Cambrian Nervous Systems for Reconstructing the Arthropod Tree of Life
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF EXETER
Department Name: Biosciences
Abstract
Arthropods are invertebrate animals with an exoskeleton, a segmented body, and jointed legs, such as insects, crabs, spiders and centipedes. Arthropoda is by far the largest and most diverse phylum today and is closely related to two smaller phyla, Onychophora (velvet worms) and Tardigrada (water bears), together forming Panarthropoda. They first appear 520 million years ago (Mya) in the "Cambrian Explosion", marked by the sudden appearance of most major animal phyla in the fossil record. The long geological history and exceptional diversity of panarthropods make them ideal candidates for understanding the origin and early evolution of animals, and it is thus fundamental to investigate their Cambrian fossil record.
The great diversity in the external appearance of panarthropods makes it difficult to understand their interrelationships. In contrast, recent studies show that the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS) has been remarkably conservative, and while variations between species can be recognised, the general arrangement within each major group has been very stable. Therefore, the CNS provides a primary source of data for understanding the relationships of major panarthropod groups. Unfortunately, extant species cannot inform us about the earliest panarthropod brains and nervous systems, or their early evolutionary history. Only fossils, which record the earliest stages in the evolution of arthropods, can provide the answers.
Soft parts of animals tend to decay away quickly after death, so most arthropod fossils are the remains of hard parts (e.g. exoskeletons) and much less is known about their internal anatomy. However, under exceptional circumstances, the unmineralised soft tissue of organisms can also be preserved in exquisite detail, such as in two famous Cambrian fossil assemblages: the Chengjiang biota, southwest China (circa 520 Mya), and the Burgess Shale, Canada (circa 505 Mya). Both yield abundant panarthropod fossils with exceptionally preserved external morphology and internal anatomy, providing crucial information about the earliest panarthropods. Countering orthodox assumptions that neural tissue does not withstand fossilization, the applicant and her colleagues recently reported exceptionally preserved brains and nervous systems from Chengjiang arthropods, which added a fresh injection of data for understanding fossil arthropods and established a new research field, "neuropalaeontology". Further provisional studies have discovered the brain and other neural tissues in even earlier-derived fossil panarthropods, providing vital information regarding the origin of arthropod brains; as well as new discoveries of exceptionally preserved circulatory systems (previously all but unknown in the arthropod fossil record) and sensory structures (e.g. eyes and sense organs on the antennae) from Cambrian panarthropods. Together with their CNS, these provide unique insights into the ecology and evolution of early panarthropods.
The aim of this project is to accurately document the CNS, sensory structures and other internal organ systems from exceptionally preserved Cambrian panarthropods (e.g. lobopodians, anomalocaridids and arthropods) of the Chengjiang and Burgess Shale biotas and compare the data with living groups, so as to increase our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between major groups during the early stages of radiation and divergence.
The great diversity in the external appearance of panarthropods makes it difficult to understand their interrelationships. In contrast, recent studies show that the evolution of the central nervous system (CNS) has been remarkably conservative, and while variations between species can be recognised, the general arrangement within each major group has been very stable. Therefore, the CNS provides a primary source of data for understanding the relationships of major panarthropod groups. Unfortunately, extant species cannot inform us about the earliest panarthropod brains and nervous systems, or their early evolutionary history. Only fossils, which record the earliest stages in the evolution of arthropods, can provide the answers.
Soft parts of animals tend to decay away quickly after death, so most arthropod fossils are the remains of hard parts (e.g. exoskeletons) and much less is known about their internal anatomy. However, under exceptional circumstances, the unmineralised soft tissue of organisms can also be preserved in exquisite detail, such as in two famous Cambrian fossil assemblages: the Chengjiang biota, southwest China (circa 520 Mya), and the Burgess Shale, Canada (circa 505 Mya). Both yield abundant panarthropod fossils with exceptionally preserved external morphology and internal anatomy, providing crucial information about the earliest panarthropods. Countering orthodox assumptions that neural tissue does not withstand fossilization, the applicant and her colleagues recently reported exceptionally preserved brains and nervous systems from Chengjiang arthropods, which added a fresh injection of data for understanding fossil arthropods and established a new research field, "neuropalaeontology". Further provisional studies have discovered the brain and other neural tissues in even earlier-derived fossil panarthropods, providing vital information regarding the origin of arthropod brains; as well as new discoveries of exceptionally preserved circulatory systems (previously all but unknown in the arthropod fossil record) and sensory structures (e.g. eyes and sense organs on the antennae) from Cambrian panarthropods. Together with their CNS, these provide unique insights into the ecology and evolution of early panarthropods.
The aim of this project is to accurately document the CNS, sensory structures and other internal organ systems from exceptionally preserved Cambrian panarthropods (e.g. lobopodians, anomalocaridids and arthropods) of the Chengjiang and Burgess Shale biotas and compare the data with living groups, so as to increase our understanding of the evolutionary relationships between major groups during the early stages of radiation and divergence.
Planned Impact
This project will use the earliest nervous systems from Cambrian fossils to address fundamental questions about the origin and early evolution of animal life. Its unique outcomes will appeal directly or indirectly to a diverse range of individuals/organisations.
1) Academics: the multidisciplinary nature of the research ensures its relevance to a wide range of scientists, including palaeontologists, neurobiologists, taphonomists, phylogeneticists and evolutionary biologists. Results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences. Data generated will be archived in a NERC Data Centre and/or open access websites.
2) Public sector: The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is a world-leading research institution and a major public engagement centre that attracts 5 million visitors per year. Results from this project will contribute to enhancing the museum's research profile, increase its influence and standing overseas, and encourage more visits. The applicant will facilitate NHM and other UK colleagues establishing further international collaboration, particularly with China.
3) Educators & Students. Results will impact teachers whose purpose is to teach biological and evolutionary knowledge and concepts. The research will assist educators in providing interesting examples of key biological innovations. Consequently, the knowledge held by students of all ages will be enriched, as will their interest and understanding of evolution. The applicant will take up appropriate teaching activities and supervise research students. The NHM attracts 150,000 school visitors each year, with many targeted outreach activities and programmes to provide a forum for Museum scientists to engage with students as well as education professionals, such as "Biology AS and A-level Day".
4) General Public. This research will be attractive and accessible to most laypersons interested in nature. The project will also act as a compelling springboard for communicating to the public the fascination of how life evolved and showing how scientists understand evolution as a process. NHM scientists have a unique opportunity to publicize their results to a wide audience. The applicant will take part in Museum scientific engagement activities, such as Nature Live, and the annual event "Science Uncovered", which attracts 12,000 visitors in one night. To reach a broader public audience, the applicant will work with the NHM Press Office to promote major discoveries from the research.
5) Policy makers. High-impact research on the Chengjiang Lagerstätte will influence international understanding and collaboration between the UK and China. In 2012 UNESCO declared the Chengjiang fossil locality as a World Heritage Site, providing new opportunities to local communities, but also causing conflicts with local phosphate miners. This research will win more conservation support, bring more funding, and attract tourists to the site as a new way to generate economic growth. This international collaboration will bring together Western and Chinese experts who can contribute their knowledge and experience to local policymaking and International collaboration. In 2013, the applicant and her UK and US collaborators held a strategic meeting with the Yuxi Government to discuss how to protect the Chengjiang fossil site and how to use its World Natural Heritage status to benefit local people and the regional economy.
6) Commercial sector. Given that the extensive media and popular science coverage of palaeontology is almost invariably reported in an evolutionary context, various commercial media, such as TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines and books, will profit from this research as will the recipient public.
1) Academics: the multidisciplinary nature of the research ensures its relevance to a wide range of scientists, including palaeontologists, neurobiologists, taphonomists, phylogeneticists and evolutionary biologists. Results will be published in high-impact peer-reviewed international journals. The applicant will present the results at national and international conferences. Data generated will be archived in a NERC Data Centre and/or open access websites.
2) Public sector: The Natural History Museum (NHM) in London is a world-leading research institution and a major public engagement centre that attracts 5 million visitors per year. Results from this project will contribute to enhancing the museum's research profile, increase its influence and standing overseas, and encourage more visits. The applicant will facilitate NHM and other UK colleagues establishing further international collaboration, particularly with China.
3) Educators & Students. Results will impact teachers whose purpose is to teach biological and evolutionary knowledge and concepts. The research will assist educators in providing interesting examples of key biological innovations. Consequently, the knowledge held by students of all ages will be enriched, as will their interest and understanding of evolution. The applicant will take up appropriate teaching activities and supervise research students. The NHM attracts 150,000 school visitors each year, with many targeted outreach activities and programmes to provide a forum for Museum scientists to engage with students as well as education professionals, such as "Biology AS and A-level Day".
4) General Public. This research will be attractive and accessible to most laypersons interested in nature. The project will also act as a compelling springboard for communicating to the public the fascination of how life evolved and showing how scientists understand evolution as a process. NHM scientists have a unique opportunity to publicize their results to a wide audience. The applicant will take part in Museum scientific engagement activities, such as Nature Live, and the annual event "Science Uncovered", which attracts 12,000 visitors in one night. To reach a broader public audience, the applicant will work with the NHM Press Office to promote major discoveries from the research.
5) Policy makers. High-impact research on the Chengjiang Lagerstätte will influence international understanding and collaboration between the UK and China. In 2012 UNESCO declared the Chengjiang fossil locality as a World Heritage Site, providing new opportunities to local communities, but also causing conflicts with local phosphate miners. This research will win more conservation support, bring more funding, and attract tourists to the site as a new way to generate economic growth. This international collaboration will bring together Western and Chinese experts who can contribute their knowledge and experience to local policymaking and International collaboration. In 2013, the applicant and her UK and US collaborators held a strategic meeting with the Yuxi Government to discuss how to protect the Chengjiang fossil site and how to use its World Natural Heritage status to benefit local people and the regional economy.
6) Commercial sector. Given that the extensive media and popular science coverage of palaeontology is almost invariably reported in an evolutionary context, various commercial media, such as TV, Internet, newspapers, magazines and books, will profit from this research as will the recipient public.
Organisations
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Fellow, Lead Research Organisation)
- Lund University (Collaboration)
- Natural History Museum (Collaboration)
- University of Arizona (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- University of Florida (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- University of Bath (Collaboration)
- Yunnan University (Collaboration)
- Yale University (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Xiaoya Ma (Principal Investigator / Fellow) |
Publications
Barling N
(2023)
A unique record of prokaryote cell pyritization
in Geology
Chen H
(2020)
A Cambrian crown annelid reconciles phylogenomics and the fossil record
in Nature
Howard R
(2022)
The Ediacaran origin of Ecdysozoa: integrating fossil and phylogenomic data
in Journal of the Geological Society
Howard RJ
(2020)
A Tube-Dwelling Early Cambrian Lobopodian.
in Current biology : CB
Howard RJ
(2020)
Ancestral morphology of Ecdysozoa constrained by an early Cambrian stem group ecdysozoan.
in BMC evolutionary biology
Ma X
(2022)
Impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research.
in Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences
Qi C
(2018)
Influence of redox conditions on animal distribution and soft-bodied fossil preservation of the Lower Cambrian Chengjiang Biota
in Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Saleh F
(2022)
New fossil assemblages from the Early Ordovician Fezouata Biota.
in Scientific reports
Saleh F
(2021)
A novel tool to untangle the ecology and fossil preservation knot in exceptionally preserved biotas
in Earth and Planetary Science Letters
Saleh F
(2022)
Contrasting Early Ordovician assembly patterns highlight the complex initial stages of the Ordovician Radiation
in Scientific Reports
Description | Exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils provides a rich and crucial source of information for our understanding of the early evolution of life on Earth. Our research funded through this award has been focused on investigating the full biodiversity from the Cambrian community, revealing the accurate morphological and anatomical features of these ancient animals, exploring their evolutionary relationships and significance, and examine their complex ecosystem. Some main finds from this research award so far are: 1) Discovered new features of the famous Cambrian enigmatic worm Facivermis, and phylogenetic analysis revealed that this animal is actually a lobopodian lost posterior legs. We therefore conclude Facivermis provides a rare early Cambrian example of secondary loss to accommodate a highly specialized tube-dwelling lifestyle. 2) Discovered a new tube-dwelling polychaete from Canglangpu Formation, which is the oldest polychaete unambiguously belonging inside crown annelids, providing a constraint on the tempo of annelid evolution and revealing unrecognised ecological and morphological diversity in ancient annelids. 3)Re-described Acosmia maotiania from the early Cambrian Chengjiang Biota of Yunnan Province, and morphological phylogenetic analyses assign it to stem group Ecdysozoa. Acosmia is the first taxon placed in the ecdysozoan stem group and provides a constraint to test hypotheses on the early evolution of Ecdysozoa. 4) Discovered the Chengjiang community lived in a predominantly oxic shallow-water environment, and then quickly buried and transported to adjacent dysoxic deep-water environment, which likely facilitated the soft-bodied fossil preservation. Our findings provide a valuable case study in the necessity to understand ecological composition and exceptional preservation informed by environmental context. 5) Discovered unknown disparity of body plans in stem-euarthropods, which support remarkable evolutionary convergence of fundamental body plans and appendage specialization patterns. |
Exploitation Route | We will continue to explore the preservation pathways of the exceptionally preserved Chengjiang fossils to provide a full understanding of the exceptionally well preserved soft tissue from Chengjiang fossils. Our current research results has already provided some new theory and new taphonomic models that can be useful for understanding other Burgess Shale type fossils. |
Sectors | Education Environment Leisure Activities including Sports Recreation and Tourism Culture Heritage Museums and Collections |
Description | Relevant outcomes from my research were reported globally and in many languages by the media. Some research results were selected for a textbook or popular science books. Some fossil specimens from my research were also displayed in several major museums and exhibitions. The impacts were also delivered via various outreach activities and public talks to a wide non-academic audience. |
First Year Of Impact | 2014 |
Sector | Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal Economic Policy & public services |
Description | Cambrian trace fossils |
Organisation | University of Florida |
Department | College of Liberal Arts and Sciences |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I lead the project and a research team of five people in this project. I organise fossil collecting, manage the research team, and guide the team to carry out the research work. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners are experts in trace fossils, so they provide their expertise and training for my research team. |
Impact | A collaborative field work and training have been organised last year, and the detailed project programme has been defined. We are currently prepare for a review article on Cambrian trace fossils from Southwest China. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Collaboration on vermiform fossils |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Department | School of Earth Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am leading two of my research students to work on some vermiform taxa from various Cambrian biota in Yunnan Province, China. One student is working on a new cnidarian animal from the Guanshan Biota, and the other student is working on a new polychaete worm from the Xiaoshiba Biota. We collected the fossil specimens, carried out all initial observation, data analysis and manuscript writing. |
Collaborator Contribution | I invited Dr. Jakob Vinther from University of Bristol and Dr. Luke Parry from Yale University (now at University of Oxford) to collaborate with us on the two manuscripts mentioned above, and they have contributed their knowledge and expertise in cnidarian and polychaete animals, and also helped with writing manuscripts. |
Impact | We are collaborating on two manuscripts. One was published in Nature in 2020 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2384-8), and one was published in Proceedings B (https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2022.1623). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration on vermiform fossils |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Department | Department of Earth Sciences |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am leading two of my research students to work on some vermiform taxa from various Cambrian biota in Yunnan Province, China. One student is working on a new cnidarian animal from the Guanshan Biota, and the other student is working on a new polychaete worm from the Xiaoshiba Biota. We collected the fossil specimens, carried out all initial observation, data analysis and manuscript writing. |
Collaborator Contribution | I invited Dr. Jakob Vinther from University of Bristol and Dr. Luke Parry from Yale University (now at University of Oxford) to collaborate with us on the two manuscripts mentioned above, and they have contributed their knowledge and expertise in cnidarian and polychaete animals, and also helped with writing manuscripts. |
Impact | We are collaborating on two manuscripts. One was published in Nature in 2020 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2384-8), and one was published in Proceedings B (https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2022.1623). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Collaboration on vermiform fossils |
Organisation | Yale University |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am leading two of my research students to work on some vermiform taxa from various Cambrian biota in Yunnan Province, China. One student is working on a new cnidarian animal from the Guanshan Biota, and the other student is working on a new polychaete worm from the Xiaoshiba Biota. We collected the fossil specimens, carried out all initial observation, data analysis and manuscript writing. |
Collaborator Contribution | I invited Dr. Jakob Vinther from University of Bristol and Dr. Luke Parry from Yale University (now at University of Oxford) to collaborate with us on the two manuscripts mentioned above, and they have contributed their knowledge and expertise in cnidarian and polychaete animals, and also helped with writing manuscripts. |
Impact | We are collaborating on two manuscripts. One was published in Nature in 2020 (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2384-8), and one was published in Proceedings B (https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2022.1623). |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Fossil fish project |
Organisation | Lund University |
Department | Department of Geology |
Country | Sweden |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My research team collected fossil specimens, carried out initial observation, photography and research, as well as wrote the first draft of the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partner Prof. Zerina Johanson provide provide her experties in fossil fishes and the NHM also provide imaging and analytical equipments. My collaborator, Dr. Johan Lindgren, has carried out the analysis on melanosomes in the eyes. |
Impact | One manuscript is in preparation under this collaboration |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Fossil fish project |
Organisation | Natural History Museum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | My research team collected fossil specimens, carried out initial observation, photography and research, as well as wrote the first draft of the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partner Prof. Zerina Johanson provide provide her experties in fossil fishes and the NHM also provide imaging and analytical equipments. My collaborator, Dr. Johan Lindgren, has carried out the analysis on melanosomes in the eyes. |
Impact | One manuscript is in preparation under this collaboration |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Genomic and fossil data of Cycloneuralia |
Organisation | University of Bath |
Department | Department of Biology and Biochemistry |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in Cambrian cycloneuralian fossils (e.g. priapulids and their relatives) and access to some of these fossils. I monitor the progress of the whole project and I am the main supervisor of the PhD student involved in this collaboration. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Bath partners provide expertise in morphometric and phylogenetic analysis and is also the main supervisor of the PhD student. My Bristol partners provide expertise in molecular phylogeny, molecular clock and expertise on s to some other Cambrian fossils. |
Impact | My PhD student who was fully funded by the NERC DTP scheme worked on this collaborative project under co-supervision from all partners. One paper was published in Journal of the Geological Society (DOI: 10.1144/jgs2021-107). |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Host Stephen Pates' NERC Independent Research Fellowship |
Organisation | University of Exeter |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I helped Dr. Stephen Pates apply for the 2023 NERC Independent Research Fellowship, which was successfully awarded and started since 05/02/2024, so I now host Dr. Pates at University of Exeter and will be working with him throughout the project. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Stephen Pate leads the application and research for the fellowship |
Impact | Dr. Stephen Pates was awarded the NERC Independent Research Fellowship successfully |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | New Guanshan mollusc project |
Organisation | University of Bristol |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My research team and I collected the fossil material, carried out the initial research, imaged and analysed the material, contributed to the research and wrote the manuscript |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Luke Parry from the University of Oxford and Dr. Jakob Vinther from the University of Bristol provide their expertise on molluscs, and helped with writing the manuscript |
Impact | One manuscript from this collaboration is currently in revision for Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | New Guanshan mollusc project |
Organisation | University of Oxford |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My research team and I collected the fossil material, carried out the initial research, imaged and analysed the material, contributed to the research and wrote the manuscript |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr. Luke Parry from the University of Oxford and Dr. Jakob Vinther from the University of Bristol provide their expertise on molluscs, and helped with writing the manuscript |
Impact | One manuscript from this collaboration is currently in revision for Science |
Start Year | 2023 |
Description | The Central Nervous Systems and Sensory Structures of Cambrian Panarthropods |
Organisation | Natural History Museum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | I am leading this research project and carry out day to day research work. I provide my expertise in fossilised neural structures from exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils. To my partners at Yunnan University, I also provide access to geochemical analysis and expertise at my host institution NHM; to my partners at the University of Arizona, I also provide access to fossil material and expertise in fossil study. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners at Yunnan University collect Chengjiang fossils all year around and provide me access to all available fossil specimens for the research project. During my research trips to Yunnan University, they also paid for some of my costs, including flight tickets, accommodation and some field work fees. My partner at University of Arizona is a world-leader in the field of neuroanatomy and he provides expertise in interpreting neural structures. |
Impact | Since the start of my project from August 2014, six papers have been published as a result of this collaboration, four of which are in high-impact journals. The DOI numbers of the five papers are: 1) doi: 10.1038/nature13486; 2) doi: 10.1038/nature13861; 3) doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.07.005; 4) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.063; 5) doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0038; 6) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.012. Our research results were reported by the media globally. This is multidisciplinary project, involving disciplines of palaeontology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, geochemistry, and sedimentology |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Central Nervous Systems and Sensory Structures of Cambrian Panarthropods |
Organisation | University of Arizona |
