Professor John Paterson

Professor of Earth Sciences (Palaeontology) - School of Environmental and Rural Science

John Paterson

Phone: +61 2 6773 2101

Email: jpater20@une.edu.au

Biography

Professor Paterson’s research contributions have primarily focused on documenting the palaeo-biodiversity of Australian Cambrian and Ordovician biotas (ca. 444 to 541 million years ago) and using these key fossils to answer major questions relating to evolution, biogeography and palaeoecology during this critical time interval. He has also used these fossils in the relative dating and correlation of strata around the globe in order to refine the geologic timescale. The multidisciplinary nature of his work includes numerous publications on taxonomy, phylogeny, biostratigraphy, biogeography, taphonomy and palaeoecology. John’s current research focuses on Cambrian (540-510 million-year-old) fossils, especially from the Flinders Ranges and the globally significant Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. His main area of expertise lies in arthropods, although he also studies molluscs, brachiopods, “worms” and other enigmatic organisms. John is very active in the Australian and international palaeontological communities. He was the Secretary of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists from 2006 to 2010, and is currently a Voting Member of the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy.

2016 – present: Professor of Earth Sciences, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2008 – 2020: Head of Earth Sciences, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2014 – 2018: Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2012 – 2015: Associate Professor of Earth Sciences, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2007 – 2014: Honorary Research Associate, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University (Sydney)

2010 – 2012: Senior Lecturer in Earth Sciences, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2007 – 2009: Lecturer in Earth Sciences, School of Environmental & Rural Sciences, University of New England (Armidale, NSW)

2006 – 2007: Research Fellow, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University (Sydney)

2005: Research Fellow at the South Australian Museum & Lecturer in the School of Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide

2004: Geologist (fixed-term, 6 months), Department of Mineral Resources, New South Wales; audit, curation and transfer of the palaeontological collection to Londonderry

2002 – 2005: Research Officer (casual), Centre for Ecostratigraphy & Palaeobiology, Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University

2002 – 2004: Casual Academic (Tutor), Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, Macquarie University

Qualifications

B.Sc. (Hons), Ph.D. (Macquarie)

Awards

  • 2016: Anton Hales Medal, Australian Academy of Science
  • 2009: University of New England Vice Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Research
  • 2001: Charles Marshall Award, Australasian Institute for Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM)

Teaching Areas

  • GEOL110 – Our Blue Planet
  • GEOL206 – Field Mapping and Sedimentology
  • GEOL311 – Palaeontology and Stratigraphy

More information on studying Palaeontology at UNE

Primary Research Area/s

Palaeontology

Research Interests

  • Systematics (taxonomy & phylogeny), biostratigraphy, palaeobiology and palaeobiogeography of early Palaeozoic (Cambrian and Ordovician) faunas from Australia
  • Early Cambrian arthropods (and other biota) from South Australia
  • ALL aspects of the Cambrian 'explosion' of life!!!

Palaeoscience Research Centre

Earth Science Research Group

Research Grants and Fellowships

2020 – 2022: Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project DP200102005 (to J.R. Paterson, S. Wroe, G.D. Edgecombe); PROJECT: Predation as a major ecological driver of early animal evolution [AUD $351,803]

2020: Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) project LE200100022 (to R. Joannes-Boyau, K. Schulz, D. Bucher, A. Herries, I. Moffat, E. Burton, P. Grave, M. Orange, J. Paterson , K. Westaway, A. Scheffers, G. Prideaux, L. Milan, F. Pate, F. Geiser); PROJECT: New frontier in Geoscience: A tandem trace element and isotopes facility [AUD $580,000]

2018: Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) project LE180100160 (to S. George, J. Paterson, M. Van Kranendonk, J. Brocks, N. Sherwood, D. Jacob, A. Fuerbach, G. Brock, S. Löhr, S. Sestak); PROJECT: Femtosecond laser micropyrolysis gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer [AUD $297,463]

2016–2017: National Geographic Society Research & Exploration Grant #9932-16 (to R.R. Gaines, J.R. Paterson, D.C. García-Bellido, D.E. Canfield, E.U. Hammarlund); PROJECT: Exploring new frontiers of the Cambrian explosion: The Emu Bay Shale drilling project and new insights from a unique early Cambrian fossil deposit [US$20,000]

2014–2018: Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellowship FT120100770; PROJECT: Understanding the evolutionary tempo and significance of the first animals through exceptional fossil preservation [AUD $714,528]

2014–2016: Spanish Ministry of Economy & Competitiveness grant CGL2013-48877-P (to J. Álvaro, A. Pieren, S. Zamora, H. Millán, E. Moreno, M. Rodríguez, S. Menéndez, S. Clausen, D. García-Bellido, J. Paterson , I. Rahman); PROJECT: Interplay of volcanism, hydrothermalism and carbonate productivity in the Cambrian Explosion of West Gondwana [€123,420]

2014: University of New England Research Seed Grant (sole recipient); PROJECT: Cambrian organic microfossils from Australia and their evolutionary significance [AUD $19,290]

2012–2014: Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Project DP120104251 (to G.A. Brock and J.R. Paterson); PROJECT: Fossils, rocks and early Cambrian clocks: calibrating body plan assembly and lineage splits in ancestral animals from Gondwana [AUD $300,000]

2011–2015: L'Agence nationale de la recherche (The French National Research Agency) grant (to J. Vannier, J.-B. Caron, D. Casenove, D. García-Bellido, J. Haug, B. Lefebvre, N. Olivier, J. Paterson, T. Vandenbroucke, P. Van Roy, M. Vecoli, J. Vinther, X. Yang); PROJECT: The rise of animal life (Cambrian-Ordovician) – organization and tempo: evidence from exceptionally preserved biotas [ € 497,000 ]

2011–2012: National Geographic Society Research & Exploration Grant #8991-11 (to J.R. Paterson, J.G Gehling, G.D. Edgecombe, J.B. Jago & D.C. García-Bellido); PROJECT: The early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale biota of Kangaroo Island - revealing exceptionally preserved fossils from Australia's only Burgess Shale-type deposit [US$29,800]

2010–2012: Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation grant CGL2009-07073 BTE (to D. García-Bellido, E. Moreno, A. Perejón, A. Pieren, J. Paterson, P. Kruse, S. Menéndez, M. Rodríguez, T. Sánchez); PROJECT: Palaeobiogeographical study of the Perigondwanan Margin during the Ediacaran and Cambrian: sedimentological, biostratigraphical, biogeographical and geochemical analyses in areas of the Iberian Peninsula and SE Australia [€96,800]

2007–2009: Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project LP0774959 (to M.S.Y. Lee, J.R. Paterson, J.G. Gehling, G.D. Edgecombe & J.B. Jago); PROJECT: The Cambrian Explosion of arthropods in Australia: Ediacaran origins, evolution and biodiversity [AUD $270,000]

2006–2009: Macquarie University Research Fellowship (discontinued as of Jan. 2007 to take up UNE Lectureship); ‘Australia’s oldest fossil trilobites: documenting their biodiversity and evolution during the Cambrian radiation of animal life’ [AUD $49,865 + salary]

2005–2006: National Geographic Society Research & Exploration Grant #7918-05 (to G.A. Brock, J.B. Jago, J.R. Paterson & C.B. Skovsted); PROJECT: The Cambrian Explosion Down Under: documenting the oldest shelly fossils from Australia [US$17,000]

2003: Macquarie University Postgraduate Research Fund (sole recipient); PROJECT: Taxonomy, biostratigraphy, palaeoecology and ontogeny of Early Cambrian trilobites from the Flinders Ranges and Yorke Peninsula, South Australia.

2002: Betty Mayne Scientific Research Fund for Earth Sciences, Linnean Society of New South Wales (sole recipient); PROJECT: Trilobite biostratigraphy and ecostratigraphy of the Gowers Formation, Georgina Basin, Queensland.

2001: Betty Mayne Scientific Research Fund for Earth Sciences, Linnean Society of New South Wales (sole recipient); PROJECT: Early Ordovician geology and palaeontology of Mt Arrowsmith, NSW.

