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Geology Seminar Series - Dr. Luke Parry - Annelid evolution: from ancient origins to the colonisation of the continents

Wed., Nov. 30, 2022 4:00 p.m. - Wed., Nov. 30, 2022 5:00 p.m.

Location: Zoom https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/99807596092?pwd=UmNvak9LcFJoaE1oampGT2hwK0dqQT09

Department of Geology invites you to this online seminar (no in person option).

Speaker: Dr. Luke Parry - University of Oxford

Topic: Annelid evolution: from ancient origins to the colonisation of the continents

Date and Time: Wednesday, November 30, 2022 at 4:00 PM (Saskatchewan)

Zoom link: https://uregina-ca.zoom.us/j/99807596092?pwd=UmNvak9LcFJoaE1oampGT2hwK0dqQT09

Abstract:

Annelid worms are one of the most species rich groups of animals on earth. Their malleable, segmented bodies have allowed them to colonise almost every surface environment on Earth: from soil dwelling earthworms to hostile regions like hydrothermal vents in the deep sea. Despite having soft, decay prone bodies annelid worms have left a rich fossil record, revealing their origins in the oceans over half billion years ago during the Cambrian explosion and the origin important groups like predatory eunicids and reef forming serpulids. In this talk I will introduce many recent discoveries that have shed light on annelid evolution and how the fossil record can be used to calibrate the tree of life. This includes dating the colonisation of soils by earthworms, arguably one of the most important events in invertebrate evolutionary history and one that irreversibly changed life on land.