DOCSLIB.ORG

U Ottawa L'universite Canadieniie Canada's University FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES 1^=1 FACULTY of GRADUATE and ET POSTOCTORALES U Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
U Ottawa L'universite Canadieniie Canada's University FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES 1^=1 FACULTY of GRADUATE and ET POSTOCTORALES U Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES u Ottawa L'Universite canadieniie Canada's university FACULTE DES ETUDES SUPERIEURES 1^=1 FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND ET POSTOCTORALES U Ottawa POSDOCTORAL STUDIES L'Umversitd canadiemie Canddd'b university Sarah Elizabeth Agosta "XUTEMDEIXTWSE7XUTHORWTHKTS"' M.Sc. (Geography) GRADE/DEGREE Department of Geography FACULTE, ECOLE, DEPARTEMENT / FACULTY, SCHOOL, DEPARTMENT Preservation and Diagenesis in Ancient Speleothems: Evidence from Bear Cave, Yukon Territory TITRE DE LA THESE / TITLE OF THESIS Bernard Lauriol „._„___„„„__.„.^ Ian D. Clark „„„„„„..„___._.„„„„ Joyce Lundberg Andre Viau Gary W. Slater Le Doyen de la Faculte des etudes superieures et postdoctorales / Dean of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies Preservation and diagenesis in ancient speleothems: evidence from Bear Cave, Yukon Territory Sarah Agosta Thesis presented to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Physical Geography Department of Geography Faculty of Arts University of Ottawa Supervisors: Dr. Bernard Lauriol (Department of Geography) Dr. Ian D. Clark (Department of Earth Sciences) Thesis Committee: Dr. Andre Viau (Department of Geography, University of Ottawa) Dr. Joyce Lundberg (Department of Geography, Carleton University) © Sarah Agosta, Ottawa, Canada, November 2010. Library and Archives Bibliotheque et 1*1 Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 OttawaONK1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-74177-1 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-74177-1 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par I'lnternet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non­ support microforme, papier, electronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. The author retains copyright L'auteur conserve la propriete du droit d'auteur ownership and moral rights in this et des droits moraux qui protege cette these. Ni thesis. Neither the thesis nor la these ni des extra its substantiels de celle-ci substantial extracts from it may be ne doivent etre imprimes ou autrement printed or otherwise reproduced reproduits sans son autorisation. without the author's permission. In compliance with the Canadian Conformement a la loi canadienne sur la Privacy Act some supporting forms protection de la vie privee, quelques may have been removed from this formulaires secondaires ont ete enleves de thesis. cette these. While these forms may be included Bien que ces formulaires aient inclus dans in the document page count, their la pagination, il n'y aura aucun contenu removal does not represent any loss manquant. of content from the thesis. 1+1 Canada Abstract Speleothems are rare in high-latitude and high-altitude caves, which is why Bear Cave in the north-western Yukon Territory is particularly unique, as it houses some of the oldest and highest latitude speleothem in the world. In this study, a detailed petrographic and geochemical study was conducted along the profile of a 68-cm long late-Miocene flowstone from Bear Cave (BC1) to reveal the processes that took place at the time of deposition, in addition to those that followed, in aims to determine its paleoclimatic suitability. These studies suggest that softer facies are generally representative of disequilibrium conditions, where in-filled textures provide evidence for diagenic phenomena; these processes ultimately obscure the original climate signal, compromising the integrity of the flowstone in terms of its paleoclimatic suitability. Conversely, harder facies are likely deposited in isotopic equilibrium and resistant to post-depositional diagenesis, and are therefore more reliable for detailed paleoclimatic analysis. The variability of the calcite sequences in the profile of BC1 imply that environmental conditions have been considerably variable of the course of deposition, reflecting alternating cool/dry (softer facies) and warm/wet (harder facies) climatic conditions. Results from radiogenic 4He-dating constrain the timeframe of deposition, with ages centering around 9.35 ± 0.52 Ma, which are in line with regional geomorphic interpretations. This study emphasizes the importance of a complimentary petrographic study in speleothem geochemical studies used in paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental research. 11 Acknowledgements This project would not have been possible without funding from NSERC (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada), NSTP (Northern Scientific Training Program), PCSP (Polar Continental Shelf Project) and the University of Ottawa. Several people have also been instrumental in allowing this project to be completed. Special thanks to Dr. P. Middlestead from the G.G. Hatch laboratory, Dr. R. Mohapatra from the MAPL Noble Gas laboratory, and Dr. N. DeSilva from the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Ottawa for their invaluable assistance in and outside of the lab. I must also acknowledge Dr. D. Lacelle for his counsel, Dr. T. Kluge and Dr. Werner Aeschbach-Hertig from the Department of Environmental Physics at the University of Heidelberg in Germany for their work on initial 4He-dating on the BC1 flowstone, as well as Dr. D. Pinti & Dr. B. Ghaleb from UQAM for their additional discussion and measurements of 4He-dating. My sincere gratitude is extended to the members of my committee, Dr. A. Viau and Dr. J. Lundberg, for their insightful comments and suggestions. I must especially thank my research supervisors, Dr. B. Lauriol and Dr. I.D. Clark. I am forever indebted for their encouragement, patience, and guidance throughout the duration of this project, as well as the many opportunities that have been bestowed to me over the course of my two years at the University of Ottawa. It has been an honour being one of your students. A warm message of thanks goes out to all my friends (too many to list here but you know who you are!) for providing the support and friendship that I needed to keep my sanity over the past two years. To my hard-working parents, Jo-Ann & Corrado, who sacrificed their lives for my sister and myself, I thank them for their unconditional love and care. To my wonderful sister Emily, who has become my best friend, I thank her for all her advice and support. I would not have made it this far without them and I love them all dearly. And finally, to Ken, thank you for always having faith in me, giving me the inspiration and motivation for completing this thesis, and periodically reminding me of my nerdy love of rocks...I love you. in Table of Contents Abstract n Acknowledgments 111 Table of Contents IV List of Figures vi List of Tables IX Introduction 1 1 1 Thesis Structure & Research Objectives 2 1 2 Speleothem development and preservation 5 1 2 1 Depositional mechanisms 5 1 2 2 Post-depositional diagenesis and recrystalhzation 7 1 2 3 Geographical context 8 1 3 Structure and composition of speleothems 9 1 3 1 Mineralogy, crystal morphology and environmental conditions of formation 9 1 3 2 Colour, form and rates of growth 11 1 4 Geochemistry 12 1 4 1 Stable isotope studies 6180 and 613C 12 142 Equilibrium vs non-equilibnum deposition 15 1 4 3 Trace element studies 18 1 5 Dating techniques applied to ancient speleothems 20 Regional Setting & Sample Description 23 2 1 Bear Cave, Yukon Territory 23 2 1 1 Geology 23 2 1 2 Regional climate and vegetation past and present 27 2 2 BC1 flowstone 30 Methodology 33 3 1 Petrography 33 3 1 1 Crystallography study 33 3 1 2 Scanning Electron Micrography 34 3 2 Geochemistry 34 3 2 1 Stable isotope profile (613C & S180) 34 3 2 2 High-resolution geochemistry (trace elements & stable isotopes) 35 3 3 Chronology building 37 3 3 1 Epi-fluorescent spectroscopy 37 iv 3 3 2 Paleomagnetism 37 3 3 3 Radiogenic He-dating 38 Results & Analysis 42 4 1 Petrography 42 4 11 Crystallographic study 42 4 1 2 Scanning Electron Micrography 47 4 1 3 Summary 50 4 2 Geochemistry 51 4 2 1 Stable isotope profile (5I3C & 5I80) 51 422 Isotopic signatures of BC1 microfabncs 58 4 2 3 High-resolution geochemistry 63 4 24 Summary 71 4 3 Chronology building 72 4 3 1 Epi-fluorescence 72 4 3 2 Paleomagnetism 75 4 3 3 Radiogenic He-datmg 76 4 3 4 Summary 79 Discussion & Interpretation 80 5 1 Paleochmatic suitability of the BC1 flowstone 80 5 1 1 Evidence tor disequilibrium conditions, recrystallization and diagenesis 80 5 1 2 Reliable microfabncs for paleo-interpretation 85 5 2 Interpretation of the depositional history at Bear Cave Mountain 89 5 2 1 Crystal growth mechanisms and environmental conditions of formation 89 5 2 2 Paleochmatic and paleoenvironmental significance 92 5 3 Age estimates for the BC1 flowstone 97 5 3 1 Bear Cave in relation to regional geomorphic evolution 97 532 Paleomagnetic stratigraphy 101 53 3 Challenges of dating ancient speleothems 103 Summary & Conclusion 107 References 110 Appendix I - Petrographic transects 118 Appendix II - ICP-AES procedural methodology 123 Appendix