Publications

Refereed journal articles

  1. Bicknell, R.D.C., Holmes, J.D., Pates, S., García-Bellido, D.C. & Paterson, J.R., 2022. Cambrian carnage: Trilobite predator-prey interactions in the Emu Bay Shale of South Australia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 591: 110877.
  2. Bicknell, R.D.C., Tashman, J.N., Edgecombe, G.D. & Paterson, J.R., 2022. Carboniferous horseshoe crab musculature suggests anatomical conservatism within Xiphosurida. Papers in Palaeontology, 8(1): e1403.
  3. Holmes, J.D., Paterson, J.R. & García-Bellido, D.C., 2021. Complex axial growth patterns in an early Cambrian trilobite from South Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288: 20212131.
  4. Bicknell, R.D.C., Ortega-Hernández, J., Edgecombe, G.D., Gaines, R.R. & Paterson, J.R., 2021.Central nervous system of a 310-m.y.-old horseshoe crab: Expanding the taphonomic window for nervous system preservation. Geology, 49(11): 1381–1385.
  5. Teece, B.L., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R., Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E. & George, S.C., 2021. Using laser micropyrolysis to assess potential relationships between Cambrian tommotiids and organophosphatic brachiopods. Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis, 158: 105277.
  6. Holmes, J.D., Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B. & García-Bellido, D.C., 2021. Ontogeny of the trilobite Redlichia from the lower Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 4) Ramsay Limestone of South Australia. Geological Magazine, 158(7): 1209-1223.
  7. Hughes, N.C., Adrain, J.M., Holmes, J.D., Hong, P.S., Hopkins, M.J., Hou, J.-B., Minelli, A., Park, T.-Y.S., Paterson, J.R., Peng, J., Webster, M., Zhang, X.-G., Zhang, X.-L. & Fusco, G., 2021. Articulated trilobite ontogeny: suggestions for a methodological standard. Journal of Paleontology, 95(2): 298-304.
  8. Holmes, J.D., Paterson, J.R. & García-Bellido, D.C., 2021. The post-embryonic ontogeny of the early Cambrian trilobite Estaingia bilobata from South Australia: trunk development and phylogenetic implications. Papers in Palaeontology, 7(2): 931-950.
  9. Jago, J.B., Bentley, C.J., Paterson, J.R., Holmes, J.D., Lin, T.-R. & Sun, X.-W., 2021. The stratigraphic significance of early Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 4) trilobites from the Smith Bay Shale near Freestone Creek, Kangaroo Island. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 68(2): 204-212.
  10. Bicknell, R.D.C., Holmes, J.D., Edgecombe, G.D., Losso, S.R., Ortega-Hernández, J., Wroe, S. & Paterson, J.R., 2021. Biomechanical analyses of Cambrian euarthropod limbs reveal their effectiveness in mastication and durophagy. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 288: 20202075.
  11. Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D. & García-Bellido, D.C., 2020. Disparate compound eyes of Cambrian radiodonts reveal their developmental growth mode and diverse visual ecology. Science Advances, 6(49): eabc6721.
  12. Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G., Betts, M.J., Brock, G.A., Dalgarno, C.R., García-Bellido, D.C., Haslett, P.W., Jacquet, S.M., Kruse, P.D., Langsford, N., Mount, T.J. & Paterson, J.R., 2020. The Cambrian System in the Arrowie Basin, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 67(7): 923-948.
  13. Holmes, J.D., Paterson, J.R. & García-Bellido, D.C., 2020. The trilobite Redlichia from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia: systematics, ontogeny and soft-part anatomy. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 18(4): 295-334.
  14. Smith, P.M., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2020. Shelly fauna from the Cambrian (Miaolingian, Guzhangian) Shannon Formation and the SPICE event in the Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory. Alcheringa, 44(1): 1–24.
  15. Paterson, J.R., 2020. The trouble with trilobites: classification, phylogeny and the cryptogenesis problem. Geological Magazine, 157(1): 35–46.
  16. Bicknell, R.D.C., Paterson, J.R. & Hopkins, M.J., 2019. A trilobite cluster from the Silurian Rochester Shale of New York: predation patterns and possible defensive behavior. American Museum Novitates, 3937: 1–16.
  17. Betts, M.J., Claybourn, T., Brock, G.A., Jago, J.B., Skovsted, C.B. & Paterson, J.R., 2019. Early Cambrian shelly fossils from the White Point Conglomerate, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 64(3): 489-522.
  18. Yun, H., Brock, G.A., Zhang, X.L., Li, L.Y., García-Bellido, D.C. & Paterson, J.R., 2019. A new chancelloriid from the Emu Bay Shale (Cambrian Stage 4) of South Australia. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 17(13): 857-867.
  19. Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D. & Lee, M.S.Y., 2019. Trilobite evolutionary rates constrain the duration of the Cambrian explosion. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (USA), 116(10): 4394-4399.
  20. Liu, J., Lerosey-Aubril, R., Steiner, M., Dunlop, J.A., Shu, D. & Paterson, J.R., 2018. Origin of raptorial feeding in juvenile euarthropods revealed by a Cambrian radiodontan. National Science Review, 5(6): 863-869.
  21. Bicknell, R.D.C, Ledogar, J.A.,Wroe, S., Gutzler, B.C., Watson III, W.H. & Paterson, J.R., 2018. Computational biomechanical analyses demonstrate similar shell-crushing abilities in modern and ancient arthropods. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 285: 20181935.
