Understanding the world as we see it around us today requires understanding how the geosphere, climate and biosphere have interacted and coevolved over the last millions of years. In the Evolutionary Paleontology Research Group at the Department of Geosciences and Geography we study the evolution, paleoenvironments and paleoecology of various groups of vertebrates based on their fossil record, including above all large terrestrial mammals, but also other ecologically important groups of organisms. The overarching theme is to explore how changes in the Earth’s climate and vegetation during the last few tens of millions of years have affected key characteristics of vertebrates and vertebrate communities, including paleoecology (e.g. diet), as well as adaptations such as dental functional traits and body size and shape. We have broad international connections, and we currently work on mammal fossil records from various parts of Eurasia, South America and Africa.