Machine learning methods for analysis of the global fossil record

64 Pages·2017·15.35 MB·English

by  In Žl

Machine learning methods for
analysis of the global fossil record
Lecture 1
Indrė Žliobaitė
Ecological and
Biospheric data conservation data
Fossil databases
Weather stations
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Environment observation sensors http://www.worldclim.org/methods1
Satellite imaging data
https://www.atm.helsinki.fi/SMEAR/index.php/smear-ii
https://neo.sci.gsfc.nasa.gov/view.php?datasetId=MCD12C1_T1
What can be answered using machine learning
● Reconstructing how life was in the past and how life works in general
● Analyzing relations between organisms and environments,
understanding biospheric change processes
● Analyzing why and how species evolve
● Understanding circumstances of early human evolution
Environment:
Temperature
Precipitation
Occurring Productivity
animals: Seasonality
Species A Vegetation type
Species B Woody cover
Species C ...
...
Features
of animals:
Body mass
Slim legs?
Sharp teeth?
...
Why understanding the past?
Climate change

Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Extreme events

Source: https://climate.nasa.gov/evidence/
Reconstructing and analyzing climate over time

Fortelius et al 2002
Circumstances of early human environments

Source: http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-family-tree
Circumstances of early human environments
Image credits:
Mauricio Anton

Source: https://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v507/n7492/full/507303a.html