Department | Department of Neuroscience |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I am leading this research project and carry out day to day research work. I provide my expertise in fossilised neural structures from exceptionally preserved Cambrian fossils. To my partners at Yunnan University, I also provide access to geochemical analysis and expertise at my host institution NHM; to my partners at the University of Arizona, I also provide access to fossil material and expertise in fossil study. |
Collaborator Contribution | My partners at Yunnan University collect Chengjiang fossils all year around and provide me access to all available fossil specimens for the research project. During my research trips to Yunnan University, they also paid for some of my costs, including flight tickets, accommodation and some field work fees. My partner at University of Arizona is a world-leader in the field of neuroanatomy and he provides expertise in interpreting neural structures. |
Impact | Since the start of my project from August 2014, six papers have been published as a result of this collaboration, four of which are in high-impact journals. The DOI numbers of the five papers are: 1) doi: 10.1038/nature13486; 2) doi: 10.1038/nature13861; 3) doi: 10.1016/j.asd.2015.07.005; 4) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.09.063; 5) doi:10.1098/rstb.2015.0038; 6) doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2016.09.012. Our research results were reported by the media globally. This is multidisciplinary project, involving disciplines of palaeontology, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, ecology, geology, geochemistry, and sedimentology |
Start Year | 2014 |
Description | The Ecology and Environment of the Chengjiang Biota |
Organisation | University of Leicester |
Department | Leicester Precision Medicine Institute |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in taphonomy and Chengjiang ecology. I monitor the progress of the project and actively involve in all aspects of it. I co-write the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Leicester partners provide their expertise in taphonomy, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. My Yunnan partner provide his expertise in geochemistry. |
Impact | We have published a paper together in 2018, and we are going to submit another one in near future. At the same time, we are co-supervise a Chinese PhD student on biostratigraphic correlations in the Chengjiang biota. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | The Ecology and Environment of the Chengjiang Biota |
Organisation | Yunnan University |
Country | China |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | I provide my expertise in taphonomy and Chengjiang ecology. I monitor the progress of the project and actively involve in all aspects of it. I co-write the manuscript. |
Collaborator Contribution | My Leicester partners provide their expertise in taphonomy, stratigraphy and palaeoecology. My Yunnan partner provide his expertise in geochemistry. |
Impact | We have published a paper together in 2018, and we are going to submit another one in near future. At the same time, we are co-supervise a Chinese PhD student on biostratigraphic correlations in the Chengjiang biota. |
Start Year | 2016 |
Description | Attending and Presenting at a meeting titled "Emergence of Complex Life" at t All Souls College, Oxford |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | It is a small meeting held at All Souls College, Oxford on the Emergence of Complex Life. The meeting aims to bring leading geologists, geochemists, palaeontologists, and molecular biologists from across the UK together, all of whom work on the Proterozoic-Palaeozoic emergence of complex life. The meeting will strengthen collaborative frameworks for continued investigation. Each attendee was invited to give a short presentation on their current work in this area. The talks will be organized around six major themes: (1) Temporal context, (2) Geochemical context, (3) Earth system dynamics, (4) Molecular fossils and modern analogues, (5) pre-Cambrian fossil record, (6) Cambrian fossil record. Ample time were afforded to discussion. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Examine a PhD at the University of Oxford on 22-24th January, 2019 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I acted as the External Examiner for Dr. Stephen Pates at the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Guest editing a theme issue of Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to guest edit a theme issue called "The impact of Chinese palaeontology on evolutionary research", which was published on 7th February, 2022. I was also involved in various press release after the publication of this issue. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/toc/rstb/2022/377/1847 |
Description | Hodson Award report |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A small report about my Hodson Award was published on the Palaeontological Association Newsletter (Issue: 100) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Interview by New Scientist |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by a journalist from New Scientists about a paper that I reviewed for the Nature Communications |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.newscientist.com/article/2244897-oldest-known-parasite-is-a-worm-like-animal-from-512-mi... |
Description | Interviewed by a journalist from Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | I was interviewed by Science journalist Joshua Sokol on 4th September 2018, and my work was subsequently reported in his featured article titled "Some of Earth's first animals-including a mysterious, alien-looking creature-are spilling out of Canadian rocks", which was published in Science on 20th November, 2018 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/11/some-earth-s-first-animals-including-mysterious-alien-lookin... |
