Department (s)
Geology

Members

Humberto Astibia, Ainara Badiola, Asier Gómez Olivencia, Erik Isasmendi, Mikel López Horgue, Leire Perales Gogenola

Keywords

Western Pyrenees, Mesozoic, Cenozoic, Geology, Paleontology, Palaeontological Heritage

Description

The research group has been carrying out geological and paleontological studies in fossiliferous levels with vertebrates and associated biota of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic from the Western Pyrenees, mainly in the Basque-Cantabrian region and adjacent basins. The fossil record and palaeobiodiversity of the study area is one of the main lines of research. These studies are supported by knowledge provided by several notable Cretaceous and Paleogene sites, which have provided rich and diverse fossil associations of vertebrates (primarily reptiles and mammals) and invertebrates. The temporal range extends to the Quaternary, thanks to the study of archaeo-palaeontological sites from the Pleistocene and Holocene. Aspects of stratigraphy, sedimentology, taphonomy, systematics, phylogeny, palaeoecology, palaeoanthropology, paleobiogeography and heritage are addressed.

Lines of Research

1. Palaeobiology and biochronology of the vertebrate fauna and associated biota of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic.
2. Evolutionary palaeoecology and palaeobiogeography: biotic and environmental changes of the last 145 million years.
3. Geological context and taphonomy of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil associations. 
4. Geobiodiversity, geological and palaeontological heritage, socio-cultural projection.

Equipment

• Binocular loupes
• Reflected light microscope
• Dino-Lite and photography equipment
• Scanner and measurement equipment for morphometric analysis
• Material of preparation / conservation of specimens

Website link

Contact

xabier.pereda@ehu.eus