Award Abstract # 0920972
TRANSITION TO TAIL-POWERED SWIMMING IN THE FIRST FULLY AQUATIC WHALES OF EOCENE TETHYS (EGYPT)
NSF Org: |
EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
|
Recipient: |
REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
|
Initial Amendment Date:
|
August 2, 2009 |
Latest Amendment Date:
|
August 2, 2009 |
Award Number: |
0920972 |
Award Instrument: |
Standard Grant |
Program Manager: |
Yusheng Liu
EAR
Division Of Earth Sciences
GEO
Directorate for Geosciences
|
Start Date: |
August 1, 2009 |
End Date: |
July 31, 2013 (Estimated) |
Total Intended Award
Amount: |
$265,001.00 |
Total Awarded Amount to
Date: |
$265,001.00 |
Funds Obligated to Date:
|
FY 2009 = $265,001.00
|
ARRA Amount: |
$265,001.00 |
History of Investigator:
|
-
Philip
Gingerich
(Principal Investigator)
gingeric@umich.edu
|
Recipient Sponsored Research
Office: |
Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300
ANN ARBOR
MI
US
48109-1015
(734)763-6438
|
Sponsor Congressional
District: |
06
|
Primary Place of
Performance: |
Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
1109 GEDDES AVE STE 3300
ANN ARBOR
MI
US
48109-1015
|
Primary Place of
Performance Congressional District: |
06
|
Unique Entity Identifier
(UEI): |
GNJ7BBP73WE9
|
Parent UEI: |
|
NSF Program(s): |
Sedimentary Geo & Paleobiology
|
Primary Program Source:
|
01R00910DB RRA RECOVERY ACT
|
Program Reference
Code(s): |
0000,
6890,
OTHR
|
Program Element Code(s):
|
745900
|
Award Agency Code: |
4900
|
Fund Agency Code: |
4900
|
Assistance Listing
Number(s): |
47.050
|
ABSTRACT

Transition to Tail-Powered Swimming in the First Fully Aquatic Whales of Eocene Tethys (Egypt) P. D. Gingerich, University of Michigan
This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5). Whales are mammals that evolved from land to sea during the Eocene epoch of geological time. The transition was made by Archaeoceti or archaic whales that are ancestral to modern Neoceti (Mysticeti or baleen whales and Odontoceti or toothed whales). Four stages of the transition are known from complete or virtually-complete skeletons: I, Eocene artiodactyl land mammals; II, the protocetid archaeocetes Rodhocetus and Maiacetus; III, the basilosaurid archaeocetes Basilosaurus and Dorudon; and IV, modern whales, which first appeared in the latest Eocene or Oligocene. Stage II archaeocetes were semiaquatic, foot-powered swimmers that fed in the sea but still gave birth on land. Stage III archaeocetes were fully aquatic, tail-powered swimmers that were the first to give birth at sea. The two stages differ morphologically in many skeletal characteristics, and the temporal gap between them is on the order of 10 million years (spanning the middle Lutetian through Bartonian ages of the middle Eocene). Skeletons of new morphological and temporal intermediates are required to understand the transition from semiaquatic to fully aquatic whales. Field work carried out from 2005 through 2008 in collaboration with the Egyptian Mineral Resources Authority and the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency demonstrated that it is possible to collect well-preserved and exceptionally-complete skeletons of archaeocete whales from middle Lutetian through Bartonian glauconites (greensands) of the ancient Tethys Sea that are spectacularly exposed in the Western Desert of Egypt. Field research proposed here includes three annual two-month expeditions in Egypt, with the objectives being the discovery and analysis of new fossil whale material that fill gaps in early whale evolution. Such new evidence is essential for advancing knowledge of macroevolution across adaptive zones (in this case the transition from land to sea). Broader impacts of this project include enhancement of infrastructure for research and education through discovery of new skeletons representing early stages of whale evolution and training a postdoctoral fellow.
PUBLICATIONS PRODUCED AS A RESULT OF THIS RESEARCH

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(Showing: 1 - 10 of 46)
(Showing: 1 - 46 of 46)
Abd-Elshafy, E.; Gingerich, P. D.; Metwally, H. M.; Antar, M. S. M.; Zalmout, I. S.; Sanders, W. J.
"Procedures and techniques used in preparing Basilosaurus isis WH-74 and similar vertebrates for mounting"
Egyptian Journal of Paleontology
, v.11
, 2011
, p.145
Abd-Elshafy, Ezzat//Gingerich, Philip D.//Metwally, Hatem M.//Antar, Mohammed Sameh M.//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Sanders, William J.
"Procedures and techniques used in preparing Basilosaurus isis WH-74 and similar vertebrates for mounting"
Egyptian Journal of Paleontology
, v.11
, 2011
, p.145
Antar, Mohamed Sameh; Zalmout, Iyad S.; Gingerich, Philip D.
"Sexual dimorphism in hind limbs of late Eocene Basilosaurus isis (Mammalia, Cetacea), Wadi al Hitan World Heritage Site, Egypt (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.54
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Antar, Mohamed Sameh//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Sexual dimorphism in hind limbs of late Eocene Basilosaurus isis (Mammalia, Cetacea), Wadi al Hitan World Heritage Site, Egypt (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.54
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Bebej, R. M.; Haq, M.; Zalmout, I. S.; Gingerich, P. D.
"Morphology and function of the vertebral column in Remingtonocetus domandaensis (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the middle Eocene Domanda Formation of Pakistan"
Journal of Mammalian Evolution
, v.19
, 2012
, p.77
10.1007/s10914-011-9184-8
Bebej, Ryan M.//Haq, Munir-ul//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Morphology and function of the vertebral column in Remingtonocetus domandaensis (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the middle Eocene Domanda Formation of Pakistan"
Journal of Mammalian Evolution
, v.19
, 2012
, p.77
10.1007/s10914-011-9184-8
Bianucci, G.; Gingerich, P. D.
"Aegyptocetus tarfa n. gen. et sp. (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the middle Eocene of Egypt: clinorhynchy, olfaction, and hearing in a protocetid whale"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.31
, 2011
, p.1173
10.1080/02724634.2011.607985
Bianucci, Giovanni//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Aegyptocetus tarfa n. gen. et sp. (Mammalia, Cetacea) from the middle Eocene of Egypt: clinorhynchy, olfaction, and hearing in a protocetid whale"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.31
, 2011
, p.1173
10.1080/02724634.2011.607985
Cherney, M. D.; Gingerich, P. D.; Wilson, J. A.
"New specimens of Cordichelys (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) from late Eocene marine strata of Fayum, Egypt, and a reevaluation of Cordichelys antiqua (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2011
, 2011
, p.87
Cherney, M., Sanders, W. J., Gingerich, P. D., Zalmout, I. S., Antar, M. S.
"Production of multi-purpose molds for versatile, detailed replication of large-scale fossils: the Basilosaurus isis casting project as an exemplar (abstract)"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.29 (sup
, 2009
, p.77A
http://www.vertpaleo.org/education/documents/Cherney_et_al_2009.pdf
Cherney, M., Sanders, W. J., Gingerich, P. D., Zalmout, I. S., Antar, M. S.
"Production of multi-purpose molds for versitile, detailed replication of large-scale fossils: the Basilosaurus isis casting project as an exemplar (abstract)"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.29 (sup
, 2009
, p.77A
http://www.vertpaleo.org/education/documents/Cherney_et_al_2009.pdf
Cherney, M.; Sanders, W. J.; Gingerich, P. D.; Zalmout, I. S.; Antar, M. S.
"Production of multi-purpose molds for versatile, detailed replication of large-scale fossils: the Basilosaurus isis casting project as an exemplar (abstract)"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.29 (sup
, 2009
, p.77A
http://www.vertpaleo.org/education/documents/Cherney_et_al_2009.pdf
Domning, Daryl P.; Gingerich, Philip D.; Zalmout, Iyad S.
