Dr. Aniket Mitra

Education

• PhD -  Topic: Effects of Eocene global events on marine bivalves from Kutch and Cambay basins of Gujarat, India; Supervisor: Prof. Kalyan Halder; Presidency University, Kolkata, India. 2023
• MSc - Applied Geology. Presidency University, Kolkata, India. 2016
• BSc - Geology Honours. Presidency University, Kolkata, India. 2014

Research Summary

Invertebrate palaeontology with emphasis on molluscs, palaeobiogeography and stable isotope geochemistry are my forte. I have used stable isotope geochemistry to reconstruct the early Eocene palaeo-environment from Cambay and Kutch Basins of India. Detailed systematic study of all the recorded bivalve species and functional morphology of some lineages have contributed in understanding the response of those species to the hyperthermal events in early Eocene. Global biogeographic distribution, dispersal and migration of the bivalve genera during Paleogene have been studied to reconstruct the palaeo-oceanic circulation pattern and the effects of climatic perturbations and tectonic changes on the migration pattern.

I focused on biomarkers for interpreting the evolution of Subathu, an early Paleogene Himalayan foreland basin during Himalayan orogenesis. Molluscan fossil samples, n-alkanes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been analysed to interpret the environment and if there was any volcanic event associated with the orogenesis.

My present study emphasises on the effects of global warming on biota. Present day atmosphere is very much comparable to Bartonian (~40Ma ago) global warming which occurred within a prolonged cooling phase. The effects of warming on the morphology and diversification of Bartonian  bivalves are studied to parameterise the climate model.

Projects

Post-doctoral fellow (EUTOPIA) - Topic: Responses of biota to a sudden global warming event in an overall cooling phase of the Earth. CY Cergy Paris University and AMGC Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Supervisors: Prof. Philippe Claeys; Prof. Béatrice Ledésert. 

Post-doctoral fellow - Topic: Evolution of the Himalayan Foreland Basin vis-à-vis relict-Tethys during the early Paleogene period from bio-markers and molluscan viewpoint. IISER Mohali, India. Supervisor: Dr. Anoop Ambili. (2022-2023).

Research Fellow (DST India) - Topic: Basin evolution and diversity of Eocene Molluscs from Vastan and adjoining areas of Surat, Gujarat. Presidency University, Kolkata, India.  Supervisor: Prof. Kalyan Halder. (2017-2020).