International Meeting

Continuities and Discontinuities of the Fossil Record

11-14 April 2024

São Pedro do Estoril, Cascais, Portugal

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The evolution of life on Earth is characterized by gradual variations and discontinuities. Both have led to the current biodiversity. The continuities show themselves in various existing species of organisms that appeared millions of years ago, whereas the great mass extinctions arise as testimony to the discontinuities that shaped evolution and permitted the emergence of new species. One of the most illuminating examples is the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs, an extinction that allowed the development of mammals and the consequent appearance of our species. We are currently concerned about climate change which has diminished biodiversity and led to the extinction of several species at an alarming rate. Are these changes the result of geological and biological evolution only? Or are they also a consequence of human activities? This meeting aims to discuss and debate the importance of the continuities and discontinuities in the fossil record, as well as discussing whether we are facing the indication of a new discontinuity, because, as the Director-General of UNESCO stated on the occasion of the presentation of the World Biodiversity Report, «protecting biodiversity is as vital as fighting climate change».

International Meeting-Continuities and Discontinuities of the Fossil Record

Logo image of the meeting: Stylization of the shell of a nautiloid. Nautiloids belong to a group of marine mollusks, the Cephalopods. The Nautiloids, which appeared in the Early Paleozoic era, still have living representatives. The Nautilids, which might have appeared in the Late Triassic, about 215 million years ago, survived two mass extinctions, the Late Triassic and the Late Cretaceous ones and are therefore good representatives of a continuity in the fossil record.

Poster image:Ginkgo biloba leaves. Originating in China, Ginkgo biloba is the only living representative of a taxonomic order of plants called Ginkgoales, which appeared in Permian period. However, it was only during the Early Jurassic that the genus Ginkgo appeared. The species Ginkgo biloba, the only current representative of a long line of trees, likely appeared in the Quaternary, probably evolving from similar earlier forms, such as Ginkgo adiantoides, which survived in Europe until 2.5 million years ago.

Summary Layout

Sessions

Continuities and discontinuities in evolution and the fossil record:
1. Extinctions
2. Evolutions
3. Adaptation, Paleoenvironments and Paleoecology
Continuities and discontinuities in the stratigraphic record
Continuities and discontinuities in the paleoichnological record and in the evolution of plants
Continuities and discontinuities in human evolution:
1. Miscegenation versus extinction
2. Discontinuities and continuities in the archaeological record
3. Rock art and the representation of Pleistocene species
Today: environment, ecology and biodiversity
Continuities and discontinuities: through a didactic approach to scientific dissemination

Programme Schedule(updating)

11th March 2024
- 7:00pm - Congress dinner (upon registration)
12th March 2024
- 09:00am - Reception of Participants
- 09:30am - Opening Session
- 10:00am - Opening Lecture:
  Cognitive Planetary transitions: An Astrobiological perspective on the "Sapiezoic Eon", by Dr. David H. Grinspoon, NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration, USA
- 11:00am-5:00pm - Presentation of Papers
13th March 2024
- 11:00am-5:00pm - Presentation of Papers
14th March 2024
- 9:00am - Study Visits (upon registration)

Registrations

1^st phase: until February 18^th, 2024: Members of CPGP or partner entities: 45€; Students: 50€; General public: 80€; Online participation: 15€
2^nd phase: from February 19^th to April 5^th, 2024: Members of CPGP or partner entities: 70€; Students: 75€; General public: 100€; Online participation: 15€
Specific Sessions: If you only wish to participate in specific session(s), the registration fee is 25€ per session, so just send us an email to cpgp.congressos@gmail.com

Committees

Scientific Committee

Anthony Martin - Emory University, Department of Environmental Sciences (ENVS) Atlanta, Estados Unidos da América.
Bruno Camilo Silva - Sociedade de História Natural, Torres Vedras, Portugal.
Carlos Carvalho - Geoparque Naturtejo, Castelo Branco, Portugal.
Cristiana Ferreira - Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História, Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Geociências da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Eric Buffetaut - CNRS (UMR 8538), Laboratoire de Géologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure, PSL Research University, Paris, França.
Fernando Coimbra - Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-His tória, Lisboa, Portugal; Centro de Geociências da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal
Ignacio Díaz Martínez - Departamento de Ciencias de la Tierra y Física de la Materia Condensada, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, Espanha.
Ismar Carvalho - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
João Dinis - Cascais Ambiente, Portugal.
Luís Azevedo Rodrigues - Centro Ciência Viva de Lagos, Portugal.
Luís Raposo - ICOM - International Council of Museums, Portugal.
Luiz Oosterbeek - Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal; Centro de Geociências da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal; Instituto Terra e Memória, Mação, Portugal.
Maria Helena Henriques - Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Mário Antas - Museu Nacional dos Coches, Lisboa, Portugal
Mário Cachão -Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
Miguel Feio - Escola Superior de Educação Jean Piaget, Almada, Portugal
Pedro Proença Cunha - MARE - Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente, Departamento de Ciências da Terra, Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Pierluigi Rosina - Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal; Centro de Geociências da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal
Silvério Figueiredo - Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Politécnico de Tomar, Portugal; Centro de Geociências da Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
Smaine Chellat - University of Constantine, Argélia.
Vanessa Antunes - Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História, Lisboa, Portugal.
Xabier Pereda-Suberviola - Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, País Basco, Espanha.

Organizing Committee

Afonso José Vaz Ferreira
Alice Duraud
Américo Rosa
Ana Maria Palma
Fernanda Sousa
Florbela Vasco
Patrícia Bôto
Paulo Regato
Silvério Figueiredo

Organizer

About Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História (CPGP)
The Centro Português de Geo-História e Pré-História (CPGP) is a non-profit association, to divulge scientific research. It was founded on February 15, 1995 and in July 2017 it was recognized by the Portuguese Government as a public utility entity. Its activities can be divided into two main types:
Scientific Research
Field research work within the scope of Paleontology and Archaeology; lab work and laboratory research on material collected during field work; collaboration in research work carried out by other institutions that fall within the CPGP's study area; establishment of partnerships through the signing of protocols with other entities.
Outreach activities
Exhibitions and conferences in schools, museums and other public places, as well as publications on topics related to its field of study and research.

Co-Organizer / Location of the Meeting

About Centro de Interpretação Ambiental da Pedra do Sal (CIAPS), São Pedro do Estoril, Cascais, Portugal
The Centro de Interpretação Ambiental da Pedra do Sal (CIAPS) is a cultural space for the development of educational activities, related to science and culture, with the mission of divulging values such as biophysical diversity and the scenic richness that is generated from the encounter of the land with the sea. It is located next to the Avencas Marine Protected Area (AMPA). We believe that it is through scientific knowledge that we change attitudes and behaviour for a more sustainable world.