Recerca (13)
Projectes / Proyectos / Projects
- paleoprimatologia i paleontologia humana
- mesozoic faunas
- neogen and quaternary faunas
- evolutionary paleobiology
Project |
IP |
Years |
|---|---|---|
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Paleobiodiversity and paleoecology of Miocene vertebrate faunas during high resolution intervals in the Vallès-Penedès Basin |
David M. Alba |
2021-2025 |
| Proyecto I+D+i PID2020-117289GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ |  |
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How to build a giant? Life history and optimality theory are central to unravel the evolution towards ever larger insular endemics |
Meike Köhler |
2021-2025 |
| Proyecto I+D+i PID2020-117118GB-I00 funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ | |
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The Cenozoic primates from the Iberian Peninsula and their contribution to the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of the group |
Salvador Moyà-Solà |
2021-2025 |
| Proyecto I+D+i PID2020-116908GB-I00 funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ | |
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Vertebrate Evolution, Biogeography, and Paleoecology in an Ancient Insular Ecosystem |
Bernat Vila (co-IP: Albert Prieto-Márquez) |
2021-2024 |
| Proyecto I+D+i PID2020-119811GB-I00 funded by MCIN/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ | |
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This group focuses on the paleobiodiversity, evolution and paleobiology of continental vertebrates from the Cenozoic era (66 Ma to present, incuding the Paleogene, Neogene and Quaternary periods), with emphasis on the rich fossil record of mammals from Catalonia and nearby areas. Particular efforts are devoted to research paleoenvironmental change through time by means of paleoecological and paleobiodiversity dynamics analyses (which is especially relevant in the light of current global climate change), as well as in the evolution of primates based on their fossil record (with emphasis on the origins of the great ape and human clade).
The composition of the Cenozoic Research Area and Research Groups is currently the following:
Dr. David M. Alba (Research Area Head)
Paleobiodiversity & Phylogeny Research Group:
- Dr. David M. Alba (Senior Research Group Leader)
- Dr. Joan Madurell-Malapeira (Researcher)
- Dr. Antonio Sánchez-Marco (Researcher)
- Dr. Juan Abella ('Beatiu de Pinós' Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Dr. Josep M. Robles (Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Sharrah McKenzie (Predoctoral Researcher)
- Leonardo Sorbelli (FI Predoctoral Researcher)
- Maria Prat-Vericat (PhD student)
- Guillem Pons-Monjo (PhD student)
- Dr. Massimo Delfino (Research Associate)
- Dr. Israel M. Sánchez (Research Associate)
- Dr. Daniel DeMiguel (Research Associate)
- Dr. Àngel H. Luján (Research Associate)
- Josep Aurell (Collaborator)
- Jordi Balaguer (Collaborator)
Paleoecology & Biochronology Research Group:
- Dr. Isaac Casanovas-Vilar (Junior Research Group Leader)
- Dr. Marc Furió (Researcher)
- Montse Grau (PhD Student)
- Dr. Chiara Angelone (Research Associate)
- Dr. Jan van Dam (Research Associate)
- Dr. Yuri Kimura (Research Associate)
- Dr. Israel García-Paredes (Research Associate)
Paleoprimatology & Paleoanthropology Research Group:
- Prof. Salvador Moyà-Solà (Senior Research Group Leader & ICREA Research Professor)
- Dr. Judit Marigó (‘Beatriu de Pinós’ Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Dr. Arnau Bolet ('Juan de la Cierva' Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Dr. Júlia Arias-Martorell (‘Beatriu de Pinós’ Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Alessandro Urciuoli (PhD Student)
- Florian Bouchet (Predoctoral Researcher)
- Prof. Eric Delson (Research Associate)
- Dr. Sergio Almécija (Research Associate)
- Dr. Tomàs Marquès-Bonet (Research Associate)
- Dr. Raef Minwer-Barakat (Research Associate)
- Dr. Amélie Beaudet (Research Associate)
- Dr. Marta Pina (Research Associate)
- Joan Femenias-Gual (Collaborator)
This group focuses on the paleobiodiversity and paleoecology of terrestrial ecosystems during the Mesozoic era (252-66 Ma), with emphasis on those time intervals best represented in the fossil record of Catalonia (bony remains, eggs and ichnites)—in particular, the last dinosaurs of Europe and associated faunas, in order to model the ecosystems of the Late Cretaceous before the K-T extinction that wiped out non-avian dinosaurs and other terrestrial vertebrates.
The composition of the Mesozoic Research Area is currently the following:
Dr. Àngel Galobart (Research Area Head)
Dinosaur Ecosystems Research Group:
- Dr. Àngel Galobart (Research Group Leader)
- Dr. Albert Prieto-Márquez (‘Ramón y Cajal’ Researcher)
- Dr. Bernat Vila (Tenure-track Researcher)
- Dr. Albert G. Sellés (Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Dr. Diego Castanera (‘Beatriu de Pinós’ Postdoctoral Researcher)
- Rafel Matamales (FPU Predoctoral Researcher)
- Dr. Fabio M. Dalla Vecchia (Research Associate)
- Dr. Nicolas Malchus (Research Associate)
- Dr. Víctor Fondevilla: (Research Associate)
This area is devoted to the study of the patterns and causes of evolutionary change and extinction by combining fossil evidence with the biology of extant organisms. Emphasis is put on the evolution of life-histories under changing ecological conditions from the viewpoint of adaptation, based on the paleohistological study of hard tissues within the analytical framework provided by life history theory of biological evolution (ecology, demography, physiology and adaptation).