"A review of the African fossil Sirenia (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.82
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Domning, Daryl P.//Gingerich, Philip D.//Zalmout, Iyad S.
"A review of the African fossil Sirenia (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.82
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Fahlke, J. M.; Bastl, K.; Semprebon, G. M.
"Dietary adaptations in Eocene archaeocete whales revealed by microwear and macrowear analysis and stomach contents (abstract)"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Abstracts of Papers
, v.31
, 2011
, p.107
Fahlke, Julia M.//Bastl, Katharina Anna//Semprebon, Gina M.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Paleoecology of archaeocete whales throughout the Eocene: dietary adaptations revealed by microwear analysis"
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
, v.386
, 2013
, p.690
10.1016/j.palaeo.2013.06.032
Fahlke, Julia M.//Gingerich, Philip D.//Welsh, Robert C.//Wood, Aaron R.
"Cranial asymmetry in Eocene archaeocete whales and the evolution of directional hearing in water"
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA
, v.108
, 2011
, p.14545
10.1073/pnas.1108927108
Fahlke, Julia M.; Wood, Aaron R.; Gingerich, Philip D.
"Chewing movement and tooth function in Basilosaurus isis (Mammalia, Cetacea) based on digital analysis of wear facets (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.86
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Fahlke, Julia M.//Wood, Aaron R.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Chewing movement and tooth function in Basilosaurus isis (Mammalia, Cetacea) based on digital analysis of wear facets (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.86
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Gingerich, P. D., Abd-Elshafy, E.; Metwally, H. M.; Zalmout, I. S.; Antar, M. S. M.
"Paleoenvironmental and taphonomic assessment of Eocene marine faunas of Wadi Al-Hitan and Siwa areas, Egypt"
Egyptian Journal of Paleontology
, v.11
, 2011
, p.147
Gingerich, P. D.; Zalmout, I. S.; Antar, M. S.; Williams, E. M.; Carlson, A. E.; Kelly, D. C.; Peters, S. E.
"Large-scale glaciation and deglaciation of Antarctica during the late Eocene: reply"
Geology
, v.40
, 2012
, p.e255
10.1130/G33046Y.1
Gingerich, Philip D.
"Evolution of whales from land to sea"
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
, v.156
, 2012
, p.309
http://www.amphilsoc.org/sites/default/files/proceedings/1560305Gingerich.pdf
Gingerich, Philip D.//Abd-Elshafy, Ezzat//Metwally, Hatem M.//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Antar, Mohammed Sameh M.
"Paleoenvironmental and taphonomic assessment of Eocene marine faunas of Wadi Al-Hitan and Siwa areas, Egypt"
Egyptian Journal of Paleontology
, v.11
, 2011
, p.171
Gingerich, Philip D.; Antar, Mohammed Sameh; Zalmout, Iyad S.
"Projection stratigraphy of the upper Eocene Gehannam, Birket Qarun, and Qasr el-Sagha formations and their fossil whales at the Wadi Al Hitan World Heritage Site, western Fayum Province (Egypt) (abstract)"
Berichte der Geologischen Bundesanstalt
, v.85
, 2011
, p.82
http://www.geologie.ac.at/cbep2011/
Gingerich, Philip D.//Antar, Mohammed Sameh//Zalmout, Iyad S.
"Projection stratigraphy of the upper Eocene Gehannam, Birket Qarun, and Qasr el-Sagha formations and their fossil whales at the Wadi Al Hitan World Heritage Site, western Fayum Province (Egypt) (abstract)"
Berichte der Geologischen Bundesanstalt
, v.85
, 2011
, p.82
http://www.geologie.ac.at/cbep2011/
Gingerich, Philip D.//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Antar, Mohamed Sameh//Williams, Eric M.//Carlson, Anders E.//Kelly, Daniel Clay//Peters, Shanan E.
