Why are we surrounded by only one group of placental carnivorous mammals (Carnivora: the present-day lions, dogs, bears, and seals among others) today, while at least three other groups of placental mammals (Hyaenodonta, Mesonychia, Oxyaenidae) were in competition with carnivorans 50 million years ago?
The RESPONSE project deals with the transport of point source contaminants in soils and groundwater. Point source contaminations result from historical or current activities and constitute a variety in forms, areas and contaminants involved (e.g. landfills, industrial facilities, storage tanks, disposal of hazardous waste).
Baleen whales (Mysticeti), the largest animals on earth, are a spectacular example of evolutionary adaptation and, as predators and nutrient distributors, a major component of the modern ocean ecosystem.
The return of tetrapods to a marine habitat constitutes one of the most significant ecological shifts, occurring multiple times during the last 250 million years. In the course of the evolution of marine tetrapod lineages, numerous behavioral and physiological changes are observed, accompanied by drastic morphological transformations.
