drs T. Mä rss1, P. Mannik1, E. Mark-Kurik1, V. Viira1
France - C. Bexiga, Dr. A. Blieck1, R. Cloutier1, C. Derycke-Khatir, D. Goujet1, P. Janvier, H. Lelièvre1
Germany - Dr. H.-P. Shultze1, M. Otto
Japan - Dr. M. Goto
Latvia - Dr. E. Luksevics1
Lithuania - Drs V. Talimaa1, J. Valiukevicius1
Netherlands - J. M.J. Vergoossen1
Norway - Drs N. Heintz1, R. Ilyes1
Russia - Drs O.Afanassieva1, V.V. Menner1, L.I. Novitskaya, Prof. R.G. Matukhin1 A.F. Abushik1, S.V. Cherkesova1, A. Ivanov1, student I.O. Evdokimova1, T.L. Modzalevskaya1, L.V. Nekhorosheva1, V.S. Tsyganko, S.V. Melnikov, Z.P.Jurjeva
Sweden - Prof. J. Peel1, graduate student H. Blom1, Dr. U. Borgen1
UK - Drs D. Dineley1, E. Loeffler1, J. Clack1, R.J. Aldridge2, M. Purnell1, I. Sansom, P. Forey2, M. Coates1, P. Ahlberg1, C. G. Miller1, S. Sutherland1, J. Richardson1, V. Young1
USA - Prof. D. Elliott1, graduate student J. Evans1 Suggested location of major field activities
Northern Laurentian paleocontinent : (a) Canadian Arctic Archipelago (Devon, Melville, Somerset, Ellesmere, Cornwallis, Baillie-Hamilton, Prinze of Wales Islands) and northernmost continental North America (Boothia Peninsula, Anderson River and Snake River areas, Mackenzie Mts.); (b) Greenland: eastern and northwestern coastal areas.
Barentsian micro-continent emphasizing Spitsbergen.
Baltican paleocontinent (Novaya Zemlya, Vaigatch and Dolgii Islands, the Polar Urals, and northern Timan-Pechora Region).
Siberian paleocontinent (Taimyr, Severnaya Zemlya, Novosibirskiye=New Siberian Islands). Formally we include here also Wrangel Island.

We will try to organize international cooperation in field work in each of the above areas, though some might prove more difficult to visit than others. However, in many cases, such as various parts of the Russian Arctic, there are extensive but little studied rock samples, fossil collections, and/or microfossil concentrates, obtained by previous field work, that can be made available for study. Working groups will attempt to organize study of these materials and assess the possibility and necessity of field work.

Location of major laboratory research (based on institutions of known participants)
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Geology (VSEGEI), St.Petersburg, Russia;
All-Russian Research Institute of Geological Exploration of Oil (VNIGRI), Uhta, Komi, Russia;
All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Ocean-Geology (VNIIO), St.Petersburg, Russia;
Paleontological Institute of RAS (PIN), Moscow, Russia;
Siberian Scientific Res. Inst. of Geology, Geophysics and Mineral Resources (SNIIGIMS), Novosibirsk, Russia;
St.Petersburg University, St.Petersburg, Russia;
Institute of Geology and Exploitation of Compustible Fuels (IGIRGI), Moscow, Russia;
Institute of Earth Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden;
Institute of Geology, Tallinn, Estonia;
Latvian Museum of Natural History, Riga, Latvia;
Institute of Geology of Lithuania, Vilnius, Lithuania;
Paleontol.-Geologisches Institut un Museum, Berlin, Germany
Universite des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, France;
Museum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, France;
Natural History Museum, London, UK;
Cambridge University, Cambridge, UK;
University of Leicester, UK;
University of Bristol, Bristol, UK;
Geological Survey of Canada, Calgary, Canada;
Laboratory for Vertebrate Paleontology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada;
Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, USA;
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia;
Macquarie University, Australia;
Queensland Museum, Brisbane, Australia;

Further remarks of relevance.
Project is multidisciplinary: paleobotanical, paleozoological and paleoenvironmental studies will occur together;
Highly qualified scientists of several countries, excellent intra-project communication and liaison between personnel;
Several graduate students are engaged in the project;
A problem for scientists in eastern Europe is lack of funds for sample processing, photography, and publication. We hope to encourage international cooperation in research agreements that might help to alleviate such problems;
The project will include detailed field studies in areas that have only been studied on a reconnaissance basis; knowledge of such areas may lead to important discoveries, with potential benefits to society;
The results of ongoing paleogeographical studies depend partly on detailed paleontological studies of the Arctic;
The vertebrate biozonal scheme of the international correlation chart (the so-called Global Standard) needs to be improved with the data from the Arctic;
A goal of IGCP 328, a computerized global database for Palaeozoic vertebrate occurrences, will be furthered.