  22. Betts, M.J., Paterson, J.R., Jacquet, S.M., Andrew, A.S.,Hall, P.A., Jago, J.B., Jagodzinski, E.A., Preiss, W.V., Crowley, J.L., Brougham, T., Mathewson, C.P., García-Bellido, D.C., Topper, T.P., Skovsted, C.B. & Brock, G.A., 2018. Early Cambrian chronostratigraphy and geochronology of South Australia. Earth-Science Reviews, 185: 498-543.
  23. Bicknell, R.D.C. & Paterson, J.R., 2018. Reappraising the early evidence of durophagy and drilling predation in the fossil record: implications for escalation and the Cambrian Explosion. Biological Reviews, 93(2): 754-784.
  24. Smith, P.M., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2018. Trilobites and agnostids from the Goyder Formation (Cambrian Series 3, Guzhangian; Mindyallan), Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Zootaxa, 4396(1): 1-67.
  25. Bicknell, R.D.C., Klinkhamer, A.J., Flavel, R.J., Wroe, S. & Paterson, J.R., 2018. A 3D anatomical atlas of appendage musculature in the chelicerate arthropod Limulus polyphemus. PLoS ONE, 13(2), e0191400.
  26. Bicknell, R.D.C., Paterson, J.R., Caron, J.-B. & Skovsted, C.B., 2018. ­The gnathobasic spine microstructure of recent and Silurian chelicerates and the Cambrian artiopodan Sidneyia: Functional and evolutionary implications. Arthropod Structure & Development, 47(1): 12-24.
  27. Schroeder, N.I., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2018. Eldonioids with associated trace fossils from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia. Journal of Paleontology, 92(1): 80-86.
  28. Betts, M.J., Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B., Jacquet, S.M., Skovsted, C.B., Topper, T.P. & Brock, G.A., 2017. Global correlation of the early Cambrian of South Australia: Shelly fauna of the Dailyatia odyssei Zone. Gondwana Research, 46: 240-279.
  29. Paterson, J.R., Gehling, J.G., Droser, M.L. & Bicknell, R.D.C., 2017. Rheotaxis in the Ediacaran epibenthic organism Parvancorina from South Australia. Scientific Reports, 7: 45539, DOI: 10.1038/srep45539.
  30. Betts, M.J., Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B., Jacquet, S.M., Skovsted, C.B., Topper, T.P. & Brock, G.A., 2017. A new lower Cambrian shelly fossil biostratigraphy for South Australia: Reply. Gondwana Research, 44: 262-264.
  31. Lerosey-Aubril, R., Paterson, J.R., Gibb, S. & Chatterton, B.D.E., 2017. Exceptionally-preserved late Cambrian fossils from the McKay Group (British Columbia, Canada) and the evolution of tagmosis in aglaspidid arthropods. Gondwana Research, 42: 264-279.
  32. Edgecombe, G.D., Paterson, J.R., García-Bellido, D.C., 2017. A new aglaspidid-like euarthropod from the early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale of South Australia. Geological Magazine, 154(1): 87-95.
  33. Betts, M.J., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2016. Butterflies of the Cambrian benthos? Shield position in bradoriid arthropods. Lethaia, 49(4): 478-491.
  34. Smith, P.M., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2016. Linguliformean brachiopods from the early Templetonian (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5) Giles Creek Dolostone, Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory. Australasian Palaeontological Memoirs, 49: 125-143.
  35. Betts, M.J., Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B., Jacquet, S.M., Skovsted, C.B., Topper, T.P. & Brock, G.A., 2016. A new lower Cambrian shelly fossil biostratigraphy for South Australia. Gondwana Research, 36: 176-208.
  36. Paterson, J.R., García-Bellido, D.C., Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G., Lee, M.S.Y. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2016. The Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte: a view of Cambrian life from East Gondwana. Journal of the Geological Society, 173(1): 1-11.
  37. Smith, P.M., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2015. Trilobites from the Giles Creek Dolostone (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5; Templetonian), Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Papers in Palaeontology, 1(2): 167-200.
  38. Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D. & Jago, J.B., 2015. The ‘great appendage’ arthropod Tanglangia: biogeographic connections between early Cambrian biotas of Australia and South China. Gondwana Research, 27(4): 1667-1672.
  39. Smith, P.M., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2015. Fauna and biostratigraphy of the Cambrian (Series 2, Stage 4; Ordian) Tempe Formation (Pertaoorrta Group), Amadeus Basin, Northern Territory. Alcheringa, 39(1): 40-70.
  40. García-Bellido, D.C., Lee, M.S.Y., Edgecombe, G.D., Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G. & Paterson, J.R., 2014. A new vetulicolian from Australia and its bearing on the chordate affinities of an enigmatic Cambrian group. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 14: 214.
  41. Jacquet, S.M., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2014. New data on Oikozetetes (Mollusca, Halkieriidae) from the lower Cambrian of South Australia. Journal of Paleontology, 88(5): 1072-1084.
  42. Paterson, J.R., 2014. Trilobites in early Cambrian tidal flats and the landward expansion of the Cambrian explosion: Comment. Geology, 42: e341.
