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Traveling across time and hemispheres

Fossils offer App State Fulbright Scholar clues on ancient animal evolution

View larger image

Dr. Andy Heckert, professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at Appalachian State University, is pictured in the Eastern Cape of South Africa in September during his 2021–22 Fulbright experience. Photo by Iekraam Adams

By Jessica Stump
Posted Dec. 10, 2021 at 9:50 a.m.

BOONE, N.C. — Millions of years and thousands of miles stand between Appalachian State University paleontologist Dr. Andy Heckert and new insights into the evolutionary path of Earth’s animals.

Heckert, a professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES), has been awarded a 2021–22 Fulbright through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program to study and compare two fossil collections from the Triassic period — one in South Africa and one in Poland.

Through his research, Heckert aims to help his paleontologist peers and other scientists unlock answers to questions about the great evolutionary upheaval that occurred during the Triassic (approximately 252–201 million years ago) — a time during which Earth’s dominating species transitioned from synapsids, or mammal-like reptiles, to archosaurs, a large reptilian group that included the dinosaurs.

Examining fossils across hemispheres

Phase 1 — assessing South Africa’s Driefontein fossils

From August to October, Heckert worked alongside geologist Dr. John Hancox at the Evolutionary Studies Institute (ESI) in Johannesburg, South Africa, to visually examine and classify ESI’s Driefontein collection of microvertebrate fossils — the remains of tiny prehistoric animals.

This fossil assemblage, discovered by Hancox, is extremely rich and diverse, Heckert reported, with thousands of fossils representing many different types of vertebrates, including fish, amphibians and tetrapods, or four-footed animals.

“Some of these fossils are of known animals, but they have never been reported from South Africa before. Others may be new to science but are mysterious and will require further comparisons to accurately diagnose as new animal groups,” Heckert said.

View larger image

Appalachian State University’s Dr. Andy Heckert uses a microscope to examine prehistoric fossils from the Triassic period at the Evolutionary Studies Institute in Johannesburg, South Africa. Heckert is a professor in the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences at App State. Photo courtesy of Dr. Andy Heckert

Phase 2 — comparing fossil collections

Currently Heckert is in Warsaw, Poland, where since November he has worked to compare South Africa’s Driefontein fossils to the Czatkowice microvertebrate fossil collection of similar age, which is housed at the Institute for Paleobiology in the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Because fossils are often fragile — and irreplaceable — it is usually impractical to ship them, Heckert said, adding, “Museum visits are the single most important tool for a specimen-based researcher such as myself to acquire knowledge of a microvertebrate assemblage, and there is no substitute for interacting not just with the fossils but with diverse research teams from different places.”

If the two fossil sets show similar animals, then the evolutionary origins of the animals lie in the early Triassic period, Heckert explained, but if the specimens are distinct, this is evidence of a disruption in the evolutionary timeline of the animals across the ancient supercontinent known as Pangea.

Phase 3 — sharing new insights

Heckert will return to App State for the spring 2022 semester before returning to South Africa for a one-month follow-up visit. There, he will integrate his knowledge of the Polish microvertebrates with the Driefontein collection.

Heckert plans to share his findings with the broader scientific community through peer-reviewed articles co-authored with Hancox, with his students through related class materials and with local and regional K–12 students who take part in the GES department’s outreach activities. He has also delivered presentations on his research at App State to scientists in both South Africa and Poland.

He plans to involve some of his undergraduate students in his Fulbright research once he returns to App State in spring 2022.

Devin K. Hoffman ’17, who earned a Bachelor of Science in geology from App State, is also analyzing part of the South African fossil assemblage, with Heckert now assisting his former student. Hoffman is pursuing his doctorate in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

In addition to his GES department appointment, Heckert oversees the department’s McKinney Geology Teaching Museum, and he has taught courses in the Honors College and served as a reader on students’ honors theses.

What do you think?

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App State Fulbright Scholar Program
App State Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

At App State, the program is administered through the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research.

Learn more
A Triassic treasure trove of evolutionary clues

According to App State’s Dr. Andy Heckert, the Triassic period — which occurred approximately 252–201 million years ago and was bookended by two massive extinction events — marks a critical interval in the evolutionary history of Earth’s land-dwelling animals.

During this time, tetrapods, or four-footed animals, underwent a significant transition, evolving from ecosystems dominated by primitive amphibians and “mammal-like” reptiles during the late Permian period (pre-Triassic) to landscapes with numerous archosaurs — a large group of ancient reptiles whose descendants include birds, crocodiles and alligators.

Many of these species evolved while small — with body sizes similar to those of modern lizards, and therefore the primary fossil record for these animals is comprised of bones and teeth less than 1 centimeter long, Heckert said. “The remains of smaller vertebrates are rarely found as complete skeletons.”

“The oldest records of organisms critical to documenting the transition from Paleozoic animals to the lineages that dominate the landscape today — including humans — come from rocks of Triassic age,” Heckert explained.

Revealing Earth’s story through the geologic record
Revealing Earth’s story through the geologic record

Q&A with Dr. Andy Heckert

March 4, 2021

What’s your favorite rock record? Of the planet, that is. Paleontologist Dr. Andy Heckert talks about his passion for earth history and why App State is a great place to study geology.

Read the story
From the Triassic to Appalachian — Archie the aetosaur makes his bronze debut on campus
From the Triassic to Appalachian — Archie the aetosaur makes his bronze debut on campus
Aug. 28, 2020

A four-year collaboration of faculty and students in Appalachian’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES) and Department of Art is now on display — Archie “is the largest and most accurate aetosaur sculpture in the northern hemisphere and one of the best in the world.”

Read the story
Fossils from a new aetosaur species discovered in North Carolina
Fossils from a new aetosaur species discovered in North Carolina
Jan. 30, 2015

Some 230 million years ago, a distant relative of the crocodile called an aetosaur roamed prehistoric Earth. Aetosaurs were about three to 15 feet long and covered head to toe with bony plates that served as a type of body armor. A series of recently discovered armor plates from North Carolina are distinct from any others previously discovered.

Read the story
App State one of 17 US schools named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21
App State one of 17 US schools named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21
June 9, 2021

App State is one of 17 higher education institutions recognized nationally as a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21. Three App State faculty and five alumnae received the prestigious award during the 2020–21 award cycle.

Read the story

About the Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences

Located in Western North Carolina, Appalachian State University provides the perfect setting to study geological and environmental sciences. The Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences provides students with a solid foundation on which to prepare for graduate school or build successful careers as scientists, consultants and secondary education teachers. The department offers six degree options in geology and two degree options in environmental science. Learn more at https://earth.appstate.edu.

About the College of Arts and Sciences

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Appalachian State University is home to 17 academic departments, two centers and one residential college. These units span the humanities and the social, mathematical and natural sciences. CAS aims to develop a distinctive identity built upon our university's strengths, traditions and locations. The college’s values lie not only in service to the university and local community, but through inspiring, training, educating and sustaining the development of its students as global citizens. More than 6,800 student majors are enrolled in the college. As the college is also largely responsible for implementing App State’s general education curriculum, it is heavily involved in the education of all students at the university, including those pursuing majors in other colleges. Learn more at https://cas.appstate.edu.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

App State Fulbright Scholar Program
App State Fulbright Scholar Program

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and was created to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

At App State, the program is administered through the Office of International Education and Development (OIED) and Office of Research.

Learn more
A Triassic treasure trove of evolutionary clues

According to App State’s Dr. Andy Heckert, the Triassic period — which occurred approximately 252–201 million years ago and was bookended by two massive extinction events — marks a critical interval in the evolutionary history of Earth’s land-dwelling animals.

During this time, tetrapods, or four-footed animals, underwent a significant transition, evolving from ecosystems dominated by primitive amphibians and “mammal-like” reptiles during the late Permian period (pre-Triassic) to landscapes with numerous archosaurs — a large group of ancient reptiles whose descendants include birds, crocodiles and alligators.

Many of these species evolved while small — with body sizes similar to those of modern lizards, and therefore the primary fossil record for these animals is comprised of bones and teeth less than 1 centimeter long, Heckert said. “The remains of smaller vertebrates are rarely found as complete skeletons.”

“The oldest records of organisms critical to documenting the transition from Paleozoic animals to the lineages that dominate the landscape today — including humans — come from rocks of Triassic age,” Heckert explained.

Revealing Earth’s story through the geologic record
Revealing Earth’s story through the geologic record

Q&A with Dr. Andy Heckert

March 4, 2021

What’s your favorite rock record? Of the planet, that is. Paleontologist Dr. Andy Heckert talks about his passion for earth history and why App State is a great place to study geology.

Read the story
From the Triassic to Appalachian — Archie the aetosaur makes his bronze debut on campus
From the Triassic to Appalachian — Archie the aetosaur makes his bronze debut on campus
Aug. 28, 2020

A four-year collaboration of faculty and students in Appalachian’s Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences (GES) and Department of Art is now on display — Archie “is the largest and most accurate aetosaur sculpture in the northern hemisphere and one of the best in the world.”

Read the story
Fossils from a new aetosaur species discovered in North Carolina
Fossils from a new aetosaur species discovered in North Carolina
Jan. 30, 2015

Some 230 million years ago, a distant relative of the crocodile called an aetosaur roamed prehistoric Earth. Aetosaurs were about three to 15 feet long and covered head to toe with bony plates that served as a type of body armor. A series of recently discovered armor plates from North Carolina are distinct from any others previously discovered.

Read the story
App State one of 17 US schools named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21
App State one of 17 US schools named a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21
June 9, 2021

App State is one of 17 higher education institutions recognized nationally as a top producer of Fulbright scholars and students for 2020–21. Three App State faculty and five alumnae received the prestigious award during the 2020–21 award cycle.

Read the story

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Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
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Archives

Appalachian Today is an online publication of Appalachian State University. This website consolidates university news, feature stories, events, photo galleries, videos and podcasts.

If you cannot find what you're looking for here, please refer to the following sources:

  • Podcasts may be found at Appalachian State University Podcasts
  • Stories and press releases published prior to Jan. 1, 2015 may be found in University Communications Records at the Special Collections Research Center.
  • A university-wide Google Calendar may be found at Events at Appalachian
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