Paleontological Resources Research Articles

Paleoproterozoic Rocks of the Belcher Islands, Nunavut: A Review of Their Remarkable Geology and Relevance to Inuit-led Conservation Efforts

The Paleoproterozoic Belcher Group (ca. 2.0 to 1.83 Ga) occurs on the remote Belcher Islands of Hudson Bay in Nunavut, Canada. It includes nearly nine kilometres of well-preserved siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentary rocks, deposited initially in a marginal to shallow marine setting representing one of the first true continental shelf environments on the proto-Canadian Shield. A wide variety of depositional facies exists within the Belcher Group, and it is particularly well known for its spectacular stromatolites in dolostone. In addition to these macroscopic features, two of its formations (Kasegalik and McLeary) contain intact microfossils of Eoentophysalis belcherensis, the oldest known occurrence of cyanobacteria in the geological record. The uppermost part of the Belcher Group contains sedimentary rocks of very different character that represent a younger foreland basin that developed in response to accretionary and collisional processes of the Trans-Hudson orogen. These younger formations (Omarolluk and Loaf) consist of a thick sequence of turbidites, overlain by arkose and other immature clastic sedimentary rocks. A defining characteristic of the Omarolluk Formation is the presence of calcareous concretions. The Omarolluk Formation shares attributes with “omars”, which are glacially transported clasts that occur both locally and further afield throughout parts of Canada and the northern United States and have helped characterize Pleistocene ice-flow trends across the continent. The Belcher Group also includes two formations dominated by spectacular mafic volcanic rocks. The earlier episode, represented by the Eskimo Formation, reflects eruption of largely subaerial volcanic flows interpreted to represent flood basalt associated with the rifting of Archean basement during the establishment of the continental shelf. A later volcanic episode (the Flaherty Formation) is dominated by submarine pillowed basalt flows and has been assigned to varied tectonic settings, including volcanic arcs related to subduction and oceanic plateaus related to mantle plume activity and renewed rifting along the continental margin. This later volcanism marks the transition from shelf to foreland basin. Mafic sills and related intrusions (Haig intrusions) occur in the middle and lower part of the Belcher Group. Thermal and chemical interactions between mafic magma and calcareous shale generated unusual rocks that are well known in Nunavut as high-quality artisanal carving stone. The Belcher Group also contains Superior-type iron formations that have attracted past exploration interest. The Belcher Group is a unique geological entity defined by its wide variety of rock types, its superb exposures, and its potential to illustrate many important geological processes in a formative time in Earth’s history. It is also a unique microfossil paleontological resource, and its deposition brackets a crucial and much-debated interval of Precambrian atmospheric and oceanic evolution. It represents an important scientific resource in the context of understanding such changes. This general review paper highlights its most important features, discusses its potential for future research and contributes to wider discussions about its possible future role as a protected area within Nunavut.

Breaking out of the fishbowl: Integrating paleontological resource management and public engagement while inspiring stewardship through an open-door fossil preparation lab at Badlands National Park

Breaking out of the fishbowl: Integrating paleontological resource management and public engagement while inspiring stewardship through an open-door fossil preparation lab at Badlands National Park

Discovery, preservation, and protection of notable paleontological resources from Dinosaur National Monument, Utah and Colorado

Discovery, preservation, and protection of notable paleontological resources from Dinosaur National Monument, Utah and Colorado

Past, present, and future: A synthesis of paleontological resource monitoring and management at Badlands National Park

Past, present, and future: A synthesis of paleontological resource monitoring and management at Badlands National Park

Incredible discoveries and devastation of paleontological resources in a changing world preserved at White Sands National Park

Incredible discoveries and devastation of paleontological resources in a changing world preserved at White Sands National Park

Research put into action: How a fossil inventory informed paleontological resource monitoring efforts preceding road construction at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Research put into action: How a fossil inventory informed paleontological resource monitoring efforts preceding road construction at Theodore Roosevelt National Park

New perspectives on NPS paleontological resource stewardship: Scientific, curatorial, and educational outcomes at Petrified Forest National Park

New perspectives on NPS paleontological resource stewardship: Scientific, curatorial, and educational outcomes at Petrified Forest National Park

How protecting shark teeth can lead to finding dolphins: George Washington Birthplace National Monument as a case study in developing and implementing paleontological resource monitoring

How protecting shark teeth can lead to finding dolphins: George Washington Birthplace National Monument as a case study in developing and implementing paleontological resource monitoring

Sharks in the dark: Paleontological resource inventory reveals multiple successive Mississippian Subperiod cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) assemblages within Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Sharks in the dark: Paleontological resource inventory reveals multiple successive Mississippian Subperiod cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) assemblages within Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky

Conservation Paleobiology and the Stewardship of U.S. National Park Service Paleontological Resources

Conservation biology, and the descendent discipline conservation paleobiology, are philosophically aligned with the mission of the National Park Service (NPS), including near time and deep time frameworks. As defined in the Organic Act of August 25, 1916, the purpose and mission of the NPS is “…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations”. This conservation mandate is broadly inclusive of grizzly bears, redwood trees, and dinosaur bones equally, throughout the 424 officially designated parks, monuments, and other areas managed by the NPS. Although conservation paleobiology is reported by some to be a new and integrated field of study, there are remarkable similarities to traditional and old school perspectives which embraced natural history more holistically during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Notably, the written contributions by Charles Darwin, Aldo Leopold, and Edward Abbey synthesize observations at the global and landscape scales, promoting conservation advocacy of the natural world, past and present. U.S. National Park Service areas preserve some of Planet Earth’s most globally significant natural resources, ecological systems, and biosphere reserves. Discoveries of fossil condors and mummified bats within caves of Grand Canyon National Park, the co-occurrence of human and megafaunal footprints preserved in Late Pleistocene strata at White Sands National Park, and pygmy mammoth remains on Channel Islands National Park, collectively demonstrate how valuable temporal and historical biological perspectives contribute to science, stewardship, and resources management in parks and beyond. The paleobiology community is cordially invited to join in the holistic study and conservation of the near time and deep time resources in the national parks.

History of Native American land and natural resource policy in the United States: impacts on the field of paleontology

AbstractWe highlight the historical and contemporary policies that govern paleontological research on federally recognized Native American lands. The United States has a long history of fossil dispossession from Indigenous Peoples, and federal policies surrounding the management of Native American lands (i.e., reservations), and the geological resources therein, have changed through time. These changes reflect shifting popular and political ideologies regarding Native American nations’ sovereignty and self-governance. As of 2022, the United States has a government-to-government relationship with federally recognized Tribal entities, but that has not always been the case. Historians have divided post-contact Native American federal policy into distinct eras: Colonial Times to 1820, Native American Removal and Reservation (1820–1887), Allotments and Attempted Assimilation (1887–1934), Reorganization and Preservation (1934–1953), Termination and Relocation (1953–1968), and Tribal Self-Determination (1968–present). Documentation of how the federal policies from each of these eras continue to impact current paleontological research is limited. We summarize major legislative actions, court cases, and historical events that have affected paleontological resource management in Native American territory. We use this historical context to identify federal policy gaps and highlight legal nuances associated with fossil collection and ownership, particularly given the importance of fossils to some Native Americans’ cultural patrimony. Finally, we explore how these gaps affect scientific research and highlight best practices for conducting paleontological research on vertebrate, invertebrate, and paleobotanical body and trace fossils using the CARE (Collective Benefit, Authority to Control, Responsibility, Ethics) Principles for Indigenous Data Governance (https://www.gida-global.org/care).

The Rising of Paleontology in China: A Century-Long Road.

Simple SummaryA brief account of the history of Chinese paleontology for about one century is provided with some perspectives for its future development. The development of Chinese paleontology is closely related to its social-ecological background as well as its connection to the outside world. On the other hand, the rising of the Chinese paleontology also benefitted from its rich fossil resources as well as the integration with other biological and geological disciplines and the use of new technologies.In this paper, the history of paleontology in China from 1920 to 2020 is divided into three major stages, i.e., 1920–1949, 1949–1978, and 1979–2020. As one of the first scientific disciplines to have earned international fame in China, the development of Chinese paleontology benefitted from international collaborations and China’s rich resources. Since 1978, China’s socio-economic development and its open-door policy to the outside world have also played a key role in the growth of Chinese paleontology. In the 21st century, thanks to constant funding from the government and the rise of the younger generation of paleontologists, Chinese paleontology is expected to make even more contributions to the integration of paleontology with both biological and geological research projects by taking advantage of new technologies and China’s rich paleontological resources.

New Mexico Cultural and Paleontological Resources Management Program (DOI)

Federal Grants & ContractsVolume 46, Issue 12 p. 5-5 Grants Alerts New Mexico Cultural and Paleontological Resources Management Program (DOI) First published: 17 May 2022 https://doi.org/10.1002/fgc.32383Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article. Volume46, Issue1219 May 2022Pages 5-5 RelatedInformation

Can You Dig It? Yes, You Can! But at What Cost?: A Proposal for the Protection of Domestic Fossils on Private Land

Paleontological resources require similar protections to archaeological resources because the threat of looting, improper excavation, and market demand are analogous. Paleontological resources are responsible for informing much of scientists’ understanding of evolution and the history of the planet, just as cultural property helps to inform the evolution of humanity and culture. Once either object is removed from its original context, there is an immediate and invaluable loss of information that could have illuminated important information about the past. When either is removed from the environment in which they were created, a nonrenewable link to the past is lost. Existing laws are too limited to provide sufficient protection relative to the importance of paleontological resources. Recent high-profile examples of the public sale of dinosaur remains illustrate the threat to these resources if their sale is not restricted. The proposed legislative changes in this Article attempt to address these issues by expanding state level protection of fossils being excavated on private land and giving museums a financial advantage when purchasing fossils. There is an urgent need for these regulations as the prices of dinosaurs at auction skyrocket and never-before-seen fossils erode in the desert.

Fresh perspectives on paleontological heritage and the stewardship of non-renewable fossil resources

A “fresh perspective” provides an insight into the values attributed to paleontological heritage and the consequent behaviors, motivations, and management challenges for the stewardship of this non-renewable resource. To provide a global perspective, a survey was undertaken with over three dozen experienced paleontological resource managers examining values and management experiences. Notably, values attributed to paleontological resources were consistently wide-ranging, encompassing scientific, educational, cultural, aesthetic, economic, and other values, and there was a consequent diversity of management approaches and actions. Responses are discussed and lessons learned are outlined to provide a fresh perspective and key points for the successful stewardship of paleontological heritage.

CONDITIONS FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PALEONTOLOGICAL DIRECTION OF GEOTURISM WITHIN THE NATURE NATURAL PARK "PODOLSKY TOVTRY"

The publication highlights the regional conditions for the development of geotouristic forms of using paleontological objects, the territory of the NPP "Podolski Tovtry" The need to introduce and develop specialized tourism products based on the paleontological resource base and regional conditions within the Podolskie Tovtry NPP is a reaction to the concentration of tourist groups within the natural park, as well as a noticeable decrease in interest in traditional sites.
 Paleontological Geotourism is a specialized area of activity that requires special training. Its forms of implementation are combined with traditional tourism products, the compactness and complexity of the placement of lithological formations makes it possible to implement sharply contrasting thematic approaches (sandy Neogene beach, Silurian coral reef, mammoth tundra), and locations within mined out pits or specially equipped nature conservation objects - ecological - educational influence combined with economic and social effect.
 The main conditions for the development of the direction on the territory of the natural park are the set of features of the lithological base and natural geomorphological, as well as economic objects that reveal paleontological locations. The analysis of the conditions of the transport and technical infrastructure, interaction with traditional forms of nature management, as well as tourist sites, which have long been included in the regional recreational complex, has been carried out.
 To experimentally confirm the regional efficiency of the paleogeotourism direction, the authors of the study selected three model sites that meet these criteria, carried out in cooperation with representatives of NPP "Podilski Tovtry" and the City Council of Kamianets-Podilskyi their primary infrastructure equipment, and equipped and the museum exposition was tested and the possibilities of conducting paleontological master classes were studied. Geotourism products have been developed and partially implemented in cooperation with interested tour operators.
 These aspects of the development of the paleontological direction of geotourism from the standpoint of regional conditions are a means of substantiating the regional strategy for the development of environmentally friendly forms of nature management within the NPP "Podilski Tovtry". They are aimed primarily at demonstrating the effectiveness of the research area and its compatibility with the already established traditional economic forms, which will solve the problems of access and use of paleontological objects and promote the participation of local communities and regional businesses in its implementation. Partial practical testing of the second results of regional conditions presented in the publication can become the basis of scientific discussion on the effectiveness of selected geotourism forms, their compliance with the conditions and accordingly adjust further scientific and applied research in this direction.
 Key words: geotourism, paleotours, Podilski Tovtry

Developments and contributions in the study of La Rioja dinosaur footprints (Spain)

In this paper the study of dinosaur tracks of La Rioja, which began in 1970, is presented as an example of knowledge development, achievements, and events occurring around a paleontological resource having strong media impact. Fieldwork, research, and dissemination since the publication of the first scientific works have been accompanied by activities to protect sites and consider them as natural and cultural heritage. Finally it is shown how a paleontological resource has also led to the development of the tourist infrastructure in the area

Novel analysis of locality data can inform better inventory and monitoring practices for paleontological resources at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon, USA

Novel analysis of locality data can inform better inventory and monitoring practices for paleontological resources at John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon, USA

The ePANDDA project: linking the Paleobiology Database, iDigBio, and iDigPaleo for biological and paleontological research, collections management, and outreach

There are several online paleontological resources that serve a diversity of needs: the Paleobiology Database (PaleoBioDB), a database of fossil occurrences built largely from the primary scientific literature; iDigBio, the national hub for neontological and paleontological specimen data; and iDigPaleo, a specimen-based website built for educational use. While each resource is useful on its own, aggregating data from them is laborious and problematic, as the connectivity between modern and fossil, and specimen and literature-based, resources does not currently exist. Funded by the NSF EarthCube initiative (ICER 1821039), the enhancing Paleontological and Neontological Data Discovery API (ePANDDA) project is using application programming interfaces (APIs) to integrate the paleontological and neontological resources of these three sites. The ePANDDA API returns comprehensive data to the user on all aspects of specimens and taxa. For example, a neontologist could search the ePANDDA API (available at: https://api.epandda.org) using a taxonomic name. In addition to modern specimen records available in iDigBio, they will receive paleontological collections information from iDigPaleo and the PaleoBioDB. The connectivity of these resources facilitates addressing research questions currently difficult to answer, even with multiple researchers working as a group. The ePANDDA API was demonstrated to programmers and end users at a “hackathon” in the fall of 2017, resulting in significant modifications to the API based on end user needs. The epandda team also sought the input of end users in the creation of software widgets that use the API via two workshops in 2016. During this presentation, we will demonstrate several of these software widgets (available at: https://epandda.org), including one that geolocates a user and displays records from all three databases of all organisms within a specified radius. We will also showcase how the PaleoBioDB will use the ePANDDA API to display links to specimen images within iDigBio. The presentation will also include examples and plans for how ePANDDA can collaborate with other existing geological and biological resources.

Dinosaur origin of egg color: oviraptors laid blue-green eggs.

Protoporphyrin (PP) and biliverdin (BV) give rise to the enormous diversity in avian egg coloration. Egg color serves several ecological purposes, including post-mating signaling and camouflage. Egg camouflage represents a major character of open-nesting birds which accomplish protection of their unhatched offspring against visually oriented predators by cryptic egg coloration. Cryptic coloration evolved to match the predominant shades of color found in the nesting environment. Such a selection pressure for the evolution of colored or cryptic eggs should be present in all open nesting birds and relatives. Many birds are open-nesting, but protect their eggs by continuous brooding, and thus exhibit no or minimal eggshell pigmentation. Their closest extant relatives, crocodiles, protect their eggs by burial and have unpigmented eggs. This phylogenetic pattern led to the assumption that colored eggs evolved within crown birds. The mosaic evolution of supposedly avian traits in non-avian theropod dinosaurs, however, such as the supposed evolution of partially open nesting behavior in oviraptorids, argues against this long-established theory. Using a double-checking liquid chromatography ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry routine, we traced the origin of colored eggs to their non-avian dinosaur ancestors by providing the first record of the avian eggshell pigments protoporphyrin and biliverdin in the eggshells of Late Cretaceous oviraptorid dinosaurs. The eggshell parataxon Macroolithus yaotunensis can be assigned to the oviraptor Heyuannia huangi based on exceptionally preserved, late developmental stage embryo remains. The analyzed eggshells are from three Late Cretaceous fluvial deposits ranging from eastern to southernmost China. Reevaluation of these taphonomic settings, and a consideration of patterns in the porosity of completely preserved eggs support an at least partially open nesting behavior for oviraptorosaurs. Such a nest arrangement corresponds with our reconstruction of blue-green eggs for oviraptors. According to the sexual signaling hypothesis, the reconstructed blue-green eggs support the origin of previously hypothesized avian paternal care in oviraptorid dinosaurs. Preserved dinosaur egg color not only pushes the current limits of the vertebrate molecular and associated soft tissue fossil record, but also provides a perspective on the potential application of this unexplored paleontological resource.