"Large-scale glaciation and deglaciation of Antarctica during the late Eocene: reply"
Geology
, v.40
, 2012
, p.e255
10.1130/G33046Y.1
Koenigswald, Wighart von//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Ein Knochen zum Forschen und Spielen"
Fossilien
, v.2013
, 2013
, p.84
http://www.fossilien-journal.de/cms/red/iv/iv-2013/iv-2013-02.php
Peters, S. E., Carlson, A. E., Kelly, D. C., Gingerich, P. D.
"Large-scale glaciation and deglaciation of Antarctica during the late Eocene"
Geology
, v.38
, 2010
, p.723-726
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1130/G31068.1
Peters, S. E.; Carlson, A. E.; Kelly, D. C.; Gingerich, P. D.
"Large-scale glaciation and deglaciation of Antarctica during the late Eocene"
Geology
, v.38
, 2010
, p.723-726
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1130/G31068.1
Peters, Shanan E.//Carlson, Anders E.//Kelly, Daniel Clay//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Large-scale glaciation and deglaciation of Antarctica during the late Eocene"
Geology
, v.38
, 2010
, p.723
10.1130/G31068.1
Ryan, Timothy M.//Silcox, Mary T.//Walker, Alan//Mao, Xianyun//Begun, David R.//Benefit, Brenda R.//Gingerich, Philip D.//Köhler, Meike//Kordos, László//McCrossin, Monte L.//Moyá-Solá, Salvador//Sanders, William J. //Seiffert, Erik R.//Simons, Elwyn L.//Z
"Evolution of locomotion in Anthropoidea: the semicircular canal evidence"
Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Series B
, v.279
, 2012
, p.3467
10.1098/rspb.2012.0939
Strougo, Amin//Faris, Mahmoud//Haggag, Mona A. Y.//Abul-Nasr, Radwan A.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Planktonic foraminifera and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy through the middle-to-late Eocene transition at Wadi Hitan, Fayum Province, Egypt"
Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan
, v.32
, 2013
, p.111
http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/99526
Underwood, Charlie J.//Ward, David J.
"New hemigaleid shark from the late Eocene of Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.31
, 2011
, p.707
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2011.563763
Underwood, Charlie J.; Ward, David J.; King, Christopher; Antar, Mohammed Sameh; Zalmout, Iyad S.; Gingerich, Philip D.
"Shark and ray faunas in the Late Eocene of the Fayum Area, Egypt"
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, London
, v.122
, 2011
, p.47
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.09.004
Underwood, Charlie J.//Ward, David J.//King, Christopher//Antar, Mohammed Sameh//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Shark and ray faunas in the late Eocene of the Fayum area, Egypt"
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, London
, v.122
, 2011
, p.47
10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.09.004
Underwood, Charlie J.//Ward, David J.//King, Christopher//Antar, Mohammed Sameh//Zalmout, Iyad S.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Shark and ray faunas in the Late Eocene of the Fayum Area, Egypt"
Proceedings of the Geologists' Association, London
, v.122
, 2011
, p.47
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.pgeola.2010.09.004
Underwood, C J.; Ward, D J.
"New hemigaleid shark from the late Eocene of Wadi Al-Hitan, Egypt"
Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
, v.31
, 2011
, p.707
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02724634.2011.563763
Zalmout, I. S.; Antar, M. S. M.; Shafy, E. A.-E.; Metwally, M. H.; Hatab, E.-B. E.; Gingerich, P. D.
"Priabonian sharks and rays (late Eocene: Neoselachii) from Minqar Tabaghbagh in the western Qattara Depression, Egypt"
Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan
, v.32
, 2012
, p.71
http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/90948
Zalmout, I. S.; Sanders, W. J.; Al-Mufarreh, Y. A.; Ali, M. A.; Nadhra, A. O.; Matari, A. H.; Sobhi, S. A.; Abdulshakoor, A. J.; Nasser, A.-A. H.; Al-Masary, Abdu M.; MacLatchy, L.; Wilson, J. A.; Gingerich, P. D.