  43. Hally, L.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2014. Biodiversity, biofacies and biogeography of middle Cambrian (Series 3) arthropods (Trilobita and Agnostida) on ­­­­­the East Gondwana margin. Gondwana Research, 26(2): 654-674.
  44. Smith, P.M., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R. & Topper, T.P., 2014. New bradoriid arthropods from the Giles Creek Dolostone (Cambrian Series 3, Stage 5; Templetonian), Amadeus Basin, central Australia. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 45: 233-248.
  45. Betts, M.J., Topper, T.P., Valentine, J.L., Skovsted, C.B., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2014. A new early Cambrian bradoriid (Arthropoda) assemblage from the northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Gondwana Research, 25(1): 420-437.
  46. García-Bellido, D.C., Edgecombe, G.D., Paterson, J.R. & Ma, X., 2013. A “Collins’ monster”-type lobopodian from the Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte (Cambrian), South Australia. Alcheringa, 37(4): 474-478.
  47. Daley, A.C., Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D., García-Bellido, D.C. & Jago, J.B., 2013. New anatomical information on Anomalocaris from the Cambrian Emu Bay Shale of South Australia and a reassessment of its inferred predatory habits. Palaeontology, 56(5): 971-990.
  48. García-Bellido, D.C., Paterson, J.R. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2013. Cambrian palaeoscolecids (Cycloneuralia) from Gondwana and reappraisal of species assigned to Palaeoscolex. Gondwana Research, 24(2): 780-795.
  49. Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2012. Comments on Retallack, G. J. 2011: Problematic megafossils in Cambrian palaeosols of South Australia. Palaeontology, 55(4): 913-917.
  50. Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G., Paterson, J.R., Brock, G.A. & Zang, W., 2012. Cambrian stratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Flinders Ranges and the north coast of Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Episodes, 35(1): 247-255.
  51. Paterson, J.R., García-Bellido, D.C. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2012. New artiopodan arthropods from the early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia. Journal of Paleontology, 86(2): 340-357.
  52. Paterson, J.R., García-Bellido, D.C., Lee, M.S.Y., Brock, G.A., Jago, J.B. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2011. Acute vision in the giant Cambrian predator Anomalocaris and the origin of compound eyes. Nature, 480(7376): 237-240.
  53. Wilson, G.D.F., Paterson, J.R. & Kear, B.P., 2011. Fossil isopods associated with a fish skeleton from the Lower Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia – direct evidence of a scavenging lifestyle in Mesozoic Cymothoida. Palaeontology, 54(5): 1053-1068.
  54. Topper, T.P., Brock, G.A., Skovsted, C.B. & Paterson, J.R., 2011. Microdictyon plates from the lower Cambrian Ajax Limestone of South Australia: Implications for species taxonomy and diversity. Alcheringa, 35(3): 427-443.
  55. Lee, M.S.Y., Jago, J.B., García-Bellido, D.C., Edgecombe, G.D., Gehling, J.G. & Paterson, J.R., 2011. Modern optics in exceptionally preserved eyes of Early Cambrian arthropods from Australia. Nature, 474(7353): 631-634.
  56. Edgecombe, G.D., García-Bellido, D.C. & Paterson, J.R., 2011. A new leanchoiliid megacheiran arthropod from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale, South Australia. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 56(2): 385-400.
  57. Gehling, J.G., Jago, J.B., Paterson, J.R., García-Bellido, D.C. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2011. The geological context of the Lower Cambrian (Series 2) Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte and adjacent stratigraphic units, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Australian Journal of Earth Sciences, 58(3): 243-257.
  58. Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Topper, T.P., Paterson, J.R. & Holmer, L.E., 2011. Scleritome construction, biofacies, biostratigraphy and systematics of the tommotiid Eccentrotheca helenia sp. nov. from the early Cambrian of South Australia. Palaeontology, 54(2): 253-286.
  59. Topper, T.P., Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2011. The oldest bivalved arthropods from the early Cambrian of East Gondwana: systematics, biostratigraphy and biogeography. Gondwana Research, 19(1): 310-326.
  60. Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D., García-Bellido, D.C., Jago, J.B. & Gehling, J.G., 2010. Nektaspid arthropods from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte, South Australia, with a reassessment of lamellipedian relationships. Palaeontology, 53(2): 377-402.
  61. Topper, T.P., Brock, G.A., Skovsted, C.B. & Paterson, J.R., 2010. Palaeoscolecid scleritome fragments with Hadimopanella plates from the early Cambrian of South Australia. Geological Magazine, 147(1): 86-97.
  62. Topper, T.P., Brock, G.A., Skovsted, C.B. & Paterson, J.R., 2009. Shelly fossils from the lower Cambrian Pararaia bunyerooensis Zone, Flinders Ranges, South Australia. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 37: 199-246.
