79-1 The Evolving Significance of Fossil Specimens and Finding Future Value in Old Collections

Abstract:

Fossil collections represent a physical, directly observable record of both biotic and abiotic changes that have occurred. As such, they represent an irreplaceable resource for understanding the future trajectory of our planet, and the fundamental underlying structure of nature. However, these collections can sometimes be perceived as relics of an older “era” of research, or curiosities that no longer have direct relevance to cutting edge research programs. In this talk, I will discuss this perception, using specific examples wherein fossil material has found new value with newly available technologies and techniques, or in the context of changing perspectives in science more broadly.

New visualization methods stand out as a particularly impactful suite of techniques for breathing new life into old material. Elemental mapping on carbonaceous compression fossils, such as those found in Cambrian lagerstätte like the Burgess Shale, has been demonstrated to reveal anatomical details far beyond what traditional imaging methods would suggest. Nervous and circulatory systems have been described in several taxa using elemental mapping, and the list is ever-growing. Three dimensional visualization, including micro-computed tomography, is becoming increasingly common and now routinely reveals anatomical details that would have previously been impossible to access. These insights range from uncovering the detailed limbs of early arthropods, to nanometer-scale innervation pathways among early fish.

It is equally important to recognize cutting edge and costly techniques and methods are not necessary for “old” collections to find new value. As the broader scientific landscape changes, re-visiting assumed knowledge drawn from fossil collections is critical. Poignant examples come from the re-description of fossil taxa, particularly among invertebrate groups where our understanding of phylum and class-level relationships often remain unresolved. For these groups, fossils provide an incalculably significant source of information, and re-description of old material can be as significant as new collections.

Fundamentally, what these approaches share in common is an emphasis on the often untapped wellsprings of data that fossil collections represent. Whether it is through the advent of new technologies or thorough re-consideration of our long-held beliefs, we cannot perfectly presage the future value of a fossil collection, which is in and of itself part of their value. 

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