NSF Award Abstract - #0137742| NSF Award Abstract - #0137742 |
AWSFL008-DS3 |
| NSF Org | OCE |
| Latest Amendment Date | May 7, 2002 |
| Award Number | 0137742 |
| Award Instrument | Standard Grant |
| Program Manager |
Elizabeth Rom OCE DIVISION OF OCEAN SCIENCES GEO DIRECTORATE FOR GEOSCIENCES |
| Start Date | June 1, 2002 |
| Expires | May 31, 2005 (Estimated) |
| Expected Total Amount | $298770 (Estimated) |
| Investigator | Amy Moran amoran@wrigley.usc.edu (Principal Investigator current) |
| Sponsor |
U of NC Chapel Hill 440 West Franklin Street Chapel Hill, NC 27514 919/966-3411 |
| NSF Program | 1690 EDUCATION/HUMAN RESOURCES,OCE |
| Field Application | 0204000 Oceanography |
| Program Reference Code | 0000,1681,OTHR, |
This award provides funding for the PI to study life history evolution in marine systems by combining biogeographical, biochemical, morphological and paleontological approaches to examining egg size evolution in a family of marine bivalves relative to a major biogeographic event, the rise of the Central American Isthmus (CAI) at 2.8-3.1 million years ago. The rise of the CAI separated the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and isolated populations of previously-continuous species (known as geminate species pairs). The presence of multiple closely-related species offers a unique, replicated natural experiment that can shed light on evolutionary forces. The PI will study the egg size evolution of bivalves in the family Arcidae to determine the rate and timing of the evolution relative to the rise of the CIA. This research will provide the first descriptive data on egg size in the past, and will add a new approach for exploration of oceanic change and evolutionary response to geologic events. In addition, funding will support research experience for five undergraduate students.