The area also encompasses computational approaches that aim to digitally obtain paleobiological and evolutionary data of extinct organisms based on a wide range of techniques from imaging to functional approaches.
Evolutionary Paleobiology Research Area:
Prof. Meike Köhler (Research Area Head & ICREA Research Professor)
Life History Evolution Research Group:
- Prof. Meike Köhler (Senior Research Group Leader & ICREA Research Professor)
- Dr. Josep Quintana Cardona (Researcher)
- Teresa Calderón (FPI Predoctoral Researcher)
- Manuel Fernández (Lab Technician)
Computational Paleobiology Research Group:
- Dr. Josep Fortuny (Junior Research Group Leader)
- Dr. Alejandro Serrano (Interim Lab Technician)
- Dr. Jordi Marcé-Nogué (Research Associate)
- Dr. Soledad De Esteban-Trivigno (Research Associate)
- Dr. Eudald Mujal (Research Associate)
- Dr. Borja Holgado (Research Associate)
- Chabier de Jaime-Soguero (FI Predoctoral Researcher)
- Joan Cartanyà (Collaborator)
- Dr. David P. Groenwald (Collaborator)
This group is a semitechnical area based on the use of light non-invasive technologies applied to Palaeontology, to explore and quantify inner, usually non-visible, structures.
These techniques include 3D imaging, industrial and medical computed tomography, laser scanning, photogrammetry as well as engineering techniques such as Finite Element Analysis. The facilities of the ICP include an industrial Computed Tomography scanner: with an X-Ray tube of 450 kV, this represents the most powerful research CT system in Spain to scan large samples in high resolution. Other facilities are Next Engine laser scanners as well as powerful workstations with the principal software to analyze and interpret the results. Moreover, the department has a stable collaboration with mechanical engineers of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) developing new biomechanical approaches for extinct animals.
Coordinator Dr. Josep Fortuny (ICP)
The origin and evolution of extant hominoids, group composed by lesser apes, orangutans, chimpanzees, gorillas and humans, is one of the most debated questions during the last century of palaeontological research worldwide. It is the main goal of this group to help resolving this problem. This group works on the extraordinary Catalan hominoid fossil record, the worldwide richest record between 14-8 Ma, the critical time span for which molecular and palaeontological data suggest the origin of this group.
Using new techniques such as CT-scan reconstruction and analysis, morphometric geometrics and phylogenetic analysis, the group is trying to test the current paradigm that holds that extant hominoids is a monophyletic group with a past common ancestor as well as the importance of homoplasy in their evolution. Another important goal of the group is the reconstruction of the evolutionary history of Paleogene primates and the origin of the human hand.
This group also focuses on the primate evolution during Eocene as well as the origin and adaptations of the human hand.
Head of Department: Dr. Salvador Moyà-Solà (ICREA researcher)
Aquest grup contribueix a resoldre una de les qüestions més debatudes durant el darrer segle: l’origen i evolució dels hominoïdeus actuals (el grup format pels gibons, orangutans, ximpanzés, goril·les i humans). Treballa amb l’extraordinari registre fòssil català d’entre 14 i 8 milions d’anys que ha proporcionat fòssils únics com Pierolapithecus catalaunicus (l’homínid popularment conegut com en Pau) o Hispanopithecus laietanus (Jordi).
Utilitzant noves tècniques com la reconstrucció 3D a partir d’imatges tomogràfiques, la geometria morfomètrica i l’anàlisi filogenètic, aquest grup mira d’aportar llum a l’actual paradigma que sosté que els actuals hominoïdeus són un grup monofilètic amb un avantpassat comú, així com posar en relleu la importància de l’homoplàsia en la seva evolució. Un altre dels objectius és la reconstrucció de la història evolutiva en els primats del paleogen que va donar lloc a la mà humana.
A més, l’estudi de l’evolució dels primats de l’Eocè i l’origen de les adaptacions de la mà humana, son objectius d’aquest grup.
Cap del Grup: Dr. Salvador Moyà-Solà (professor d’investigació ICREA i Director de l’ICP).
Es tracta d’una àrea semitècnica que utilitza tecnologies no invasives en l’estudi dels fòssils per tal d’explorar i quantificar estructures habitualment no visibles.
Les tècniques inclouen modelització 3D, tomografia computada industrial i mèdica, escaneig làser i fotogrametria així com tècniques d’enginyeria com l’Anàlisi d’Elements Finits. Des del 2013, gràcies a un programa operatiu FEDER de Catalunya 2007-2013, l’equipament de l’ICP inclou un aparell de tomografia computada industrial amb un tub de raig-X de 450 kV, el que el converteix en l’aparell de recerca més potent d’Espanya d’aquest tipus per analitzar grans mostres a alta resolució. Altres equipaments inclouen un escàner làser Next Engine així com potents estacions de treball per tal d’analitzar i interpretar els resultats.
El departament manté una col·laboració estable amb enginyers de la Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) amb els quals desenvolupa noves aproximacions a la biomecànica d’animals extints.
Coordinador: Dr. Josep Fortuny (ICP)
