The purpose of this research is to determine if evolution produces long term progressive improvements in organisms. That is, do species become better adapted over time? To test this idea Dr. Key will use the fossil record of bryozoans. Bryozoans are marine animals that were common in the geologic past and are still abundant today. They live like corals in large colonies on the sea floor. This study will focus on a single lineage of bryozoans consisting of roughly 140 species that all evolved from a common ancestor. The species within this lineage lived throughout the world from 480-380 million year ago. The structural design of the colonies from the species within this lineage will be examined for progressive improvements. Dr. Key will do this by measuring the constructional properties of the colonies and analyzing changes in these properties through the evolutionary history of the lineage. This research should determine if bryozoans have become more efficiently constructed over time. This has implications on all forms of life in that if there is no progressive improvement, it may challenge our traditionally held view of evolutionary progress.