"New Oligocene terrestrial mammals from the Shumaysi Formation, western Saudi Arabia (abstract)"
Abstracts, Arabian Conference of Geosciences, Riyadh
, v.2011
, 2011
, p.71
www.geoscience.org.sa
Zalmout, I. S.; Sanders, W. J.; MacLatchy, L.; Gunnell, G. F.; Al-Mufarreh, Y. A.; Ali, M. A.; Nasser, A.-A. H.; Al-Masary, A. M.; Al-Sobhi, S. A.; Nadhra, A. O.; Matari, A. H.; Wilson, J. A.; and Gingerich, P. D.
"New Oligocene primate from Saudi Arabia and the divergence of apes and Old World monkeys"
Nature
, v.466
, 2010
, p.360
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1038/nature09094
Zalmout, I. S., W. J. Sanders, L. MacLatchy, G. F. Gunnell, Y. A. Al-Mufarreh, M. A. Ali, A.-A. H. Nasser, A. M. Al-Masary, S. A. Al-Sobhi, A. O. Nadhra, A. H. Matari, J. A. Wilson, and P. D. Gingerich
"New Oligocene primate from Saudi Arabia and the divergence of apes and Old World monkeys"
Nature
, v.466
, 2010
, p.360
http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1038/nature09094
Zalmout, Iyad S.; Ali, Mohammad A.; MacLatchy, Laura; Sanders, William J.; Gingerich, Philip D.
"Cranium of a new Oligocene primate from Saudi Arabia and the divergence of apes and Old World monkeys (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.191
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Zalmout, Iyad S.//Ali, Mohammad A.//MacLatchy, Laura//Sanders, William J.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Cranium of a new Oligocene primate from Saudi Arabia and the divergence of apes and Old World monkeys (abstract)"
Society of Vertebrate Paleontology Annual Meeting, Program and Abstracts
, v.2010
, 2010
, p.191
http://www.vertpaleo.org/meetings/documents/SVP10Abstracts_WEB.pdf
Zalmout, Iyad S.//Antar, Mohamed Sameh M.//Shafy, Ezzat Abd-El//Metwally, Mahmoud H.//Hatab, El-Baily E.//Gingerich, Philip D.
"Priabonian sharks and rays (late Eocene: Neoselachii) from Minqar Tabaghbagh in the western Qattara Depression, Egypt"
Contributions from the Museum of Paleontology, University of Michigan
, v.32
, 2012
, p.71
http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/90948
Zalmout, Iyad S.//Sanders, William J.//Al-Mufarreh, Yahya A.//Ali, Mohammad A.//Nadhra, Ayman O.//Matari, Abdel H.//Sobhi, Saleh A.//Abdulshakoor, Ammar J.//Nasser, Abdul-Azziz H.//Al-Masary, Abdu M.//MacLatchy, Laura//Wilson, Jeffrey A.//Gingerich, Phili
"New Oligocene terrestrial mammals from the Shumaysi Formation, western Saudi Arabia (abstract)"
Abstracts, Arabian Conference of Geosciences, Riyadh
, v.2011
, 2011
, p.71
www.geoscience.org.sa
Zalmout, Iyad S.//Sanders, William J.//MacLatchy, Laura//Gunnell, Gregg F.//Al-Mufarreh, Yahya A.//Ali, Mohammad A.//Nasser, Abdul-Azziz H.//Al-Masary, Abdu M.//Al-Sobhi, Saleh A.//Nadhra, Ayman O.//Matari, Abdel H. Y.//Wilson, Jeffrey A.//Gingerich, Phil
"New Oligocene primate from Saudi Arabia and the divergence of apes and Old World monkeys"
Nature
, v.466
, 2010
, p.360
10.1038/nature09094
(Showing: 1 - 10 of 46)
(Showing: 1 - 46 of 46)
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