Description | Invited by Current Biology to present a talk in a palaeontology webinar |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was invited by Current Biology to give a talk in a palaeontology webinar on 28th September, 2020. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Invited keynote speaker at the 5th International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology (ICIM 5), Vienna, Australia. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the 5th ICIM5 meeting, titled "A Can of Cambrian Worms"; I also organised "Morphology in Deep Time" symposium. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://icim5-2022.univie.ac.at/ |
Description | Invited keynote talk at the Palaeontological Association's 65th Annual Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the special themed symposium on "The Problem with Problematica" at the Palaeontological Association's 65th Annual Meeting, which was held on 18th to 20th December 2021. My talk title was "A Can of Cambrian Worms". |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Invited seminar at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I'm invited by the Lyon geology department to speak in their European Seminar series on 7-10th October 2019. This is their most important annual seminar series, with the goal of inviting experts in their fields of research from around Europe to give a talk in Lyon and spend a moment with us and our students. The invited speakers to give a departmental seminar as well as a course/discussion for their first-year masters students in order to introduce them to the European scientific community. The department seminar is at 14:00 on a Monday (about a 50 min long talk), and the audience consists of scientists with diverse research interests and our graduate students. The course is from 9:00 to 12:00 on Tuesday morning, and there is no special format to respect - the goal is simply to promote interaction with the students and get them thinking about a new research perspective. Often, the invited speaker will present some of their research and then lead a discussion of papers that the students have read ahead of time (exercises with the students are also welcome). And there is of course time for a nice dinner, Lyon being well known for its cuisine! (trip expenses are covered, of course) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Invited talk at the International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I have been invited to give a talk titled "Origin and Early Radiation of Panarthropoda--Insights from the Chengjiang Biota" at the International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion, which was held at Chengjiang, China, on 11-15th November 2019, by the Nanjing Institute of Geology and Paleontology (NIGPAS), Chinese Academy of Sciences. This talk has reached many researcher in my close academic circle and sparked good discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.nigpas.cas.cn/xwzx/zhxw/201911/t20191126_5442818.html |
Description | Invited talk at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give an evening public talk titled "The Origin and Early Evolution of Organ Systems" at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History on 16th January, 2020. This is part of their First Animal exhibition, which I also helped. The feedback from organiser show that there are a total of 126 attendees, and some people travelled for 2 hours to attend. The audience was very engaged and left some very positive feedback on the evaluation forms as well as on Twitter. Some examples that I was given are below: 1) In one sentence, please describe your experience of tonight: "Eye opening and informative" "I learnt about complex nervous systems - they appeared earlier than I thought" "Brilliant talk!! (should have had 2 hours!)" "Preservation reveals fascinating insights into evolution" 2) Has this lecture changed your opinion about the study of fossils or added to your understanding of the topic? If so, how? [I learned about the] "Importance of studying decay/decomposition/preservation processes for interpretation" "I had no idea that the Yunnan province was such a hub of evolutionary research!" "It added to my knowledge of fossils - interesting insider info from the researcher - I will come to see the exhibition" [I now have a] "Greater appreciation of the technical side of their study (in particular the techniques we use to illuminate questions about them)" |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/event/origin-and-early-evolution-of-organ-systems |
Description | Invited talk at the University of Lausanne |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a department seminar titled "Exceptionally Preserved Chengjiang Fossils" at the Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Lausanne, Switzerland, on 30th September, 2019. During this talk and some social activities afterwards, I have talked with various researchers in close field for potential collaboration. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://agenda.unil.ch/recherche/?channel=iste |
Description | Keynote talk at the 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a keynote talk at the 3rd Palaeontological Virtual Congress, which was held on 1st to 15th December 2021, and my talk title was THE ORIGIN AND EARLY EVOLUTION OF ORGAN SYSTEMS. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Participated in an Open day in our department at the Pre-Application Visitor day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | I participated the open day at the Pre-Application Visitor day at the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, on 21st September, 2019. We welcomed a lot of visitors and potential candidates for our university, and addressed various questions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Participated in the "Science in the Square" outreach event |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have participated the "Science in the Square" outreach event organised by the Centre for Ecology & Conservation, University of Exeter, in Falmouth, Cornwall, on 17th August. It is our biggest outreach event of each year and attracted thousands visitors, mainly kids with their parents. It is a great opportunity to promote the university and our work to local community, as well as get people engaged in nature and sciences. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.exeter.ac.uk/cornwall/scienceinthesquare/ |
