Evolutionary Paleontology and Paleoecology
Paleoantropology
Our research in Paleoanthropology has as its main subject of study the morphological evolution of Primates, with particular interest on the hominids standing directly on our ancestry line. The research examines morphological structures such as the mandible, skull or skull endocasts belonging to living and extinct species within Primates by analyzing them from an evolutionary perspective. It is also concerned with identifying the evolutionary patterns that underlie the differences between our species and other Primate lineages. Innovative tools, such as computer graphics and 3D printing, are used in the research to expand the collection of fossils belonging to the evolutionary lineage of our species. This collection provides valuable support in research and education.
Evolutionary Paleontology
Our contribution to Evolutionary Paleontology focuses on the development of comparative phylogenetic methods (PCM) in order to reconcile the study of the evolution of phenotypic and taxonomic diversity. Fundamental to this is the integration of information derived from fossils, which are indispensable for understanding the true evolutionary history of clades. Indeed, from the information derived from the fossil record it is possible to construct and calibrate phylogenetic trees
Paleomacroecology and Paleoecology
Our research in paleomacroecology and paleoecology concerns the study and reconstruction of the spatial distribution of fossil species and their bioclimatic requirements, in order to understand the evolutionary dynamics of past communities in response to various environmental disturbances. This type of research makes use of the most modern analytical and predictive tools, such as Machine Learning algorithms and Bayesian statistics, which are currently at the forefront of conservation disciplines and aim to predict the evolution of the geographic range of a focal species under various future and past scenarios in response to abrupt climatic changes and anthropogenic disturbances.
