Dr Alan Owen
- Honorary Research Fellow (School of Geographical & Earth Sciences)
email:
Alan.Owen@glasgow.ac.uk
School of Geographical & Earth Sciences, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Research interests
Having taken (slightly early) retirement, I am now able to concentrate much more on my research than has been possible in recent years.
My wide research expertise encompasses palaeontology (from alpha taxonomy to biodiversity change), palaeobiogeography, Caledonide terrane evolution, stratigraphy and sedimentary geochemistry. This has enabled me to address a wide spectrum of palaeobiological and geological problems and has resulted in 118 published papers and books. I am an editor of the international palaeontological journal Lethaia and a former voting member of the International Subcommission on the Ordovician System and an ex Vice President of the Palaeontological Association. More locally, I am a member of the Fossil Grove Advisory Group and a former President of the Glasgow Geological Society.
My research falls under four broad themes:
Ordovician-Silurian Biodiversity change
- Regional biodiversity change at the clade and community level and its implications for understanding the global patterns.
- The significance of Ordovician deep water and island faunas to understanding biogeographical and evolutionary patterns. Collaborator: Prof David Harper (University of Durham).
I am a participant in International Geoscience Programme Project 653 "The Onset of the Great Ordovician Biodiversity Evernt" was one of the leaders of the highly successful IGCP 503 "Ordovician Palaeogeography & Palaeoclimate" (2004-2009) (http://sarv.gi.ee/igcp503/) which involved over 260 scientists in 35 countries and sought to understand the environmental factors that promoted the Ordovician biodiversification, the end-Ordovician mass extinction and the early Silurian radiation. The project was graded Excellent by the IGCP Board. In addition to my own research contributions to the project, I organised one of the annual meetings and edited Special Issues of the international journals Lethaia and (with Thomas Servais) Palaeo3 comprising papers arising from the project.
Ordovician Biogeography and Caledonide Terrane Evolution
This work provides vital constraints on the recognition and plate tectonic histories of terranes in and around the Iapetus Ocean and on the faults presently bounding them. Current work includes:
- Biogeography, palaeoecology and taxonomy of faunas from the Leinster terrane and the complex mosaic of terranes in the Iapetus suture zone. Principal collaborators: Drs Mike Romano (University of Sheffield) and Matthew Parkes (National Museum of Ireland), Prof. Dave Harper (University of Durham).
- Composition, ecology and diversity of faunas in the Girvan area, Midland Valley terrane and in Ordovician limestone clasts in the Midland Valley and Southern Upland terranes. Principal collaborators: Prof Euan Clarkson (University of Edinburgh) & Prof. Dave Harper (University of Durham).
Trilobite Taxonomy, Biology and Evolution
In addition to systematic palaeontology associated with biodiversity, biogeographical and stratigraphical programmes, I am currently engaged in the following projects on trilobites:
- Structure, chemistry, function and biomineralisation of calcite lenses in the eyes of trilobites and other invertebrates. Collaborators Prof. Martin Lee (University of Glasgow), Dr Clare Torney (Historic Scotland) and Prof. Robert Martin (University of Strathclyde).
- The fauna of the Slade and Redhill Formation, South Wales. Collaborators Mr Patrick McDermott (Carmarthen) & Dr Lucy McCobb (National Museum of Wales, Cardiff).
- A deep water trilobite species from the uppermost Ordovician of the Southern Upland terrane. Collaborator Dr Keith Ingham (University of Glasgow).
- Trilobite abnormalities, injuries and diseases in upper Ordovician trilobites from South Wales. Collaborator Mr Patrick McDermott.
Carboniferous palaeoecology – numerical ("statistical") discrimination of faunal associations; biodiversity patterns.
Collaborators Mr Mark Dean (formerly BGS). Dr Alistair McGowan (Edinburgh), Mr Craig Dooris.
Publications
Selected publications
Lee, M. , Torney, C. and Owen, A.W. (2012) Biomineralisation in the Palaeozoic oceans: evidence for simultaneous crystallisation of high and low magnesium calcite by phacopine trilobites. Chemical Geology, 314-17, pp. 33-44. (doi: 10.1016/j.chemgeo.2012.04.033)
Owen, A.W. and Bruton, D.L. (2012) The only known cyclopygid–‘atheloptic’ trilobite fauna from North America: the upper Ordovician fauna of the Pyle Mountain Argillite and its palaeoenvironmental significance. Geological Magazine, 149(6), pp. 964-988. (doi: 10.1017/S0016756812000015)
Challands, T.J., Armstrong, H.A., Maloney, D.P., Davies, J.R., Wilson, D. and Owen, A.W. (2009) Organic-carbon deposition and coastal upwelling at mid-latitude during the Upper Ordovician (Late Katian): a case study from the Welsh Basin, UK. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 273(3-4), pp. 395-410. (doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2008.10.004)
Armstrong, H.A., Baldini, J., Challands, T.J., Gröcke, D.R. and Owen, A.W. (2009) Response of the inter-tropical convergence zone to Southern Hemisphere cooling during upper ordovician glaciation. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 284(3-4), pp. 227-236. (doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2009.10.001)
All publications
Grants
Owen, A. W. 2008. Biodiversity in the Chaetetes-Band: statistical discrimination £5,375 (British Geological Survey University Funding Initiative).
Owen, A. W. 2008. Biodiversity in the Chaetetes-Band: statistical discrimination £5,375 (British Geological Survey University Funding Initiative).
Owen, A. and Lee, M. 2007-2010. Mineral eyes - lessons from the natural world, £63,000 (The Leverhulme Trust). Co-investigator: Professor Robert Martin (Physics, University of Strathclyde)
Owen, A. W. 2004. Carboniferous palaeontology: statistical discrimination - extension, £2,023 (British Geological Survey).
Owen, A. W. 2003-2004. Carboniferous palaeontology: statistical discrimination £1,767 (British Geological Survey).
Owen, A. W. 2003. The composition and significance of a recovery fauna following the End Ordovician mass extinction £2,260 (EU/COBICE [Copenhagen Biosystematics Centre]).
Owen, A. W. 1998-2001. Biodiversity Change in the Ordovician of the British Isles £107,806 (NERC GR3/11834).
Owen, A. W. 1997-1999. Biostratigraphy, provinciality and geothermometry of limestone clasts in conglomerates from the Midland Valley, Scotland £13,952 (NERC GR9/2834). Co-Investigator: H. A. Armstrong (University of Durham).
Owen, A. and Lee, M. 2007-2010. Mineral eyes - lessons from the natural world, £63,000 (The Leverhulme Trust). Co-investigator: Professor Robert Martin (Physics, University of Strathclyde)
Owen, A. W. 2004. Carboniferous palaeontology: statistical discrimination - extension, £2,023 (British Geological Survey).
Teaching
Additional information
I have been the External Examiner on the BSc Geology and similar degrees at University College Cork and at the Universities of Bristol and Cardiff. I have been an PhD examiner / opponent at the Universites of Birmingham, Oxford, Oslo, Tromsø, Lund, Uppsala and Tallinn.