Designed as application for ESR-A5 Marie-Skoldowa Curie Research & Innovation program.

1. ESR-A5
Yavar
Moshirfar
1-9

2. Scientific Background
M.Sc in Geosciences, 2013. Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran
Major: Paleontology and Stratigraphy
Research Theme: Palaeocology, palynofacies and sequence stratigraphy of
Khangiran formation, Chehel-kaman anticline, NE Iran.
Research Interests: palaeoclimate, biogeography, dinoflagellate palaeobiology,
palaeocology, ancient ocean geochemistry, quantitative biostratigraphy, sequence
stratigraphy,past environments reconstructions, palaeoceanography
Publications:
-Moshirfar, Y., Mahdavi, M.; Ghasemi-Nejad, E. and Ashouri, A.(2013). Eocene
climatic events recorded in dinoflagellate cyst assemblages from the Kopeh-Dagh
Basin, NE Iran; a statistical approach. Arabian Journal of Geosciences 8, 867-
876.
-Moshirfar, Y., Ghasemi-Nejad, E and Ashouri, A. (2013).Paleoecology of
Khangiran Formation on Chehel-Kaman Anticline section (East of Kopet-Dagh), A
Palynological Approach. Poster Presentation. Proceeding of 7th Symposium of
Paleontological Society of Iran. 2-9
Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise

3. Field and Research Experiences
- Field work experience from 2004 to 2014
Special field works: Alborz Mountains Paleozoic-Cenozoic field trip (2006)
,P/T zone of Djolfa area, NW Iran (2006), general geology of Kalan-kesh
area, NW Iran (2007), Field geologist for several mining projects (2007-
2008), Kopet-dag Mesozoic formations (2010), Central Iran Pre-camberian
to Mesozoic trip (2011) Khangiran formation, NE Iran, (M.Sc dissertation,
2012), Khangiran formation on Type-section (2012) and Rupelian shark
teeth hunt, Belgium, Antwerp (Dinocourse,2012).
- Research experience from 2007 to 2014
Special research experiences: Taxonomic identification and classification of
“Fish bed” sedimentary layers, SW Tabriz city, NW Iran (sedimentary
environment course, 2007); evaluating the azimuth and sedimentary
properties of Cenozoic sedimentary layers, North Tabriz area (2007),
Paleontology and tectono-stratigraphy of Mishou and Moro Faults vicinity
regions, Kalan-kesh area, NW Iran (2007), geological history and
Juxtaposition patterns of lower Cretaceous layers, Kopet-dag area, NE
Iran (Geology of Iran and it’s vicinity course, 2011), Dinoflagellate
palaeocology of lower part of Khangiran formation (Co-work with another
M.Sc dissertation, 2012), Statistical interpretation and past environment
reconstruction (Co-work with one Ph.D. thesis on Eocene layers on SW
Iran, 2012), Palaeoclimate interpretation and comparison of lower and
upper part of Khangiran formation, (M.Sc dissertation, 2013),
Palaeocology, palynofacies and sequences stratigraphy of Khangiran
formation, (M.Sc dissertation, 2013) 3-9
Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise

4. Drivers of Ponto-Caspian
biodiversity Rise and Demise
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Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise

5. Biodiversity drivers
Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise
5-9
Alteration of:
 Nutrition patterns
 Salinity
 Water cycling patterns
 Water chemistry
 Climate
 Glaciations
 Tectonic movements
 Transgression and Regressions

6. Drivers identification and
manipulation
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Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise
How?
-Dinocyst Taxonomical studies (it can be more elaborate and exact with other
fossil groups integration)
-Dinocyst biostratigraphy and age calibrations
-Dinocyst palaeoecological proxies (patterns like: Warm/Cold, Inner
neritic/Oceanic ,Outer neritic/Oceanic, C/PPC (Chorate forms to
Proximochorate + Proximate + Cavate forms), Salinity ,P/G
(Peridinoid/Gonyaulacoid) “Productivity”, etc.)
-Paleoclimatological and geochemical proxies (Paleothermometry “TEX 86” ,
ion-deficiency, stable isotopes, radio carbon dating, thermoluminescence,
Gas chromatography, etc.)
-Sedimentary data like sequences and Para-sequences studies, glacial
sediments, terrestrial sediments, etc.
-Gathering all obtainable data and then
Statistical Methods (unconstrained methods)

7. Why Statistical methods?
Linear relationship between species and environmental
changes, then NO need to unconstrained methods
But
GRADIENTS
Show non-linear relations to environmental alterations
Unconstrained methods that based on non-linear
responses to environmental curves and gradients
Species correspondence in methods like
Canonical Correspondence and
Detrended Correspondence.
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Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise

8. Final Solution
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Drivers of Ponto-Caspian biodiversity Rise and Demise
Interpreting data with unconstrained ordination methods:
-Identification of each species environmental preferences
in terms of temperature, productivity, nutrients, salinity,
etc.
-Identification of endemic taxa
-Identification of ultimate effective environmental
alteration

9. For whatever we lose( like a you or a me)
it is always ourselves we find in the Sea.
E.E.Cummings (1894-1962)
Yavar Moshirfar
Moshirfar@