Investigating the Assembly of an Animal Body Plan: The Early Evolution of Echinoderms
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Birmingham
Department Name: Sch of Geography, Earth & Env Sciences
Abstract
The origin of animals was one of the most significant events in the evolutionary history of life, but the mechanism by which this occurred is unclear. Debate centres on whether this event was the result of numerous small evolutionary changes or relatively few large-scale ones. In theory we can study the fossilized remains of animals to discriminate between these possibilities, but unfortunately the early fossil records of most groups are apparently quite incomplete. The echinoderms (sea urchins, starfish and the like) are an exception to this because they possess a hard, mineralized skeleton and, hence, even their earliest representatives are preserved as fossils. However, to accurately interpret this rich record we also need to understand the anatomy, development and genetics of living animals. The principal aim of the proposed research is to reconstruct the origin and early evolution of echinoderms; this will provide important insights into the emergence of animals more generally. I will achieve this goal by: (1) reconstructing the early evolution of echinoderms and (2) testing the major existing theory for homologies (structures with a shared ancestry) in echinoderms. This research will involve a synthesis of palaeontological, developmental and molecular techniques, which is the most effective means of deciphering animal evolution. Selected fossil echinoderms will be studied using high-resolution micro-CT scanning and computer software to generate 3-D 'virtual fossils'. In combination with images obtained from scanning electron microscopy, this approach will allow previously hidden details of fossils to be studied and illustrated, providing new data on the relationships and mode of life of these extinct animals. The development of living echinoderms from embryo to adult will be studied using high-powered microscopes and a molecular technique for analyzing the expression patterns of genes. In this manner it will be established if the model for determining fundamental homologies in echinoderms is accurate. This project is important as it will help us uncover the morphology and relationships of extinct ancestral animals, and the novelties that arose during their evolution into modern forms. It may also help to infer the pattern and process of deep, fundamental events in animal evolutionary history. Ultimately, this research aims to demonstrate that only by integrating all relevant avenues of enquiry and lines of evidence can we achieve an optimal understanding of organismal evolution.
Organisations
Publications
Rahman I
(2014)
The youngest ctenocystoids from the Upper Ordovician of the United Kingdom and the evolution of the bilateral body plan in echinoderms
in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica
Rahman I
(2012)
Virtual Fossils: a New Resource for Science Communication in Paleontology
in Evolution: Education and Outreach
Rahman I
(2015)
Virtual paleontology: computer-aided analysis of fossil form and function
in Journal of Paleontology
Zamora S
(2013)
Taphonomy and ontogeny of early pelmatozoan echinoderms: A case study of a mass-mortality assemblage of Gogia from the Cambrian of North America
in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
ZAMORA S
(2013)
The ontogeny of cinctans (stem-group Echinodermata) as revealed by a new genus, GraciaCystis , from the middle Cambrian of Spain
in Palaeontology
Rahman I
(2011)
Dehmicystis globulus, an enigmatic solute (Echinodermata) from the Lower Devonian Hunsrück Slate, Germany
in Paläontologische Zeitschrift
Zamora S
(2012)
Plated Cambrian bilaterians reveal the earliest stages of echinoderm evolution.
in PloS one
Sutton
(2014)
Techniques for Virtual Palaeontology
Description | My research has demonstrated that echinoderms can be used as a model system for understanding character evolution in animals more broadly. A particular highlight was the discovery of the first fossil echinoderms with a bilateral body plan, which provide a convincing root for the phylum and strongly support the hypothesis that deposit feeding was primitive for deuterostomes. |
Exploitation Route | Based on my research, echinoderms could be used as a model system for investigating evolutionary patterns and processes that affect animals in general. |
Sectors | Education Other |
Description | My findings have resulted in a number of peer-reviewed publications, which have been widely read and cited by other scientists, thereby generating new knowledge. |
First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
Sector | Education,Other |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | NERC Public Engagement with Research: Resource development funding scheme |
Amount | £1,500 (GBP) |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2012 |
End | 12/2012 |
Description | Computer-aided visualization of fossil echinoderms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Scientific talk at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. Gave a scientific talk on my research as part of the Soft Rock Brown Bag Lecture Series, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, USA. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Form and function in Cambrian stem-group echinoderms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Scientific talk at the Natural History Museum, London. Gave a scientific talk on my research as part of the Palaeontology Seminar Series, Department of Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, London. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | If only there were still alive |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Contributed media to "If only there were still alive", a Herritage Lottery Fund event. I produced a video of a computer reconstruction of a fossil ammonite, which was used in the Heritage Lottery Fund even "If only they were still alive". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Life (500 million years ago) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Podcast on palaeontology for the Birmingham Ideas Lab Interviewed for a podcast on palaeontology by the Birmingham Ideas Lab. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Palaeontology [online] |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I am co-founder and commissioning editor of Palaeontology [online], an open-access science website. I was part of a small team of young researchers who founded Palaeontology [online], a public engagement website covering all aspects of palaeontology. I now act as commissioning editor for the site. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011,2012,2013,2014 |
Description | The early evolution of echinoderms |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Participants in your research and patient groups |
Results and Impact | Scientific talk at the University of Birmingham Gave a scientific talk on my research as part of the Geosystems Seminar Series, School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | The origin of echinoderms - bringing fossils to life in 3D |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public talk for the Black Country Geological Society. Gave a public talk on palaeontology for the Black Country Geological Society. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
Description | Virtual palaeontology - Lapworth Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Engagement activity at the University of Birmingham Annual Community Day. Exhibited a NERC-funded virtual palaeontology resource at an engagement event at the Lapworth Museum during the University of Birmingham Annual Community Day. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
Description | Virtual palaeontology - bringing fossils to life in 3D |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public talk for the Dudley Rock and Fossil Festival. Gave a public talk on palaeontology for the Dudley Rock and Fossil Festival. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |