Small vertebrates: contexts and contributions in palaeontology

This session delves into the critical role that small vertebrates play in paleontological research. They provide invaluable data for reconstructing past ecosystems, inferring past episodes of climate change and tracking evolutionary processes.

Topics will include:

• The systematics taxonomy of small vertebrates as a crucial tool in paleontological research; including descriptive classical taxonomy but also new methodologies such as geometric morphometrics, dental microwear analysis, and non-invasive methods, among others.
• Small vertebrates as biostratigraphic indicators; since their presence allows to correlate stratigraphic sequences, offering chronological insights into the geological history of the paleontological site.
• Paleoecological reconstructions as an approach to infer paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental conditions of the site; through the analysis of faunal changes, turnover, or migrations associated with global climatic and environmental shifts.

The session will highlight the multiple and diverse contributions of small vertebrates to paleontological research, emphasizing their importance in understanding past environments and the complex biotic interactions within ecosystems. By integrating a diverse array of methodologies and approaches, we aim to enhance our insights into this group in paleontological sites.