  63. García-Bellido, D.C., Paterson, J.R., Edgecombe, G.D., Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G. & Lee, M.S.Y., 2009. The bivalved arthropods Isoxys and Tuzoia with soft-part preservation from the lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte (Kangaroo Island, Australia). Palaeontology, 52(6): 1221-1241.
  64. Skovsted, C.B., Balthasar, U., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2009. The tommotiid Camenella reticulosa from the early Cambrian of South Australia: morphology, scleritome reconstruction and phylogeny. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica, 54(3): 525-540.
  65. Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Holmer, L.E. & Paterson, J.R., 2009. First report of the early Cambrian stem group brachiopod Mickwitzia from East Gondwana. Gondwana Research, 16(1): 145-150.
  66. Paterson, J.R., Brock, G.A. & Skovsted, C.B., 2009. Oikozetetes from the early Cambrian of South Australia: implications for halkieriid affinities and functional morphology. Lethaia, 42(2): 199-203.
  67. Skovsted, C.B., Holmer, L.E., Larsson, C.M., Högström, A.E.S., Brock, G.A., Topper, T.P., Balthasar, U., Pettersson Stolk, S., & Paterson, J.R., 2009. The scleritome of Paterimitra: an early Cambrian stem group brachiopod from South Australia. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 276(1662): 1651-1656.
  68. Holmer, L.E., Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Valentine, J.L. & Paterson, J.R., 2008. The Early Cambrian tommotiid Micrina, a sessile bivalved stem group brachiopod. Biology Letters, 4(6): 724-728.
  69. Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R., Holmer, L.E. & Budd, G., 2008. The scleritome of Eccentrotheca from the Lower Cambrian of South Australia: Lophophorate affinities and implications for tommotiid phylogeny. Geology, 36(2): 171-174.
  70. Paterson, J.R., Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A. & Jago, J.B., 2007. An early Cambrian faunule from the Koolywurtie Limestone Member (Parara Limestone), Yorke Peninsula,  South Australia and its biostratigraphic significance. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists,34: 131-146.
  71. Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B., Brock, G.A. & Gehling, J.G., 2007. Taphonomy and palaeoecology of the emuellid trilobite Balcoracania dailyi (early Cambrian, South Australia). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 249(3-4): 302-321.
  72. Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A., Lindström, A., Peel, J.S., Paterson, J.R. & Fuller, M., 2007. Early Cambrian record of failed durophagy and shell repair in an epibenthic mollusc. Biology Letters, 3: 314-317.
  73. Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2007. Early Cambrian trilobites from Angorichina, Flinders Ranges, South   Australia, with a new assemblage from the Pararaia bunyerooensis Zone. Journal of Paleontology, 81(1): 116-142.
  74. Jago, J.B., Zang, W.-L., Sun, X.-W., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R. & Skovsted, C.B., 2006. A review of the Cambrian biostratigraphy of South Australia. Palaeoworld, 15(3-4): 406-423.
  75. Paterson, J.R., 2006. Prosopiscus (Ordovician; Trilobita) from the Rowena Formation, western New South Wales. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 32: 347-352.
  76. Paterson, J.R. & Jago, J.B., 2006. New trilobites from the Lower Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte at Big Gully, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 32: 43-57.
  77. Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2006. Bivalved arthropods from the Lower Cambrian Mernmerna Formation of South Australia and their implications for the identification of Cambrian “small shelly fossils”. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 32: 7-41.
  78. Paterson, J.R. & Edgecombe, G.D., 2006. The Early Cambrian trilobite family Emuellidae Pocock, 1970: systematic position and revision of Australian species. Journal of Paleontology, 80(3): 496-513.
  79. Paterson, J.R., 2005. Systematics of the Cambrian trilobite family Nepeidae, with revision of Australian species. Palaeontology, 48(3): 479-517.
  80. Paterson, J.R., 2005. Revision of Discomesites and Estaingia (Trilobita) from the Lower Cambrian Cymbric Vale Formation, western New   South Wales: taxonomic, biostratigraphic and biogeographic implications. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South   Wales,126: 81-93.
  81. Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2004. A new species of Tannuella (Helcionellida, Mollusca) from the Early Cambrian of South Australia. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists,30: 133-143.
  82. Paterson, J.R. & Laurie, J.R., 2004. Late Cambrian trilobites from the Dolodrook River limestones, eastern Victoria, Australia. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists,30: 83-111.
  83. Paterson, J.R., 2004. Palaeobiogeography of the Ordovician trilobite Prosopiscus, with a new species from western New South Wales. Alcheringa,28: 65-76.
  84. Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A., 2003. Early Ordovician orthide brachiopods from Mount Arrowsmith, northwestern New South Wales, Australia. Records of the Australian Museum, 55: 221-230.
  85. Paterson, J.R. & Winchester-Seeto, T., 2003. Trilobites and their environments. Science Education News, 51: 141-146.
  86. Paterson, J.R., 2001. First occurrence of Janospira from the Early Ordovician of Australia. Alcheringa,25: 129-130.

