Undergraduate Research & Scholarships

Tanmayi Patharkar

Reconstructing the Paleoclimate and Paleoecology of the Eocene Gulf Coastal Plain, U.S. Using Digital Leaf Physiognomy

The analysis of specific physiognomic traits in fossilized leaves has displayed consistent results and can be reliably used to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleoecology. This summer, I will be doing fieldwork to collect well-preserved fossilized floras from the Claiborne group in Tennessee and Kentucky. These samples can be used to estimate mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation for my specific periods of interest. Past rapid global warming events have been shown to have a distinct impact on plant communities and evaluating their response to such events could hold insight for current and future global warming.

Message To Sponsor

Thank you so much for your generous donation! I appreciate having the opportunity this summer to do fieldwork and collect my own samples for analysis. I'm certain that this experience will help me to develop crucial skills and grow as a researcher.
Major: Microbial Biology
Mentor: Cindy Looy - Integrative Biology
Sponsor: Leadership Fund
Back to Listings
Back to Donor Reports