This article is inspired by insights from the Field Museum in Chicago and the Museum for Natural History in Berlin. Arachnids, which include creatures like camel spiders, scorpions, and regular spiders, often don’t make it to the top of people’s favorite animal lists. However, they are incredibly diverse and fascinating creatures worth exploring.
At the Museum for Natural History in Berlin, Dr. Jason Dunlop serves as a senior curator specializing in arachnids and myriapods, with a particular focus on fossil arachnids. His research delves into the evolution of spiders and other arachnids, using the fossil record to understand how these groups are related. Dr. Dunlop is particularly interested in uncovering any “missing links” between different arachnid groups.
One of the most exciting aspects of Dr. Dunlop’s work is studying arachnids preserved in amber. Amber is a remarkable preservative, capturing the intricate details of these ancient creatures. A significant breakthrough came when Dr. Dunlop and his team discovered a new species of harvestman encased in amber. To confirm this find, they meticulously examined the specimen, focusing on the genitalia, which is crucial for classifying species.
After confirming their discovery, they published their findings, which attracted significant media attention. While Dr. Dunlop had mixed feelings about the sensationalism, he appreciated the increased interest in fossil arachnids and the diversity of life preserved in amber.
Fossils offer a unique window into Earth’s history. While it’s rare to find larger animals like lizards or birds in amber, arachnids and insects are more commonly preserved. Advances in technology, such as computer tomography, allow scientists to create detailed 3D scans of these specimens, enhancing their study and understanding.
Spiders have a long evolutionary history, with the oldest known spider dating back about 315 million years to the Carboniferous period. Dr. Dunlop has a well-preserved specimen from around 99 million years ago, a time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. There are approximately 1,300 known extinct spider species, primarily found in Baltic amber, but new amber sources from Southeast Asia are providing additional insights.
Dr. Dunlop is also involved in the World Spider Catalog, an ambitious project to catalog all known spider species. This catalog, which began in the 1950s, currently includes around 47,000 living species and is an invaluable resource for researchers describing new species.
Despite the limited number of researchers—about a dozen worldwide—studying fossil spiders, there is growing recognition of their importance in understanding arachnid evolution. Dr. Dunlop advocates for greater awareness of fossil spiders, highlighting their significance in the broader context of paleontology.
The study of fossil spiders is a captivating field that offers insights into the history of life on Earth. Dr. Dunlop encourages everyone to appreciate and explore this often-overlooked area of research, shedding light on the incredible diversity and evolutionary history of arachnids.
Engage in a virtual lab where you can examine 3D scans of fossil arachnids. Use computer tomography software to explore the intricate details of these ancient creatures. Reflect on how these details help scientists like Dr. Dunlop classify and understand arachnid evolution.
Create your own “amber fossil” using resin and small plastic arachnids. Document the process and discuss how amber preservation provides unique insights into ancient ecosystems. Consider the challenges and benefits of studying fossils preserved in amber.
Participate in a debate on the evolutionary significance of arachnids. Use evidence from fossil records, including those discussed by Dr. Dunlop, to argue for or against the importance of arachnids in understanding evolutionary history. Collaborate with peers to present a compelling argument.
Conduct a research project using the World Spider Catalog. Choose a specific spider species and trace its evolutionary history. Present your findings in a report, highlighting how this species fits into the broader context of arachnid evolution.
Attend a virtual guest lecture by Dr. Jason Dunlop. Prepare questions in advance about his research on fossil arachnids and the significance of his discoveries. Engage in a Q&A session to gain deeper insights into the field of arachnid paleontology.
This episode is brought to you by the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois, and the Museum for Natural History in Berlin, Germany. Arachnids do not typically make it onto people’s top lists for favorite animals, which is unfortunate because there is so much diversity among them, from camel spiders and scorpions to regular spiders. We just can’t get enough of these amazing creatures.
At the Museum for Natural History in Berlin, we had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Jason Dunlop, a senior curator for arachnids and myriapods, whose focus is on fossil arachnids. What fascinates him is the evolution of spiders and other arachnids, and he uses the fossil record to explore how these different groups relate to each other. He investigates whether there are any “missing links” between arachnid groups.
One of the exciting aspects of studying fossil arachnids is that many of Dr. Dunlop’s specimens are encased in amber, which preserves their features remarkably well. This led to a significant discovery when Dr. Dunlop and his colleagues identified a new species of harvestman in amber. They had suspected it was something new, but needed to confirm it through detailed examination, particularly of the genitalia, which is crucial for taxonomy.
After receiving a specimen that revealed the male’s genitalia, they published their findings, which garnered considerable media attention. Dr. Dunlop expressed mixed feelings about the sensationalism surrounding their discovery, noting that while it brought attention to the field, it also led to some trivial coverage. Nonetheless, he appreciated that it sparked interest in fossil arachnids and the diversity of organisms preserved in amber.
Fossils can provide a window into the past, and while it’s rare to find larger animals like lizards or birds in amber, arachnids and insects are more commonly preserved. New techniques, such as computer tomography, allow scientists to create detailed three-dimensional scans of specimens, enhancing their study.
Regarding the age of spiders, the oldest known spider dates back about 315 million years to the Carboniferous period. Dr. Dunlop has a well-preserved specimen that is approximately 99 million years old, which would have existed alongside dinosaurs.
There are about 1,300 known extinct spider species, primarily from Baltic amber, but new sources of amber from Southeast Asia are providing additional data. Dr. Dunlop is also involved in the World Spider Catalog, a collaborative effort to catalog all known spider species, which currently includes around 47,000 living species. This project has evolved since the 1950s and is invaluable for researchers describing new species.
Despite the limited number of researchers studying fossil spiders—around a dozen worldwide—there is a growing recognition of their importance in understanding the evolutionary history of arachnids. Dr. Dunlop has been advocating for greater awareness of fossil spiders, emphasizing their significance in the broader context of paleontology.
In conclusion, the study of fossil spiders is a fascinating field that offers insights into the history of life on Earth, and Dr. Dunlop encourages viewers to appreciate and explore this often-overlooked area of research.
Fossils – The preserved remains or traces of organisms that lived in the past, typically found in sedimentary rock. – Fossils provide crucial evidence for understanding the evolutionary history of life on Earth.
Arachnids – A class of joint-legged invertebrates that includes spiders, scorpions, ticks, and mites. – Arachnids play a significant role in ecosystems as both predators and prey, contributing to biodiversity.
Evolution – The process by which different kinds of living organisms are thought to have developed and diversified from earlier forms during the history of the Earth. – The theory of evolution by natural selection was first formulated by Charles Darwin in the 19th century.
Amber – A fossilized tree resin, often containing preserved plant material or insects, used in the study of ancient ecosystems. – The discovery of a perfectly preserved insect in amber provided new insights into the species’ evolutionary history.
Species – A group of living organisms consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding. – The classification of a new species requires a comprehensive analysis of its genetic and morphological characteristics.
Paleontology – The scientific study of life in the geologic past, especially through the analysis of fossils. – Paleontology helps us understand the changes in biodiversity and climate over millions of years.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs, but in biology, it refers to the chronological record of the development of life on Earth. – The history of life on Earth is marked by several mass extinction events that reshaped biodiversity.
Diversity – The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or the entire Earth. – Biodiversity is crucial for ecosystem resilience and the provision of ecosystem services.
Research – The systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Ongoing research in genetics is uncovering new information about the evolutionary relationships between species.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry, and in biology, it refers to tools and techniques used in research and analysis. – Advances in DNA sequencing technology have revolutionized the field of evolutionary biology.
