About This Project

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

The unique biogeography and species diversity found on tropical islands is what first inspired Darwin and Wallace to understand the evolutionary process. Yet despite centuries of research on archipelago ecosystems, the history of vertebrate paleobiology on many of these islands is lacking because the potential for classic paleontology study is limited in wet, tropical environments and fossil-trapping rocks are rare. In the Dominican Republic, a network of flooded caves provides a unique snapshot of the past, because a variety of fossil and sub-fossil animal bones have accumulated over time and are preserved in the fresh water. Divers from the Museo del Hombre Dominicano have recently unearthed a wealth of fossils from these caves, including extinct crocodiles, bats, and primates.

What is the significance of this project?

Currently, the fossil and sub-fossil record of the Caribbean is poorly understood. Revealing past species on Hispaniola is basic to understanding which taxa went extinct, when, how, and perhaps why. This is relevant to biologists and conservationists alike because the timing and process behind extinction, especially on islands, is a major issue worldwide. Furthermore, underwater paleontology is a new field and there are surprisingly few examples of underwater material being collected systematically, despite it's enormous potential. I expect that, by illuminating lost wildlife of the Caribbean buried underwater, this project will inspire us to consider underwater paleontology as a new method for studying the past.

What are the goals of the project?

My goal is to uncover previously unexplored fossils by scuba diving into these underwater caves and documenting my findings. I will explore caves that are known, but are yet to be properly documented. In addition, I will find and map new caves in areas of the Dominican Republic where paleontologists suspect there will be more sites containing fossils.

I will conduct underwater surveys and document findings using underwater photography and videography. I will use digital underwater images (photography and video) to capture findings and share them with the world. This material will shed light on the past biodiversity and heritage of species inhabiting the Dominican Republic, and uncover previously unknown extinct species.