Description | Participated in the Brain 3.0 exhibition at Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon, Portugal |
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 provided one of the Fuxianhuia specimens that I published in Nature in 2012 to the Brain 3.0 exhibition by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, at Lisbon, Portugal, from 15th March to 10th June 2019. Brain 3.0 is an exhibition about the brain and how it generates a mind, and the Fuxianhuia specimen YKLP 11321 were displayed in the Evolution Module of the exhibition, and I also helped with the narratives. The exhibition has reached a wide audience of the general public and a book was published from the exhibition. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://gulbenkian.pt/en/agenda/brain-wider-than-the-sky/ |
Description | Participated the First Animals exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
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 helped with the First Animals exhibition at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History, from 12th July 2019 to 1st September 2020. I provided some Chengjiang fossil specimens for the exhibition and helped with interpretation etc. The exhibition has been really successful, so it is extended from the original six-month exhibition to one and half of a year. This exhibition is very educational for the general public and has generated a lot of discussions and media coverage. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
URL | https://oumnh.ox.ac.uk/first-animals-exhibition |
Description | Pop-Up Curiosity Shop of Science and Culture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I ran a paleontological stand during the annual outreach event called "Pop-Up Curiosity Shop of Science and Culture." During the activities, I displayed a diversity of fossils to the general public and explained what paleontologists can learn from these ancient animals. I also answered any questions and engaged in discussions with the participants. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Presenting at the 11th North American Paleontological Convention |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved" at the NAPC 2019 conference, which was held at the University of California, Riverside, June 23-27, 2019. My talk reached to a wider range of audience that I don't normally meet in the UK or European conferences, and I received very good feedback from audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://napc2019.ucr.edu/ |
Description | Presenting at the 1st Asian Palaeontological Congress |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talked titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved?" at the 1st Asian Palaeontological Congress, which was held in Beijing, China on 17-19th November, 2019. The talk was well received by audience, and I had the opportunity to discuss with palaeontologists from other Asian countries. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.palaeo-soc-japan.jp/info/1stAPC_SecondCircular.pdf |
Description | Presenting at the 5th Chinese Palaeontology Young Scholars Forum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Discussion on the exceptional taphonomic mechanism of the Chengjiang Biota (??????????????)" at the 5th Chinese Palaeontology Young Scholars Forum (??????????????), which was held at the Yunnan University, Kunming, China on 23-24 November, 2019. The talk sparked discussion afterwards. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.yklp.ynu.edu.cn/info/1012/1537.htm |
Description | Presenting at the PalAss annual meeting in Bristol on 14-17th December, 2018 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I presented a talk titled "Why is the Chengjiang Biota exceptionally well preserved" at the PalAss annual meeting, which is held at Bristol on 14-17th December 2018. I received very good feedback from audience. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.palass.org/meetings-events/annual-meeting/2018/annual-meeting-2018-bristol-overview |
Description | Press release about Facivermis paper on Current Biology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | With the publication of our Facivermis paper on Current Biology, we made a successful press release, which generated a wide media report globally. These media reports helped to promote our research significantly and to engage general public with palaeontology. Almetric attention score is 1097, and the story was reported in at least 120 news outlets, including New Scientist, Daily Mail and many other major media. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://institutions.newscientist.com/article/2235594-weird-worm-is-earliest-known-animal-to-evolve-... |
Description | Video for First Animals exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I have done a short video for First Animals exhibition at Oxford University Museum of Natural History. In the video, I explained about the exceptionally preserved fossils from the Cambrian biota and their significance for our understanding about early evolution. The video is shown at Oxford University Museum of Natural History throughout the First Animal exhibition, and it is also on the Youtube website. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjJAS8Io-bE |
Description | Worked on podcast "The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | I was invited by David Mountain to work on his podcast "The Backpacker's Guide To Prehistory". The podcast aims to explore prehistory in the guise of a travel show, which make the subject a bit more relatable and a little less daunting for listeners. I appeared in the podcast as an expert for an episode on the Cambrian. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |