Cephalopods with straight shells are important and common fossils, with many described species. It has commonly been imagined that these swam with the shell in a horizontal position; however, it has recently become clear that a vertical orientation is more likely in some forms.
Nevertheless, we still believe that, among others, the endoceratids, which were common in the Ordovician, swam horizontally. This belief is based on certain morphological traits of this group. Is this correct? What role did the accumulation of "ballast material" play during growth?
The project consists of studies on fossil material and simple mathematical modeling of balance and buoyancy. This will involve some programming. Similar work is currently being conducted on other fossil cephalopods by a group in Switzerland, and collaboration with them will be natural.
The project is suitable for a biology or geology student with some interest in mathematics.