Refereed conference papers

  1. Paterson, J.R., Hughes, N.C. & Chatterton, B.D.E., 2008b. Trilobite clusters: what do they tell us? A preliminary investigation. In: Rábano, I., Gozalo, R. & García-Bellido, D. (eds), Advances in Trilobite Research, Cuadernos del Museo Geominero 9, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid, 313-318.
  2. Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B., Gehling, J.G., García-Bellido, D.C., Edgecombe, G.D. & Lee, M.S.Y., 2008a. Early Cambrian arthropods from the Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte, South Australia. In: Rábano, I., Gozalo, R. & García-Bellido, D. (eds), Advances in Trilobite Research, Cuadernos del Museo Geominero 9, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Madrid, 319-325.
  3. Topper, T.P., Skovsted, C.B., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R., 2007. New bradoriids from the lower Cambrian Mernmerna Formation, South Australia: systematics, biostratigraphy and biogeography. In: Laurie, J.R., Paterson, J.R. & Jago, J.B. (eds), South Australia 2006 – Papers from the XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 33: 67-100.

Books (edited volumes)

  1. Laurie, J.R., Percival, I.G., Jago, J.B., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A. (eds) 2016. Cambro-Ordovician Studies VI. Australasian Palaeontological Memoirs, 49: 1-514.
  2. Laurie, J.R., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A. (eds) 2014. Cambro-Ordovician Studies V. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 45: 1-419.
  3. Laurie, J.R., Paterson, J.R. & Brock, G.A. (eds) 2011. Cambro-Ordovician Studies IV. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 42: 1-492.
  4. Laurie, J.R., Brock, G.A. & Paterson, J.R. (eds) 2009. Cambro-Ordovician Studies III. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 37: 1-716.
  5. Laurie, J.R. & Paterson, J.R. (eds) 2007. Papers in honour of John H. Shergold 1938-2006. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 34: 1-562.
  6. Laurie, J.R., Paterson, J.R. & Jago, J.B. (eds) 2007. South Australia 2006: Papers from the XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 33: 1-189.
  7. Paterson, J.R. & Laurie, J.R. (eds) 2006. Cambro-Ordovician Studies II. Memoirs of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists, 32: 1-422.

Book chapters

  1. Álvaro, J.J., Ahlberg, P., Babcock, L.E., Bordonaro, O.L., Choi, D.K., Cooper, R.A., Ergaliev, G.Kh., Gapp, I.W., Ghobadi Pour, M., Hughes, N.C., Jago, J.B., Korovnikov, I., Laurie, J.R., Lieberman, B.S., Paterson, J.R., Pegel, T.V., Popov, L.E., Rushton, A.W.A., Sukhov, S.S., Tortello, M.F., Zhou, Z. & Żylińska, A., 2013. Global Cambrian trilobite palaeobiogeography assessed using parsimony analysis of endemicity. In Harper, D. & Servais, T. (eds), Early Palaeozoic Biogeography and Palaeogeography, Geological Society, London, Memoirs, 38: 273-296.
  2. Jago, J.B., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R., Alexander, E.M., Gatehouse, C.G. & Cooper, B.J., 2006. Blinman-Wirrealpa area. In Jago J.B. & Zang, W. (eds), South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division, Adelaide, pp. 44-49. ISBN 0-9757894-4-9.
  3. Brock, G.A., Alexander, E.M., Paterson, J.R., Jago, J.B. & Gatehouse, C.G., 2006. Mt Scott Range and Ajax Mine. In Jago J.B. & Zang, W. (eds), South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division, Adelaide, pp. 40-43. ISBN 0-9757894-4-9.
  4. Brock, G.A., Fuller, M., Paterson, J.R., Zang, W., Jago, J.B. & Gatehouse, C.G., 2006. Elder Range and Mernmerna Syncline. In Jago J.B. & Zang, W. (eds), South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division, Adelaide, pp. 26-31. ISBN 0-9757894-4-9.
  5. Jago, J.B., Paterson, J.R., Alexander, E.M. & Gehling, J.G., 2006. Fossiliferous Cambrian localities on the north coast of Kangaroo Island. In Jago J.B. & Zang, W. (eds), South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division, Adelaide, pp. 21-24. ISBN 0-9757894-4-9.
  6. Jago, J.B., Zang, W., Brock, G.A., Paterson, J.R. & Skovsted, C.B., 2006. Cambrian biostratigraphy of the Arrowie and Stansbury Basins. In Jago J.B. & Zang, W. (eds), South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group. Geological Society of Australia, South Australian Division, Adelaide, pp. 11-13. ISBN 0-9757894-4-9.
  7. Paterson, J.R. & Winchester-Seeto, T., 2002. Trilobites and their environments. In: A Festival of Fossils, Simpson, A. & Winchester-Seeto, T. (eds), Macquarie University, North Ryde, pp. 10-16. ISBN 1864087838.

Field guide books

  1. Gehling, J.G., Jago, J.B., Brock, G.A., Kruse, P.D., Betts, M.J., Jacquet, S.M., Paterson, J.R., Droser, M.L., García-Bellido, D.C., Langsford, N. & Zang, W., 2016. Cryogenian-Ediacaran-Cambrian of the Adelaide Fold Belt. Palaeo Down Under 2, Geological Field Excursion Guide, Report Book 2016/00011. Department of State Development, Adelaide, South Australia. 78 p. ISBN 978-1-921399-40-4.
  2. Gehling, J.G., Jago, J.B., Paterson, J.R., Brock, G.A. & Droser, M.L., 2012. Ediacaran-Cambrian of South Australia. Field Trip (S-4) Guide, 34th International Geological Congress (IGC), 11-18 August 2012, Geological Society of Australia, Adelaide. 36 p. ISBN 978-0-646-58107-1.

Popular articles

  1. Paterson, J.R., 2013. Complex eyes of giant Cambrian predator. McGraw-Hill Yearbook of Science & Technology 2013. McGraw-Hill Education, ISBN: 9780071801409. https://www.accessscience.com/content/complex-eyes-of-giant-cambrian-predator/YB130051.
  2. Daley, A. & Paterson, J., 2012. The Earth’s first super-predators. Australasian Science, 33(6): 16-19.
  3. Lee, M. & Paterson, J., 2011. Rapid evolution? The eyes have it. Australasian Science, 32(10): 28-30.
  4. Paterson, J.R. & Jago, J.B., 2009. The Emu Bay Shale biota, Kangaroo Island: Australia’s unique window into the Cambrian world. The Australian Geologist, 153: 24-26.
  5. Paterson, J.R., 2006. A new record of trilobite segmentation. The Trilobite Papers, 18: 18-19.

