School of Geographical and Earth Sciences

Dr Uwe Balthasar

Uwe Balthasar
  • Postdoctoral Research Associate (School of Geographical and Earth Sciences)

email: Uwe.Balthasar@glasgow.ac.uk


General Research Interests

  • Origins and early Evolution of Brachiopods
  • Evolution of Biomineralization
  • Diagenesis as a tool in Fossil Preservation

Current research

CaCO3 polymorph formation at biologically relevant temperatures - in collaboration with Maggie Cusack (Glasgow)

The formation of aragonite and calcite is temperature dependent - can this help us to explain patterns in the evolution skeletal composition among marine invertebrates?

Cambrian - Ordovician Phylogeny of the Lophophorata - in collboration with Alistair McGowan (Glasgow), Martin Brazeau (Leiden), Christian Skovsted (Stockholm), Lars Holmer and Michael Streng (both Uppsala), David Harper (Durham), Glenn Brock (Macquarie), Zhifei Zhang (Northwest University, Xi'an, China)

The best resolved cladistic analysis of brachiopods so far using the only available witnesses: Cambrian and Ordovician fossils. 

Stromatoporoid sponges in a calcite sea - in collaboration with Maggie Cusack, Anne-Christine DaSilva (Liege, Belgium), and Stephen Kershaw (Brunel University)

The skeletal composition of stromatoporoid sponges was suggested to reflect ancient aragonite/calcite sea conditions - but do they?

 

List all by: Type | Date

Jump to: 2013 | 2011 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2004 | 2003
Number of items: 15.

2013

Topper, T.P., Holmer, L.E., Skovsted, C.E., Brock, G.A., Balthasar, U., Larsson, C.M., Pettersson Stolk, S., and Harper, D.A.T. (2013) The oldest brachiopods from the lower Cambrian of South Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 58 (1). pp. 93-109. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2011.0146)

2011

Balthasar, U., Cusack, M., Faryma, L., Chung, P., Holmer, L.E., Jin, J., Percival, I.G., and Popov, L.E. (2011) Relic aragonite from ordovician-silurian brachiopods: implications for the evolution of calcification. Geology, 39 (10). pp. 967-970. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G32269.1)

2009

Balthasar, U., Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E., and Brock, G.A. (2009) Homologous skeletal secretion in tommotiids and brachiopods. Geology, 37 (12). pp. 1143-1146. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G30323A.1)

Balthasar, U. (2009) The brachiopod Eoobolus from the early cambrian mural formation (Canadian Rocky Mountains). Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 83 (3). pp. 407-418. ISSN 0031-0220 (doi:10.1007/s12542-009-0026-4)

Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E., Larsson, C.M., Högström, A.E.S., Brock, G.A., Topper, T.P., Balthasar, U., Stolk, S.P., and Paterson, J.R. (2009) The scleritome of Paterimitra: an early cambrian stem group brachiopod from South Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 276 (1662). pp. 1651-1666. ISSN 0962-8452 (doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1655)

Holmer, L.E., Stolk, S.P., Skovsted, C.B., Balthasar, U., and Popov, L. (2009) The enigmatic early cambrian Salanygolina – a stem group of rhynchonelliform chileate brachiopods? Palaeontology, 52 (1). pp. 1-10. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00831.x)

Balthasar, U., and Butterfield, N.J. (2009) Early Cambrian "soft−shelled" brachiopods as possible stem−group phoronids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54 (2). pp. 307-314. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2008.0042)

Skovsted, C.B., Balthasar, U., Brock, G.A., and Paterson, J.R. (2009) The tommotiid Camenella reticulosa from the early cambrian of South Australia: morphology, scleritome reconstruction, and phylogeny. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54 (3). pp. 525-540. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2008.0082)

2008

Grazhdankin, D.V., Balthasar, U., Nagovitsin, K.E., and Kochnev, B.B. (2008) Carbonate-hosted avalon-type fossils in arctic Siberia. Geology, 36 (10). pp. 803-806. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G24946A.1)

Balthasar, U. (2008) Mummpikia gen. nov. and the origin of calcitic-shelled brachiopods. Palaeontology, 51 (2). pp. 263-279. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00754.x)

2007

Balthasar, U. (2007) An early Cambrian organophosphatic brachiopod with calcitic granules. Palaeontology, 50 (6). pp. 1319-1325. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00729.x)

Butterfield, N.J., Balthasar, U., and Wilson, L.A. (2007) Fossil diagenesis in the Burgess Shale. Palaeontology, 50 (3). pp. 537-543. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00656.x)

2006

Balthasar, U., and Maidment, S. (2006) Pseudoscience should not be published in Nature. Nature, 444 (7120). pp. 679-680. ISSN 0028-0836 (doi:10.1038/444679e)

2004

Balthasar, U. (2004) Shell structure, ontogeny and affinities of the Lower Cambrian bivalved problematic fossil Mickwitzia muralensis Walcott, 1913. Lethaia, 37 (4). pp. 381-400. ISSN 0024-1164 (doi:10.1080/00241160410002090)

2003

Balthasar, U., and Amler, M.R.W. (2003) Silicified Foraminifera from the Lower Carboniferous Genicera formation (Cantabrian Mountains, Northern Spain) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 242 . pp. 1-19. ISSN 0341-4116

This list was generated on Wed May 22 11:17:05 2013 BST.
Jump to: Article
Number of items: 15.

