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Geozentrum Nordbayern - Pal

In the Section Palaeontology we analyze the evolution of ecosystems on long temporal scales.

We assess the environmental factors governing the waxing and waning of communities and entire ecosystems in earth history. Our goal is to predict the fate of marine ecosystems under current climate change. We combine geological field work with modern analytical methods and statistical analyses using large databases of ancient life.In the Section Palaeontology we analyze the evolution of ecosystems

on long temporal scales. We combine geological field work with modern analytical methods and statistical analyses using large databases of ancient life.

31/08/2026

Photo of the month September 2026: Permian-Triassic boundary (indicated by the yellow arrow) in a thin section from an exotic limestone block in the Yarlung Zangbo Suture Zone, Tibet. Note the pronounced shift in the taxonomic composition across the boundary. The Permian interval is a crinoid grainstone (with fitted fabric), whereas the Lower Triassic part is characterized by ammonoids, bivalves, and small phosphatic grains.

01/08/2026

Photo of the month August 2026: Heavily bioeroded oncoids from the Upper Jurassic of northern Germany. The fine-grained matrix has been completely dolomitized (presumably before lithification), while the shell fragments and the oncoids retain their calcite mineralogy. Some of the borings contain bivalve shell fragments (see detail in yellow rectangle). Some of the borings are filled with dolomitised matrix, others with dolomite and calcite cements (e.g. in the yellow rectangle). The left portion of the thin section is stained with Alizarin Red S.

30/07/2026

Let’s be clear: Without Birgit Leipner-Mata, our Flügel-courses simply wouldn’t be the same. Today, we offer her our heartfelt birthday wishes 🎂 and celebrate 🎉 her long-standing service anniversary at the same time!

For many years, Birgit has ensured that our Carbonate Facies course is always supplied with new thin sections from around the world. It is only thanks to her work that we can continually breathe new life into the course content and provide exclusive insights into carbonate sedimentology.

Thank you for your tireless dedication, dear Birgit!

25/07/2026

✨ AND THE AWARDS GO TO... ✨
We had an absolute 🎉 blast at , but the highlight was definitely seeing our team get recognized for their hard work! 🥳 Congrats to all three on well-deserved recognition! 👏
🖼️Joel Koelewijn won the Poster Award! 🎙️Aldo Benites Palomino delivered the best talk by Senior Scientists! ⭐Bastian Seidl snagged the Young Scientist Award!

17/07/2026

Ready for ? 🏔️🦕 It kicks off this Sunday, and We are is ready! The majority of the Pal Institute will stick around with talks and even a symposium: 🔥 Monday | Symposium S3: Big Paleontology led by Prof. Kiessling and Dr. Dimitrijevic. Don't miss it! Also, if you have any questions come by, say hi, and let’s connect! 👋

16/07/2026

🪸 Is photosymbiosis a coral superpower? Not always!

New research (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.253224212) shows that the symbiotic relationship modern reef-building corals rely on wasn't always a winning strategy. Before the Triassic, symbiotic corals actually lagged behind non-symbiotic ones and struggled during extinctions.

Everything changed with a massive evolutionary shift in the Triassic. The rise of calcareous plankton altered global ocean chemistry, flipping the conditions for coral diversification.

The big takeaway? Evolution is context-dependent. The advantage of photosymbiosis today isn't a fixed superpower—it depends entirely on the state of the oceans. 🌊

16/07/2026

🪨 The Mystery of Dolomite: Solved in Germany’s Franconian Alb? 🇩🇪

Even though dolomite is incredibly common worldwide, scientists still debate exactly how it forms. A new study took a deep dive into the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) rock layers of southern Germany to figure out how these ancient dolostones were made.
Science is always finding new secrets locked inside ancient reefs! 🌊🔍
PDF available here: https://t1p.de/8ft8v

14/07/2026

📉Why are marine animals shrinking?
A new study compiling ~9,000 body size records confirms the "Lilliput Effect". The biggest driver? Warming 🥵. The hotter the ancient climate got, the smaller the species became. This has major implications for our modern warming oceans. https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2505564123

30/06/2026

Photo of the month July 2026: Thin section of a lagoonal limestone showing a gastropod with geopetal filling (arrow) and numerous small ostracods. The sediment is characterised by large degassing structures (few of them outlined with a yellow dotted line), some of which have been refilled with sediment (Silurian, Gotland, PPL).

29/06/2026

Reminder! New MSc (ESDE) at FAU Germany! 🌍🧪
Starts Oct 2026. Interdisciplinary + Science Diplomacy. No tuition fees worldwide! 🎓
Funding: Elite Network of Bavaria.
🗓️ Deadline: July 15
Info & Reg: earthsystem-master.nat.fau.eu

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Erlangen
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Webseite

https://www.gzn.nat.fau.de/palaeontologie/

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