Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) received $522,394 in funding from the National Science Foundation's Division of Earth Sciences under the Geosciences program (CFDA 47.050) for a collaborative research project spanning May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2029. This project will deliver a comprehensive database of marine animal body size measurements spanning 575 million years of Earth's history, incorporating previously unpublished Ediacaran body-size data. The research will produce statistical analyses and predictive models assessing correlations between body size trends and environmental variables such as marine anoxia and temperature, generating open-access datasets and quantitative assessments of origination selectivity—a previously undocumented dimension of biodiversity generation.

The primary research deliverables include: (1) an expanded standardized database of marine animal body size measurements; (2) statistical evaluations determining whether size bias of origination varies among taxonomic groups, through geologic time, and under distinct environmental regimes; (3) analyses examining sampling completeness effects on observed selectivity patterns; and (4) improved predictive tools for assessing how future environmental change may shape species emergence and ecosystem resilience. The project will also support STEM workforce development through researcher training. All outputs will be made available to the broader scientific community, directly supporting the Geosciences program's mission to advance fundamental knowledge of Earth's integrated systems through basic research in earth sciences.