9406332 Boyajian PI will use a quantitative method to assess the completeness of stratigraphic ranges of fossil families over the Phanerozoic, using J. Sepkoski's database of over 34,000 genera and 4,000 families. By this method PI can evaluate what periods of geologic time have been effectively sampled by paleontologists and what periods of time need more sampling, and can quantitatively assess how much the record might improve by collecting more data.
