News from SUNY Cortland

For more information contact: Dan Catalano, 607-753-2232

SUNY Cortland Student and Professor of Geology Dig Up History in Italy

***(Contains Corrected Title of Professor)***

CORTLAND, NY (02/19/2008; 1628)(readMedia)-- This past summer, SUNY Cortland senior Jonathon Zabron of Eden, N.Y., and Christopher A. McRoberts, professor of geology at SUNY Cortland, traveled to Northern Italy to research the end-Triassic period mass extinction of clams and mollusks.

During their research, Zabron, a geology major, and McRoberts, whose research specialties are in paleobiology and sedimentology, worked with colleagues and students from the University of Perugia. They also visited geological sites in the mountainous villages of Menaggio and Bellagio along Lake Como, Cofino in the Apennines Mountains, and Portovenere in the region of Liguria. Each of these villages were rich with clam and mollusk fossils that were needed to research the extinction.

While Zabron learned how to improve his skills for the future, he enjoyed the experience.

“Two of the most important skills that I learned during the trip were learning the correct way of collecting and labeling specimens,” said Zabron. “I loved the culture and the learning experience related to my major, getting the chance to see what a professor in my major does in the field.”

McRoberts hopes that this trip will advance Zabron into the geology field.

“Although he is fairly young, he learned a lot and enjoyed his experience in Italy,” McRoberts stated. “Jon gained valuable first-hand experience in conducting field-based paleontological research overseas. He gained skills in field techniques and observation, he experienced the thrill of discovery of fossils, and he was able to interact with international collaborating scientists.”

According to McRoberts, the most important discovery of the trip was learning that the extinction of the clams and mollusks was very abrupt instead of a gradual dying out.

The trip was funded through a grant given to McRoberts by the National Science Foundation.

Zabron will graduate during the spring of 2009 and plans on attending graduate school in the future.

“I’m not sure about furthering my studies in paleontology, but I am positive that I will continue my career path in the geology field,” said Zabron.

The son of Raymond and Maureen Zabron at 9874 Jennings Road in Eden N.Y., Zabron graduated in 2004 from Eden Junior-Senior High School and enrolled at SUNY Cortland thereafter.

For more information, contact Zabron at zabron05@cortland.edu or Christopher McRoberts at (607) 753-2925 or at mcroberts@cortland.edu.

Attachments

Jonathan Zabron and Professor Christopher McRoberts stand in front of the Carrera Marble Quarry in Tuscany, Italy