Article

Topper, T.P., Holmer, L.E., Skovsted, C.E., Brock, G.A., Balthasar, U., Larsson, C.M., Pettersson Stolk, S., and Harper, D.A.T. (2013) The oldest brachiopods from the lower Cambrian of South Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 58 (1). pp. 93-109. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2011.0146)

Balthasar, U., Cusack, M., Faryma, L., Chung, P., Holmer, L.E., Jin, J., Percival, I.G., and Popov, L.E. (2011) Relic aragonite from ordovician-silurian brachiopods: implications for the evolution of calcification. Geology, 39 (10). pp. 967-970. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G32269.1)

Balthasar, U., Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E., and Brock, G.A. (2009) Homologous skeletal secretion in tommotiids and brachiopods. Geology, 37 (12). pp. 1143-1146. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G30323A.1)

Balthasar, U. (2009) The brachiopod Eoobolus from the early cambrian mural formation (Canadian Rocky Mountains). Paläontologische Zeitschrift, 83 (3). pp. 407-418. ISSN 0031-0220 (doi:10.1007/s12542-009-0026-4)

Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E., Larsson, C.M., Högström, A.E.S., Brock, G.A., Topper, T.P., Balthasar, U., Stolk, S.P., and Paterson, J.R. (2009) The scleritome of Paterimitra: an early cambrian stem group brachiopod from South Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London Series B: Biological Sciences, 276 (1662). pp. 1651-1666. ISSN 0962-8452 (doi:10.1098/rspb.2008.1655)

Holmer, L.E., Stolk, S.P., Skovsted, C.B., Balthasar, U., and Popov, L. (2009) The enigmatic early cambrian Salanygolina – a stem group of rhynchonelliform chileate brachiopods? Palaeontology, 52 (1). pp. 1-10. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00831.x)

Balthasar, U., and Butterfield, N.J. (2009) Early Cambrian "soft−shelled" brachiopods as possible stem−group phoronids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54 (2). pp. 307-314. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2008.0042)

Skovsted, C.B., Balthasar, U., Brock, G.A., and Paterson, J.R. (2009) The tommotiid Camenella reticulosa from the early cambrian of South Australia: morphology, scleritome reconstruction, and phylogeny. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54 (3). pp. 525-540. ISSN 0567-7920 (doi:10.4202/app.2008.0082)

Grazhdankin, D.V., Balthasar, U., Nagovitsin, K.E., and Kochnev, B.B. (2008) Carbonate-hosted avalon-type fossils in arctic Siberia. Geology, 36 (10). pp. 803-806. ISSN 0091-7613 (doi:10.1130/G24946A.1)

Balthasar, U. (2008) Mummpikia gen. nov. and the origin of calcitic-shelled brachiopods. Palaeontology, 51 (2). pp. 263-279. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00754.x)

Balthasar, U. (2007) An early Cambrian organophosphatic brachiopod with calcitic granules. Palaeontology, 50 (6). pp. 1319-1325. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00729.x)

Butterfield, N.J., Balthasar, U., and Wilson, L.A. (2007) Fossil diagenesis in the Burgess Shale. Palaeontology, 50 (3). pp. 537-543. ISSN 0031-0239 (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00656.x)

Balthasar, U., and Maidment, S. (2006) Pseudoscience should not be published in Nature. Nature, 444 (7120). pp. 679-680. ISSN 0028-0836 (doi:10.1038/444679e)

Balthasar, U. (2004) Shell structure, ontogeny and affinities of the Lower Cambrian bivalved problematic fossil Mickwitzia muralensis Walcott, 1913. Lethaia, 37 (4). pp. 381-400. ISSN 0024-1164 (doi:10.1080/00241160410002090)

Balthasar, U., and Amler, M.R.W. (2003) Silicified Foraminifera from the Lower Carboniferous Genicera formation (Cantabrian Mountains, Northern Spain) and their palaeoenvironmental interpretation. Courier Forschungsinstitut Senckenberg, 242 . pp. 1-19. ISSN 0341-4116

This list was generated on Wed May 22 11:17:05 2013 BST.

Balthasar, U. and Cusack, M., 2013-2015. Calcification in calcite seas, US$100k; American Chemical Society PRF-New Directions grant; PhD student funding

Balthasar, U., 2012. The evolution of biomineralization, £1.2k, Palaeontological Association; support to organise a conference session

Balthasar, U., 2011. Cambrian calcareous brachiopods of eastern Canada, £8k (in kind), EU Synthesys Program; support of travel costs, living expenses, and bench fees for one months’ stay at the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm

Balthasar, U. and Cusack, M. 2009-2012. The role of skeletal microstructure in evolution, €249k (Volkswagen Foundation). Co-Investigators: M. Aberhan (Museum für Naturkunde, Humboldt University, Berlin). Postdoctoral salary and research costs for three years.

Balthasar, U. and Cusack, M. 2009. Deciphering the evolution of calcite biomineralisation from organophosphatic ancestors in brachiopods using tomography, Grant-in-kind £15k (Swiss Light Source). Access to Synchrotron facilities including travel costs and accomodation. 

Current PhD students:

Caroline Miller;  PhD project: Calcification in calcite seas

Courses

  • Earth Sciences Level 2 - Palaeobiology 

  • Earth Sciences Level 4 - Major Earth Processes 

  • Earth Sciences Level 2 - Arran field class