Select media coverage

Invited Talks

  • 11th North American Paleontological Convention, University of California, Riverside, USA, 23-27 June 2019; talk: Trilobites in cruise control: clocking their evolutionary rates and the end of the Cambrian explosion
  • South Australian Museum, Adelaide; 8th March 2019; public lecture: Animal Life’s Big Bang Over Half-a-Billion Years Ago
  • International Conference on Ediacaran and Cambrian Sciences, Aug. 2018, Xi’an, China; keynote talk: The Emu Bay Shale fan delta complex: Palaeoenvironmental conditions affecting the community structure of a unique Cambrian Lagerstätte
  • International Workshop on the Evolution of Cambrian Arthropods – Taxonomy, Ontogeny and Phylogeny, 1-6 Sep. 2017, Xi’an, China; talk: The early evolution of trilobites and implications for the Cambrian ‘Explosion’.
  • Geological Society of Australia (Victoria Division), University of Melbourne; 27th October 2016; talk: The Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte: a view of Cambrian life from East Gondwana
  • Department of Geology, Northwest University, Xi’an, China; 3rd December 2014; talk: The Emu Bay Shale fauna: Biogeographic connections between early Cambrian biotas of Australia and South China
  • Fourth International Palaeontological Congress (IPC4), Mendoza, Argentina; 28th Sep. to 3rd Oct. 2014; symposium: Fossil arthropods as living organisms: morphology, palaeoecology, development and evolution; talk: On the origin and early evolution of trilobites and implications for the Cambrian ‘explosion’
  • Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, U.K.; 11th March 2013; talk: Untangling the taphonomy of the early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte, South Australia
  • Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, U.K.; 6th March 2013; talk: The Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia: Documenting the Cambrian ‘explosion’ Down Under
  • Fifth International Trilobite Conference (‘Trilo2012’), Prague, Czech Republic; July 2012; talk: Artiopodan arthropod diversity from the early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte of South Australia
  • 34th International Geological Congress, Brisbane, Aug. 2012; Theme 23.1 - Martin Glaessner Symposium: The Ediacaran and the Cambrian Explosion; keynote talk: Untangling the taphonomy of the early Cambrian
    Emu Bay Shale Konservat-Lagerstätte, South Australia
  • Australian Centre for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide, South Australia; 15th July 2011; talk: Ancient seafood on Kangaroo Island: Documenting the rise of animals over half a billion years ago
  • Palaeontology Seminar Series, The Natural History Museum, London, U.K.; 16th March 2011; talk: The Beast and the Enigma: New Animals from the Early Cambrian Emu Bay Shale Biota of South Australia
  • “Twilight Palaeo”, 2010 Palaeontology Week, South Australian Museum, Adelaide; 25th March 2010; talk: Ancient seafood on Kangaroo Island and the rise of animals
  • International Conference on the Cambrian Explosion (‘Walcott 2009’), Banff, Alberta, Canada; 5th August 2009; talk: The Emu Bay Shale revisited: new discoveries from a lower Cambrian Lagerstätte in South Australia
  • Fourth International Trilobite Conference (‘TRILO 08’), Toledo, Spain; 19th June 2008; talk: Early Cambrian arthropods from the Emu Bay Shale Lagerstätte, South Australia

Memberships

2020–2024: Voting Member of the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy (ISCS).

2012 – present: Member of the Editorial Board for the peer-reviewed palaeontological journal Alcheringa.

2010 – present: Member of the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy (ISCS) Stage 3 and Stage 4 Working Groups.

2010 – present: Expert assessor for the Australian Research Council (ARC).

2006 – 2020: Corresponding Member of the International Subcommission on Cambrian Stratigraphy (ISCS).

2005 – present: Member of the Editorial Board for the Australasian Palaeontological Memoirs; a publication of the Geological Society of Australia, Inc.

2015 – 2016: Member of the Scientific Committee for the Palaeo Down Under 2 conference.

2011 – 2014: Specialist Editor (Trilobita and other Palaeozoic arthropods) for the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.

2006 – 2010: Secretary of the Association of Australasian Palaeontologists (AAP); a specialist group of the Geological Society of Australia, Inc.

2010: Member of the organising committee for the New England Orogen (NEO2010) conference, hosted by the University of New England, Armidale, NSW, 16-19 November 2010.

2006: Member of the organising committee and excursion co-leader for South Australia 2006: XI International Conference of the Cambrian Stage Subdivision Working Group, hosted by Primary Industries and Resources of South Australia and the Geological Society of Australia, Inc., Adelaide, 14-24 August 2006.

2001 – 2002: Member of the organising committee for the First International Palaeontological Congress (IPC2002), hosted by MUCEP at Macquarie University, 6-10 July 2002.

2000: Member of the organising committee for the Palaeontology Down Under 2000 conference, hosted by MUCEP in Orange, NSW, 11-15 July.