DOCSLIB.ORG

Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the Northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah Alexander Dutchak University of Colorado Boulder, [email protected]

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

University of Colorado, Boulder CU Scholar Geological Sciences Graduate Theses & Geological Sciences Dissertations Spring 2010 Mammalian Faunal Change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah Alexander Dutchak University of Colorado Boulder, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: http://scholar.colorado.edu/geol_gradetds Part of the Paleobiology Commons, and the Paleontology Commons Recommended Citation Dutchak, Alexander, "Mammalian Faunal Change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah" (2010). Geological Sciences Graduate Theses & Dissertations. Paper 14. This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Geological Sciences at CU Scholar. It has been accepted for inclusion in Geological Sciences Graduate Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of CU Scholar. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MAMMALIAN FAUNAL CHANGE DURING THE EARLY EOCENE CLIMATIC OPTIMUM (WASATCHIAN AND BRIDGERIAN) AT RAVEN RIDGE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UINTA BASIN, COLORADO AND UTAH by ALEXANDER R. DUTCHAK B.Sc., University of Alberta, 2002 M.Sc., University of Alberta, 2005 A thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School of the University of Colorado in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Geological Sciences 2010 This thesis entitled: Mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah written by Alexander R. Dutchak has been approved for the Department of Geological Sciences ______________________________ Jaelyn J. Eberle (Supervisor) ______________________________ John Humphrey ______________________________ Mary Kraus ______________________________ Tom Marchitto ______________________________ Richard Stucky Date: ________________________ The final copy of this thesis has been examined by the signatories, and we find that both the content and the form meet acceptable presentation standards of scholarly work in the above mentioned discipline. ABSTRACT Dutchak, Alexander R. (Ph.D., Geological Sciences, Department of Geological Sciences) Mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (Wasatchian and Bridgerian) at Raven Ridge in the northeastern Uinta Basin, Colorado and Utah Thesis directed by Assistant Professor Jaelyn J. Eberle This project investigated patterns of mammalian faunal change at Raven Ridge, which straddles the Colorado-Utah border on the northeastern edge of the Uinta Basin and consists of intertonguing units of the fluvial Colton and lacustrine Green River Formations. Fossil vertebrate localities comprising >9,000 fossil mammal specimens from 62 genera in 34 families were identified and described. Included in this fauna are the index taxa Smilodectes, Omomys, Heptodon, and Lambdotherium, among others, which were used to biostratigraphically constrain the Raven Ridge strata as mid- Wasatchian (Wa3-5, ~53.5mya) through mid-Bridgerian (Br1b, ~48.5mya) in age. This time interval coincides with the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EECO), an extended interval of globally warm temperatures that is coincident with a large negative δ13C excursion. The onset, peak, and decline of the EECO at Raven Ridge were constrained by analyzing 197 sediment samples, collected from measured sections at Raven Ridge, for Total Organic Carbon (TOC) content and then chemostratigraphically correlating this data with established marine isotope curves. The Raven Ridge TOC data show a large negative carbon excursion that starts during the Wa6 biochron, peaks during the Wa7 biochron, and is followed by a positive excursion near the Wa-Br boundary. Results of the chemostratigraphic correlation are consistent with onset of the EECO at Raven Ridge iii occurring during the Wa6 biochron, the peak of the warm interval near the Wa-Br boundary, and the decline of the EECO during the Br1a and Br1b biochrons. Generic diversity of the mammalian fauna from Raven Ridge is relatively stable during the onset and peak of the EECO, with a sharp decline during the Br1b biochron. The relative abundance of arboreal taxa increases significantly during the EECO interval, which is consistent with the appearance of dense tropical forests in central North America during this period. This change in habitat structure is marked by an increase in abundance of omomyids primates and a decrease in abundance of terrestrial taxa such as Diacodexis and hyopsodontid ‘condylarths’. The results of this study show equivocal support of the hypothesized direct link between higher global temperatures and increased mammalian generic diversity during the Wa-Br transition, but are consistent with ecological restructuring associated with climate-driven habitat change. iv For all those who came before me, upon whose broad shoulders I stand, and for my wife, Melissa, with whom I look forward to sharing many new adventures. ACKNOWLDGMENTS Three people need to be mentioned as the primary influences on my career in paleontology. Firstly, my parents, whose unwavering support in all aspects of my life is a constant source of strength. Words are insufficient to adequately express my thanks for everything they have done for me. Secondly, my wife, Melissa, who bravely joined me on our Colorado adventure while leaving behind family, friends, and an established career. There isn’t a day that goes by when I don’t realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing woman by my side. I owe my advisor, Jaelyn Eberle, a debt of gratitude for providing me with the opportunity pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Colorado. Her thoughtful guidance and expertise in the field of mammalian paleontology have been excellent resources throughout the past five years. Similarly, my committee members have all gone out of their way to share their experience and provide guidance and feedback whenever called upon. In particular, John Humphrey provided his instruments, time, and expertise during some very long days and nights on the mass spec in Golden, and Richard Stucky shared his considerable expertise regarding mammalian faunal change during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum while also showing me around the Wind River Basin. The Wind River camps with the Denver Museum crew were an immense amount of fun and I enjoyed getting to know the dozens of DMNS volunteers, Paul Rosen and the many Teen Science Scholars, and other specialists in the field including Brenda Chinnery-Allgeier, Deb Anderson, Amy Chew, and Henry Fricke. I owe apologies to my field assistants (Ben Burger, Laura Wilson, Sean Bryan, Ryan Nell, and Will Gelnaw) who helped measure section and collect fossils at Raven vi Ridge. Many of the days were obscenely hot and we were often set upon by countless insects. Hopefully the gorgeous scenery and random camp visits by pronghorn, elk, coyotes, golden eagles, and sheep (yes, woolly sheep are wandering about in northeastern Utah) helped distract them from the monotony of the Jacob staff. I hope they will remember the incredible views of storms on Dinosaur National Monument and the excellent food provided by the Bedrock Depot in Dinosaur, CO, and forget about my ill- fated attempts to cook for them. I was also lucky enough to spend time in the field with Gregg Gunnell and Bill Bartels at some of their South Pass, Wyoming sites. I thank them for sharing their time and expertise with me, and I thank Andrea Bair for introducing us in the first place. The laser ablation portion of this project would not have been possible without the generous assistance of Thure Cerling at the University of Utah and Ben Passey of Johns Hopkins University. Lindsay Mackenzie was kind enough to take time out from her studies at the University of Montana to drive down to Salt Lake City and act as my lab assistant for a week, and Don DeBlieux (and Beasie) housed us for the week. Naomi Levin and Ashley Ballantyne were kind enough to allow me to run some laser ablation test samples while they were collaborating on a separate project and their generosity in this aspect is greatly appreciated. Mimi Katz shared her marine geochemical dataset for the chemostratigraphic portion of this study, and for that she is thanked profusely. Dena Smith provided a great deal of statistical expertise and insight that was invaluable near the end of my degree while writing up the faunal analysis chapter of this project. Her energy and enthusiasm for my project is greatly appreciated. vii Toni Culver provided unflinching support for both me and my project from the first day I arrived right through to the end. Her willingness to go out of her way to help me in any way possible is gratefully acknowledged. Mary Dawson and Amy Henrici of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History were extremely helpful in providing me with their specimen data for the Powder Wash locality. My educational experience at CU was greatly enhanced by several outstanding instructors who helped me become a confident and competent geologist. These professors include Lang Farmer, Alexis Templeton, Mary Kraus, Tom Marchitto, Joe Smyth, and Karl Mueller. I also owe thanks to David Armstrong, Ned Friedman, and particularly Bert Covert for their time and efforts in EBIO and Anthropology classes. My graduate school experience was not completed in a vacuum. My fellow graduate students were sources of staunch support and valuable critiques throughout my time at CU. Ben Burger taught me a great deal about mammalian paleontology, both in the field and in the lab. He is a trusted friend and someone with whom I look forward to associating for many years to come. Laura Wilson has been a pillar of strength and an outstanding officemate, field assistant, and friend. I will miss our discussions regarding life, the universe, paleontology, and everything. I also thank Erin Leckey, Ian Sweeney, Sean Bryan, Walter Szeliga, Karen Lloyd, Nate Bradley, Lyndsay Ball, Wendy Schultz, and John Hankla for all that they, and in many cases their families, did for me during my stay.
Recommended publications
  • Paleoenvironment of the Late Eocene Chadronian-Age Whitehead Creek Locality (Northwestern Nebraska)

    Paleoenvironment of the Late Eocene Chadronian-Age Whitehead Creek Locality (Northwestern Nebraska)

    St. Cloud State University theRepository at St. Cloud State Culminating Projects in Cultural Resource Management Department of Anthropology 10-2019 Paleoenvironment of the Late Eocene Chadronian-Age Whitehead Creek Locality (Northwestern Nebraska) Samantha Mills Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/crm_etds Part of the Archaeological Anthropology Commons Recommended Citation Mills, Samantha, "Paleoenvironment of the Late Eocene Chadronian-Age Whitehead Creek Locality (Northwestern Nebraska)" (2019). Culminating Projects in Cultural Resource Management. 28. https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/crm_etds/28 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Anthropology at theRepository at St. Cloud State. It has been accepted for inclusion in Culminating Projects in Cultural Resource Management by an authorized administrator of theRepository at St. Cloud State. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Paleoenvironment of the Late Eocene Chadronian-Age Whitehead Creek Locality (Northwestern Nebraska) by Samantha M. Mills A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of St. Cloud State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Functional Morphology October, 2019 Thesis Committee: Matthew Tornow, Chairperson Mark Muñiz Bill Cook Tafline Arbor 2 Abstract Toward the end of the Middle Eocene (40-37mya), the environment started to decline on a global scale. It was becoming more arid, the tropical forests were disappearing from the northern latitudes, and there was an increase in seasonality. Research of the Chadronian (37- 33.7mya) in the Great Plains region of North America has documented the persistence of several mammalian taxa (e.g. primates) that are extinct in other parts of North America.
  • Download File

    Download File

    Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY 2016 © 2015 Kaori Tsukui All rights reserved ABSTRACT Chronology and Faunal Evolution of the Middle Eocene Bridgerian North American Land Mammal “Age”: Achieving High Precision Geochronology Kaori Tsukui The age of the Bridgerian/Uintan boundary has been regarded as one of the most important outstanding problems in North American Land Mammal “Age” (NALMA) biochronology. The Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming preserves one of the best stratigraphic records of the faunal boundary as well as the preceding Bridgerian NALMA. In this dissertation, I first developed a chronological framework for the Eocene Bridger Formation including the age of the boundary, based on a combination of magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb ID-TIMS geochronology. Within the temporal framework, I attempted at making a regional correlation of the boundary-bearing strata within the western U.S., and also assessed the body size evolution of three representative taxa from the Bridger Basin within the context of Early Eocene Climatic Optimum. Integrating radioisotopic, magnetostratigraphic and astronomical data from the early to middle Eocene, I reviewed various calibration models for the Geological Time Scale and intercalibration of 40Ar/39Ar data among laboratories and against U-Pb data, toward the community goal of achieving a high precision and well integrated Geological Time Scale. In Chapter 2, I present a magnetostratigraphy and U-Pb zircon geochronology of the Bridger Formation from the Bridger Basin in southwestern Wyoming.
  • Species Fact Sheet with Juga Hemphilli Hemphilli

    Species Fact Sheet with Juga Hemphilli Hemphilli

    SPECIES FACT SHEET Scientific Name: Juga hemphilli hemphilli (Henderson 1935) Common Name: barren juga Phylum: Mollusca Class: Gastropoda Order: Neotaenioglossa Family: Semisulcospiridae Taxonomic Note: Past genetic analysis by Lee et al. (2006) based on incorrectly identified museum voucher specimens suggested reassignment of the related subspecies Juga hemphilli dallesensis (and therefore the Juga hemphilli conspecifics, including Juga hemphilli hemphilli) to the genus Elimia. However, Foighil et al. (2009) conducted an additional analysis and determined that Juga hemphilli is indeed most closely related to other western Juga and should not be reassigned to the genus Elimia. Turgeon et al. (1998) do not recognize any subspecies of Juga hemphilli. Conservation Status: Global Status: G2T1 (May 2009) National Status: United States (N1) (June 2000) State Statuses: Oregon (S1), Wahington (S1) (NatureServe 2015) IUCN Red List: NE – Not evaluated Technical Description: This subspecies was originally described as Goniobasis hemphilli hemphilli (Henderson 1935). Burch (1982; 1989) revised this subspecies to the genus Juga to reflect the distribution of taxa west of the Continental Divide. Adult: Juga is a genus of medium-sized, aquatic, gilled snails traditionally treated as part of the subfamily Semisulcospirinae within the Pleuroceridae family, although the Semisulcospirinae subfamily was recently elevated to family level based on morphological and molecular evidence (Strong and Köhler 2009). The Pleuroceridae and Semisulcospiridae families both differ from the Hydrobiidae family in that the males lack a verge (male copulatory organ). The genus Juga is distinct from related pleurocerid snails based on reproductive anatomy and egg mass characters (Taylor 1966), as well as features of the ovipositor pore, radula, midgut, kidney, and pallial gonoduct (Strong and Frest 2007).
  • Gastropoda, Pleuroceridae), with Implications for Pleurocerid Conservation

    Gastropoda, Pleuroceridae), with Implications for Pleurocerid Conservation

    Zoosyst. Evol. 93 (2) 2017, 437–449 | DOI 10.3897/zse.93.14856 museum für naturkunde Genetic structuring in the Pyramid Elimia, Elimia potosiensis (Gastropoda, Pleuroceridae), with implications for pleurocerid conservation Russell L. Minton1, Bethany L. McGregor2, David M. Hayes3, Christopher Paight4, Kentaro Inoue5 1 Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Houston Clear Lake, 2700 Bay Area Boulevard MC 39, Houston, Texas 77058 USA 2 Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, 200 9th Street SE, Vero Beach, Florida 32962 USA 3 Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, 521 Lancaster Avenue, Richmond, Kentucky 40475 USA 4 Department of Biological Sciences, University of Rhode Island, 100 Flagg Road, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 USA 5 Texas A&M Natural Resources Institute, 578 John Kimbrough Boulevard, 2260 TAMU, College Station, Texas 77843 USA http://zoobank.org/E6997CB6-F054-4563-8C57-6C0926855053 Corresponding author: Russell L. Minton ([email protected]) Abstract Received 7 July 2017 The Interior Highlands, in southern North America, possesses a distinct fauna with nu- Accepted 19 September 2017 merous endemic species. Many freshwater taxa from this area exhibit genetic structuring Published 15 November 2017 consistent with biogeography, but this notion has not been explored in freshwater snails. Using mitochondrial 16S DNA sequences and ISSRs, we aimed to examine genetic struc- Academic editor: turing in the Pyramid Elimia, Elimia potosiensis, at various geographic scales. On a broad Matthias Glaubrecht scale, maximum likelihood and network analyses of 16S data revealed a high diversity of mitotypes lacking biogeographic patterns across the range of E.
  • SMC 136 Gazin 1958 1 1-112.Pdf

    SMC 136 Gazin 1958 1 1-112.Pdf

    SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOLUME 136, NUMBER 1 Cftarlesi 3B, anb JKarp "^aux OTalcott 3^es(earcf) Jf unb A REVIEW OF THE MIDDLE AND UPPER EOCENE PRIMATES OF NORTH AMERICA (With 14 Plates) By C. LEWIS GAZIN Curator, Division of Vertebrate Paleontology United States National Museum Smithsonian Institution (Publication 4340) CITY OF WASHINGTON PUBLISHED BY THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION JULY 7, 1958 THE LORD BALTIMORE PRESS, INC. BALTIMORE, MD., U. S. A. CONTENTS Page Introduction i Acknowledgments 2 History of investigation 4 Geographic and geologic occurrence 14 Environment I7 Revision of certain lower Eocene primates and description of three new upper Wasatchian genera 24 Classification of middle and upper Eocene forms 30 Systematic revision of middle and upper Eocene primates 31 Notharctidae 31 Comparison of the skulls of Notharctus and Smilodectcs z:^ Omomyidae 47 Anaptomorphidae 7Z Apatemyidae 86 Summary of relationships of North American fossil primates 91 Discussion of platyrrhine relationships 98 References 100 Explanation of plates 108 ILLUSTRATIONS Plates (All plates follow page 112) 1. Notharctus and Smilodectes from the Bridger middle Eocene. 2. Notharctus and Smilodectes from the Bridger middle Eocene. 3. Notharctus and Smilodectcs from the Bridger middle Eocene. 4. Notharctus and Hemiacodon from the Bridger middle Eocene. 5. Notharctus and Smilodectcs from the Bridger middle Eocene. 6. Omomys from the middle and lower Eocene. 7. Omomys from the middle and lower Eocene. 8. Hemiacodon from the Bridger middle Eocene. 9. Washakius from the Bridger middle Eocene. 10. Anaptomorphus and Uintanius from the Bridger middle Eocene. 11. Trogolemur, Uintasorex, and Apatcmys from the Bridger middle Eocene. 12. Apatemys from the Bridger middle Eocene.
  • The Hypocone As a Key Innovation in Mammalian Evolution (Adaptive Zone/Convergent Evolution/Dentition/Diversity/Theria) JOHN P

    The Hypocone As a Key Innovation in Mammalian Evolution (Adaptive Zone/Convergent Evolution/Dentition/Diversity/Theria) JOHN P

    Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 92, pp. 10718-10722, November 1995 Evolution The hypocone as a key innovation in mammalian evolution (adaptive zone/convergent evolution/dentition/diversity/Theria) JOHN P. HUNTER* AND JUKKA JERNVALLt *Department of Anatomical Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8081; and tDepartment of Ecology and Systematics and Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 17, FIN-00014, Finland Communicated by Elwyn L. Simons, Duke University Primate Center, Durham, NC, June 19, 1995 ABSTRACT The hypocone, a cusp added to the primi- occlusal contact between metacrista and paracristid (16), tively triangular upper molar teeth of therian mammals, has crests that are well developed in carnivorous mammals. Thus, evolved convergently >20 times among mammals during the possession of a hypocone is generally thought to be associated Cenozoic. Acquisition of the hypocone itself involves little with herbivory. phenotypic change, but subsequent diversification of groups We investigated the evolutionary potential of the hypocone possessing the hypocone may be greatly enhanced. Our anal- in two ways. First, we compared taxonomic diversity of living, ysis of the Cenozoic mammalian radiations, including the terrestrial, nonvolant mammals with different molar types Recent fauna, shows that high species diversity of mammals across dietary groups to determine whether the hypocone is with hypocones and association of the hypocone with her- indeed associated with herbivorous habits and whether mam- bivory strongly support recognition of the hypocone as a key mals with hypocones are more diverse today than those lacking innovation that has allowed invasion of, and diversification hypocones. Second, we compared the taxonomic diversity of within, herbivorous adaptive zones.
  • Mammal Faunal Change in the Zone of the Paleogene Hyperthermals ETM2 and H2

    Mammal Faunal Change in the Zone of the Paleogene Hyperthermals ETM2 and H2

    Clim. Past, 11, 1223–1237, 2015 www.clim-past.net/11/1223/2015/ doi:10.5194/cp-11-1223-2015 © Author(s) 2015. CC Attribution 3.0 License. Mammal faunal change in the zone of the Paleogene hyperthermals ETM2 and H2 A. E. Chew Department of Anatomy, Western University of Health Sciences, 309 E Second St., Pomona, CA 91767, USA Correspondence to: A. E. Chew ([email protected]) Received: 13 March 2015 – Published in Clim. Past Discuss.: 16 April 2015 Revised: 4 August 2015 – Accepted: 19 August 2015 – Published: 24 September 2015 Abstract. “Hyperthermals” are past intervals of geologically vulnerability in response to changes already underway in the rapid global warming that provide the opportunity to study lead-up to the EECO. Faunal response at faunal events B-1 the effects of climate change on existing faunas over thou- and B-2 is also distinctive in that it shows high proportions sands of years. A series of hyperthermals is known from of beta richness, suggestive of increased geographic disper- the early Eocene ( ∼ 56–54 million years ago), including sal related to transient increases in habitat (floral) complexity the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and two and/or precipitation or seasonality of precipitation. subsequent hyperthermals (Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 – ETM2 – and H2). The later hyperthermals occurred during warming that resulted in the Early Eocene Climatic Opti- mum (EECO), the hottest sustained period of the Cenozoic. 1 Introduction The PETM has been comprehensively studied in marine and terrestrial settings, but the terrestrial biotic effects of ETM2 The late Paleocene and early Eocene (ca.
  • Mammal and Plant Localities of the Fort Union, Willwood, and Iktman Formations, Southern Bighorn Basin* Wyoming

    Mammal and Plant Localities of the Fort Union, Willwood, and Iktman Formations, Southern Bighorn Basin* Wyoming

    Distribution and Stratigraphip Correlation of Upper:UB_ • Ju Paleocene and Lower Eocene Fossil Mammal and Plant Localities of the Fort Union, Willwood, and Iktman Formations, Southern Bighorn Basin* Wyoming U,S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESS IONAL PAPER 1540 Cover. A member of the American Museum of Natural History 1896 expedition enter­ ing the badlands of the Willwood Formation on Dorsey Creek, Wyoming, near what is now U.S. Geological Survey fossil vertebrate locality D1691 (Wardel Reservoir quadran­ gle). View to the southwest. Photograph by Walter Granger, courtesy of the Department of Library Services, American Museum of Natural History, New York, negative no. 35957. DISTRIBUTION AND STRATIGRAPHIC CORRELATION OF UPPER PALEOCENE AND LOWER EOCENE FOSSIL MAMMAL AND PLANT LOCALITIES OF THE FORT UNION, WILLWOOD, AND TATMAN FORMATIONS, SOUTHERN BIGHORN BASIN, WYOMING Upper part of the Will wood Formation on East Ridge, Middle Fork of Fifteenmile Creek, southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. The Kirwin intrusive complex of the Absaroka Range is in the background. View to the west. Distribution and Stratigraphic Correlation of Upper Paleocene and Lower Eocene Fossil Mammal and Plant Localities of the Fort Union, Willwood, and Tatman Formations, Southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming By Thomas M. Down, Kenneth D. Rose, Elwyn L. Simons, and Scott L. Wing U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1540 UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1994 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BRUCE BABBITT, Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Robert M. Hirsch, Acting Director For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Map Distribution Box 25286, MS 306, Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S.
  • Mobile River Basin

    Mobile River Basin

    Discovering Alabama Teacher’s Guide Mobile River Basin Suggested Curriculum Areas Science Synopsis Geography Social Studies he Mobile River Basin is the drainage basin for the major- T ity of Alabama’s landscape. It includes seven major river systems that drain portions of ten physiographic regions in four Suggested Grade Levels states, Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi, and Tennessee. This video 4 –12 takes viewers on a journey across the reaches of the Mobile River Basin to highlight its history and examine why it is considered one of the most naturally-diverse areas in the world. Key Concepts Along the way, various experts describe the fauna of the River Basin Basin and explain environmental changes that today make the Natural Diversity Ecosystem Basin one of the most rapidly declining natural systems in the United States. The program features guest appearances by former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Bruce Babbitt, and rep- Key Skills resentatives of several Alabama environmental organizations Map Reading including the Mobile River Basin Coalition, a unique collabo- Research & Reporting rative of differing interest groups working for consensus solu- tions to problems affecting the Basin. Discovering Alabama is a production of the Alabama Museum of Natural History in cooperation with Alabama Public Television. For a complete list of titles in the Discovering Alabama series, as well as for information about ordering videos and accompanying Teacher’s Guides, contact us at either: Discovering Alabama, Box 870340, Tu scaloosa AL 35487–0340; phone: 205–348–2036; fax: 205–348–4219; or email: [email protected]. Also visit our website: www.discoveringalabama.org.
  • From the Gulf Coastal Plain

    From the Gulf Coastal Plain

    Bull. Fla. Mus. Nat. Hist. (2005) 45(4): 355-361 355 EKGMOWECHASHALA (MAMMALIA, ?PRIMATES) FROM THE GULF COASTAL PLAIN L. Barry Albright III1 A single, small, water-worn tooth from the “middle” Arikareean Toledo Bend Local Fauna of the Gulf Coastal Plain closely resembles the lower fourth premolar of the questionable primate Ekgmowechashala. The only known species of the genus, Ekgmowechashala philotau Macdonald (1963), was originally recovered from the early Arikareean Sharps Formation of South Dakota, but is also known from similar aged strata of the John Day Formation, Oregon. Although the Toledo Bend specimen differs somewhat in morphology from the p4 of E. philotau, a new species is not named in this report because of such limited material and because the specimen is incomplete. Unfortunately, the specimen does not provide information that helps clarify current arguments regarding the affinities of Ekgmowechashala with primates or plagiomenids. It does, however, provide (1) a temporal range extension for the genus to the early late Arikareean, or about four million years younger than previously known, and (2) a geographic extension east and considerably south of its prior distribution. If Ekgmowechashala is ultimately deter- mined to belong to the Primates, then the Toledo Bend species would become the last known North American representative of the order. Key Words: Ekgmowechashala; Primates; Plagiomenidae; Texas Gulf Coastal Plain; Arikareean INTRODUCTION brate paleontology collections of the Louisiana State Uni- In 1990, while screen-washing matrix from the “middle” versity Museum of Geoscience (LSUMG V). Arikareean Toledo Bend site in the Fleming Formation of easternmost Texas (Albright 1994, 1996, 1998a, 1998b, BACKGROUND 1999), a small, unusual, water-worn tooth was recov- Ekgmowechashala philotau is a small “enigmatic late ered that differed considerably from the site’s more com- Oligocene mammal” (McKenna, 1990:226) heretofore mon and readily identifiable rodent teeth.
  • Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field

    Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field

    Attachment J Assessment of Existing Paleontologic Data Along with Field Survey Results for the Jonah Field June 12, 2007 ABSTRACT This is compilation of a technical analysis of existing paleontological data and a limited, selective paleontological field survey of the geologic bedrock formations that will be impacted on Federal lands by construction associated with energy development in the Jonah Field, Sublette County, Wyoming. The field survey was done on approximately 20% of the field, primarily where good bedrock was exposed or where there were existing, debris piles from recent construction. Some potentially rich areas were inaccessible due to biological restrictions. Heavily vegetated areas were not examined. All locality data are compiled in the separate confidential appendix D. Uinta Paleontological Associates Inc. was contracted to do this work through EnCana Oil & Gas Inc. In addition BP and Ultra Resources are partners in this project as they also have holdings in the Jonah Field. For this project, we reviewed a variety of geologic maps for the area (approximately 47 sections); none of maps have a scale better than 1:100,000. The Wyoming 1:500,000 geology map (Love and Christiansen, 1985) reveals two Eocene geologic formations with four members mapped within or near the Jonah Field (Wasatch – Alkali Creek and Main Body; Green River – Laney and Wilkins Peak members). In addition, Winterfeld’s 1997 paleontology report for the proposed Jonah Field II Project was reviewed carefully. After considerable review of the literature and museum data, it became obvious that the portion of the mapped Alkali Creek Member in the Jonah Field is probably misinterpreted.
  • Description and Correlation of Eocene Rocks in Stratigraphie Reference Sections for the Green River and Washakie Basins, Southwest Wyoiming

    Description and Correlation of Eocene Rocks in Stratigraphie Reference Sections for the Green River and Washakie Basins, Southwest Wyoiming

    Description and Correlation of Eocene Rocks in Stratigraphie Reference Sections for the Green River and Washakie Basins, Southwest Wyoiming U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAE PAPER 1506-D Description and Correlation of Eocene Rocks in Stratigraphic Reference Sections for the Green River and Washakie Basins, Southwest Wyoming By HENRY W. ROEHLER GEOLOGY OF THE EOCENE WASATCH, GREEN RIVER, AND BRIDGER (WASHAKIE) FORMATIONS, GREATER GREEN RIVER BASIN, WYOMING, UTAH, AND COLORADO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1506-D Includes analyses of Eocene rocks in the Washakie basin UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1992 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR MANUEL LUJAN, JR., Secretary U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Dallas L. Peck, Director Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Roehler, Henry W. Description and correlation of Eocene rocks in stratigraphic reference sections for the Green River and Washakie basins, Southwest Wyoming : includes analyses of Eocene rocks in the Washakie Basin / by Henry W. Roehler. p. cm. (Geology of the Eocene Wasatch, Green River and Bridger (Washakie) formations, greater Green River Basin, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado) (U.S. Geological Survey professional paper ; 1506-D) Includes bibliographical references. Supt. of Docs, no.: I 19.16:1506-D 1. Geology, Stratigraphic Eocene. 2. Stratigraphic correlation Wyoming. 3. Geology Wyoming. I. Title. II. Series. III. Series: U.S. Geological Survey professional paper : 1506-D. QE692.2.R58 1992 551.7'84'09787 dc20 91-4442 CIP For sale by Book and Open-File Report Sales, U.S.