Research
The Galician sedimentary basins are very singular fossil sites, because of they hold a diverse Oligocene-Miocene fossil record, including plants, vertebrates and invertebrates. The study of these deposits is essential to improve our knowledge on the past biodiversity and biotic turnovers during the Oligocene-Miocene transition, and how they were affected by the climatic change of that epoch.
The main goal of OLIGOlife is the taxonomical and paleoecological study of the fossil record from the Oligocene-Miocene transition of Galicia, and its enhancement as paleontological and cultural heritage.
Image: Xannceda Sedimentary basin, 2024. Credits: B. Moncunill-Solé. CC BY-SA
Goals
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Finding new fossil accumulations
To prospect exposed deposits in less-known Oligocene and Miocene sedimentary basins, identifying new fossiliferous sites and correlating them chronologically and stratigraphically with the already known sections.
Studying vertebrate and plant fossil remains
Assessing the faunal and flora assemblage (taxonomical study) that inhabited this region during the Oligocene and early Miocene, based on the macro- and microremains recovered from As Pontes, fieldwork and washing of sediment samples. Inferring its chronostratigraphical distribution and comparing with other coeval European records.
Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction
To know palaeoclimatic parameters (mean annual temperature, mean annual and seasonal precipitation, relative humidity, etc.) that occurred in this region during this time span using both vertebrate and plant remains as proxies (foliar physiognomic techniques and analysis of stable isotopes). Inferences about the impact of these abiotic conditions in faunal and floristic successions will be assessed.
Funding
ED431F 2023/36
Call “Consolidación e estructuración de unidades de investigación”. 01/01/2023-31/12/2027. 115.000€.
ED481D-2021/026
Call "Programa posdoutoral Xunta de Galicia - Modalidade B". 31/03/2021-31/12/2022. 25.000€.
RYC2021-034269-I
Call “Ramón y Cajal 2021”.
01/01/2023-31/12/2027. 42.000€.
Image: As Pontes lake (renaturalized coal mine), 2023. Credits: B. Moncunill-Solé. CC BY-SA