As with every other day at the conference the day starts at 7:00am, , with the programacao mini-curso, or series of short courses. There are topics on taphonomy, the palaeobiogeography of marine invertebrates, the application of palaeobotany and palynology to the reconstruction of ancient climates, biostratigraphy and palaeoecology of marine sediments. There is also an interesting one in line with the conference theme of “a new look for palaeontology”, it is a short course on Paleoarte by Leonardo Morato, a geologist and artist from the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul. The short courses are well attended by both students and working palaeontologists (academic and industry). They are seen as way to refresh your current knowledge about a topic.

The main conference sessions begin at 10:00am. Today we have shifted our focus from the deep past to the recent past, in particular looking at the Late Quaternary in terms of climate change. This is a hot topic and there are some elder statesmen of the conservation movement in Brazil in the audience. There is a presentation on integrating data from vertebrate palaeontology and palynology. It is a difficult task given the dispersed data sets. There is also a major presentation on Late Quaternary vegetation and climate change in Brazil by Herman Behling from the University of Bremen. He covers all the major floral zones of Brazil. In discussing the Amazon rainforest his data indicates that during recent time, particularly during the most recent Ice Age, the forest has had a greatly restricted extent. He also concludes that the impact of human activity in recent times has only affected an area equivalent to 10%. This figure is disputed by some as an under estimate. There is far greater concern for the fate of the Araucaria forests in the south of Brazil that face immense pressure from population and development. Some estimate that it has been reduced to a mere 1% of its original extent, the remaining forest existing only in small refuges. There is a general feeling that it is too late for any conservation action to have a positive effect. There is also general bemusement that the rest of the world only knows Brazil for it’s Amazon rainforest.

In the technical sessions that follow there are further contributions of the theme of palaeontology and education and more arguments in support of palaeontology as a major constituent of the school education curriculum. From today’s proceedings it seems clear that there are strong and growing links between conservation biology and palaeontology in Brazil. This is something that has not been overly obvious to me in the Australian palaeontological community. I am told it is an aspect of palaeontology that has developed slowly over the last 30 years, particularly from the interest of younger palaeontologists who believe the science has a lot to contribute to public debates on conservation. I am also told that this development has been paralleled by a growth in the political strength of the green movement in Brazil.

Given the above, over lunch the conversation switched to where palaeontology should sit in the university system. To Brazilians the answer is obvious, it should be within, and a core part of, a biological sciences department. While it still has a role to play as a science that can be applied to the quest for resources, and therefore of relevance to geology, this is just a narrow and insufficient use of the potential of palaeontology. Somehow I come away from these interesting discussions with the feeling that the palaeontological community in Brazil is more mature and realistic than their Australian counterparts. I try to explain that most of the dwindling number of university palaeontologists in Australia are stuck in struggling geology departments.

In the afternoon we return to the concept of palaeontology and art with a delightful presentation from Guiseppe Leonardi from the Instituto Caravanis in Venice. He presents a visual feast of dinosaur remains, footprints and reconstructions in museums and outdoor parks from around the world. He cheerfully admits that he is like a small boy who has never outgrown his fascination with dinosaurs. During the highlight of the show, he takes to the whiteboard and maps out the relationships between the major families of dinosaurs in South America complete with little cartoons of some of their representatives. The audience is delighted and a paparazzi of palaeontologists descends to the front of the auditorium to capture the moment.

The conference dinner is held tonight at a local cantina. It is a spirited and energetic affair, this seems to be normal for social events in Brazil. Many of the delegates only see each other once every two years during this meeting of the Society of Brazilian Palaeontologists meeting. The place is colourfully decorated and specialises in forro music, a catchy and rhythmic type of music endemic to the north east of Brazil.

To kick off the event there are some announcements including the winner, by popular vote of the art prize. It is Tapho Dishes by Fernanda Torello de Mello. There are also caricatures of all the conference convidados and palastrantes. They are drawn according to the fossil group they study and projected onto a screen to the great amusement of all. I am reconstructed as a small eel like creature in deference to my academic interest in conodonts. After this the band starts at about 9:00pm, the dance floor is full and even those queuing for food sway to the music. By midnight the band has played without a break, the dancing eating and drinking has continued without any obvious sign of slowing up. I have slowed up and call it a night. I am one of the first to do so!

The paparazzi capture the moment

Congressistas moved to action by the forro rhythms

Leonardi starts sketching the relationships between dinosaur groups

The Dinosaurs start to emerge

One branch of the tree

Some of the caricatures on show the day after the conference dinner
(I’m the slippery looking thing in the middle)

 

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