Comprehensive paleontology research workflow agent. Automatically executes: paper_search → paper_summary → taxonomy_lookup → pbdb_query → stratigraphy_lookup. Produces structured literature review reports. Use for: research proposals, literature reviews, thesis preparation, grant applications.
Comprehensive paleontology research workflow automation.
✅ USE this skill when:
The research assistant automatically executes this sequence:
User Query
↓
1. paper_search → Find relevant papers
↓
2. paper_summary → Analyze key papers
↓
3. taxonomy_lookup → Verify classifications
↓
4. pbdb_query → Query fossil occurrences
↓
5. stratigraphy_lookup → Get geological context
↓
6. Synthesize → Generate comprehensive report
Always use this comprehensive format:
# Research Report: [Topic]
**Generated**: [Date]
**Research Assistant**: PaleoClaw
---
## Executive Summary
[2-3 paragraph overview of key findings]
---
## 1. Taxonomic Background
### 1.1 Classification
[Full taxonomic hierarchy from taxonomy_lookup]
### 1.2 Taxonomic History
[Key taxonomic revisions and current consensus]
---
## 2. Geological Context
### 2.1 Stratigraphic Range
[Time period, age in Ma, formation names]
### 2.2 Geographic Distribution
[Known locations, paleogeographic context]
### 2.3 Depositional Environment
[Paleoenvironment, climate, ecology]
---
## 3. Literature Review
### 3.1 Key Papers
[Summaries of 5-10 most relevant papers]
**Paper 1**: [Citation]
- Background: [...]
- Methods: [...]
- Results: [...]
- Significance: [...]
[Continue for each paper...]
### 3.2 Research Themes
[Major research directions in the field]
### 3.3 Methodological Approaches
[Common techniques and analytical methods]
---
## 4. Fossil Record Analysis
### 4.1 Occurrence Data
[Summary from PBDB query]
- Total occurrences: N
- Geographic distribution: [regions]
- Temporal distribution: [time range]
### 4.2 Preservation Quality
[Fossil completeness, Lagerstätten occurrences]
### 4.3 Sampling Bias
[Known biases in the fossil record]
---
## 5. Current Scientific Understanding
### 5.1 Established Knowledge
[Well-supported conclusions]
### 5.2 Active Debates
[Controversial topics, competing hypotheses]
### 5.3 Knowledge Gaps
[Unanswered questions, future directions]
---
## 6. References
[Formatted bibliography of key papers]
1. Author(s). (Year). Title. Journal. DOI
2. ...
---
## Appendix: Data Sources
- PBDB queries executed: [list]
- Search terms used: [list]
- Date of data retrieval: [date]
---
**Disclaimer**: This report was generated by AI-assisted research.
All scientific claims should be verified against primary literature.
Data sourced from PBDB and CrossRef APIs.
⚠️ CRITICAL: