F. W. Bennett Professor of Geology

Course Director, BSc and MGeol Geology with Palaeobiology

Palaeobiology Group

Direct contact:

Tel: 0116 252 3610  Email: ra12@le.acuk

Research interests include:

Palaeozoic micropalaeontology, especially conodont palaeobiology and evolution; current projects in Britain, China, Estonia and South Africa. Exceptionally preserved fossils, especially the late Ordovician Soom Shale of South Africa and the Early Cambrian Chengjiang biota of China.  Evolutionary patterns in the Palaeozoic phytoplankton.

President of the International Palaeontological Association 2002-2006, currently on the Council of IPA as Past-President.

Four recent publications

• Zhang Xi-guang & Aldridge, R. J.  2007.  Development and diversification of trunk plates of the Lower Cambrian lobopodians.  Palaeontology, 50, 401-415.
• Hou Xian-guang, Aldridge, R. J., Bergström, J., Siveter, David J., Siveter, Derek J. & Feng Xiang-hong.  2004.  The Cambrian fossils of Chengjiang, China; the flowering of early animal life.  Blackwells, Oxford.  233 pp.
• Aldridge, R. J., Hou Xian-guang, Siveter, David J., Siveter, Derek J. & Gabbott, S. E.  2007.  Systematics and phylogenetic relationships of vetulicolians. Palaeontology, 50, 131-168
• Aldridge, R. J., Gabbott, S. E., Siveter, L. J. & Theron. J. N.  2006.  Bromalites from the Soom Shale Lagerstätte (Upper Ordovician) of South Africa: palaeoecological and palaeobiological implications.  Palaeontology, 49, 857-871.

Teaching

• GL1013 Time, Fossils and the Stratigraphic Record
• GL2022 Micropalaeontology
• GL3000 Evolution of the Global Environment
• GL4064 Advanced Micropalaeontology
• GL4067 Evolutionary Palaeobiology

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