In 2024 The Palaeontographical Society was delighted to sponsor The Symposium on Toarcian* Palaeobiology, which took place at the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) from the 17th to the 20th June. We heard from one of the organising committee members, Meghan Jenkinson (postgraduate researcher at the University of Leeds), about the meeting’s success, and how the sponsorship funds were used.
The meeting kicked off with a welcome reception and quiz on the Monday evening. Delegates were welcomed by a cast of the holotype of the Toarcian plesiosaur Rhomaleosaurus cramptoni, which is mounted onto Lonsdale Room wall at the BRLSI. The original was found in Kettleness in Yorkshire, in 1848, and is located in the National Museum of Ireland, Dublin. The winner of the quiz was invited to choose from a selection of Toarcian ammonites collected (with full permissions) from Somerset.
The main symposium took place across Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th June, with a total of 21 talks presented, of which three were by keynote speakers. Emily Swaby (Open University) talked about the fossil insects of Gloucestershire, including a new fossil cockroach species; Michela Johnson (Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, and Ordinary Member of PalSoc Council) on the ecology and ontogeny of thalattosuchian crocodylomorphs; and Emese Bordy (University of Cape Town), who closed out the symposium with a very exciting talk on the vertebrate ichnology and sedimentation in Karoo Basin of Lesotho.
Following the lunch break on Tuesday 18th, Kevin Page delivered a workshop on ammonite
biochronology. This discussed taxonomic nomenclature, as well as how to describe shell features of
an ammonite in order to identify them accurately for use in biozones. A relaxed art workshop during the
same time slot the following day was delivered by James McKay. Delegates were given the
opportunity to create artwork of their choice of Toarcian organisms, whilst offering insight
and advice to James which he will use for his upcoming art book on the Yorkshire Coast. Both
workshops were very well attended, and delegates appreciated that these were scheduled after the
lunch break, rather than within it.
The final day of the meeting consisted of an informal workshop in collaboration with Matt Williams of
the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution, focusing on specimens from the Charles
Moore collection. Delegates were welcome to drop in and out of the workshop during the day.
The selection of fossil specimens from the collection included gastropods, ichthyosaurs, pachycormid fishes, coprolites, cephalopods, and crocodylomorphs.
We would like to once again extend our thanks for the Palaeontographical Society for their
sponsorship. The £300 provided by PalSoc was used to provide student travel bursaries. This supported two student delegates and one keynote speaker. The remainder went towards printing delegate booklets, and other costs. Funding was also provided by the Geological Curators Group.
Overall, the Symposium on Toarcian Palaeobiology was a huge success and has sparked many lasting international collaborations and many more exciting research questions. Feedback for the meeting has been overwhelmingly positive. A total of 33 delegates registered for the event, of which 32 delegates either attended in person or presented pre-recorded talks. Delegates commented on how they enjoyed meeting new colleagues, the diversity of topics presented upon, and the ability to visit the Charles Moore collection from Strawberry Bank. While talks are currently in the very early stages, the success of this year’s meeting has sparked interest in holding a second meeting in the summer 2026. Keep an eye out for news in the coming months!
*The Toarcian is part of the Early Jurassic, from 184.2 Ma to 174.7 Ma.