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Ontogenetic Change in the Temporal Region of the Early Permian Parareptile Delorhynchus Cifellii and the Implications for Closure of the Temporal Fenestra in Amniotes
    RESEARCH ARTICLE Ontogenetic Change in the Temporal Region of the Early Permian Parareptile Delorhynchus cifellii and the Implications for Closure of the Temporal Fenestra in Amniotes Yara Haridy*, Mark J. Macdougall, Diane Scott, Robert R. Reisz Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada * [email protected] a11111 Abstract A juvenile specimen of Delorhynchus cifellii, collected from the Early Permian fissure-fill deposits of Richards Spur, Oklahoma, permits the first detailed study of cranial ontogeny in this parareptile. The specimen, consisting of a partially articulated skull and mandible, exhib- OPEN ACCESS its several features that identify it as juvenile. The dermal tuberosities that ornament the dor- Citation: Haridy Y, Macdougall MJ, Scott D, Reisz sal side and lateral edges of the largest skull of D. cifellii specimens, are less prominent in RR (2016) Ontogenetic Change in the Temporal the intermediate sized holotype, and are absent in the new specimen. This indicates that the Region of the Early Permian Parareptile new specimen represents an earlier ontogenetic stage than all previously described mem- Delorhynchus cifellii and the Implications for bers of this species. In addition, the incomplete interdigitation of the sutures, most notably Closure of the Temporal Fenestra in Amniotes. PLoS ONE 11(12): e0166819. doi:10.1371/journal. along the fronto-nasal contact, plus the proportionally larger sizes of the orbit and temporal pone.0166819 fenestrae further support an early ontogenetic stage for this specimen. Comparisons Editor: Thierry Smith, Royal Belgian Institute of between this juvenile and previously described specimens reveal that the size and shape of Natural Sciences, BELGIUM the temporal fenestra in Delorhynchus appear to vary through ontogeny, due to changes in Received: July 18, 2016 the shape and size of the bordering cranial elements.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogeny and Evolution of the Dissorophoid Temnospondyls
    Journal of Paleontology, 93(1), 2019, p. 137–156 Copyright © 2018, The Paleontological Society. This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution licence (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. 0022-3360/15/0088-0906 doi: 10.1017/jpa.2018.67 The putative lissamphibian stem-group: phylogeny and evolution of the dissorophoid temnospondyls Rainer R. Schoch Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde, Rosenstein 1, D-70191 Stuttgart, Germany 〈[email protected]〉 Abstract.—Dissorophoid temnospondyls are widely considered to have given rise to some or all modern amphibians (Lissamphibia), but their ingroup relationships still bear major unresolved questions. An inclusive phylogenetic ana- lysis of dissorophoids gives new insights into the large-scale topology of relationships. Based on a TNT 1.5 analysis (33 taxa, 108 characters), the enigmatic taxon Perryella is found to nest just outside Dissorophoidea (phylogenetic defintion), but shares a range of synapomorphies with this clade. The dissorophoids proper are found to encompass a first dichotomy between the largely paedomorphic Micromelerpetidae and all other taxa (Xerodromes). Within the latter, there is a basal dichotomy between the large, heavily ossified Olsoniformes (Dissorophidae + Trematopidae) and the small salamander-like Amphibamiformes (new taxon), which include four clades: (1) Micropholidae (Tersomius, Pasawioops, Micropholis); (2) Amphibamidae sensu stricto (Doleserpeton, Amphibamus); (3) Branchiosaur- idae (Branchiosaurus, Apateon, Leptorophus, Schoenfelderpeton); and (4) Lissamphibia. The genera Platyrhinops and Eos- copus are here found to nest at the base of Amphibamiformes. Represented by their basal-most stem-taxa (Triadobatrachus, Karaurus, Eocaecilia), lissamphibians nest with Gerobatrachus rather than Amphibamidae, as repeatedly found by former analyses.
    [Show full text]
  • Morphology and Evolutionary Significance of the Atlas−Axis Complex in Varanopid Synapsids
    Morphology and evolutionary significance of the atlas−axis complex in varanopid synapsids NICOLÁS E. CAMPIONE and ROBERT R. REISZ Campione, N.E. and Reisz, R.R. 2011. Morphology and evolutionary significance of the atlas−axis complex in varanopid synapsids. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 56 (4): 739–748. The atlas−axis complex has been described in few Palaeozoic taxa, with little effort being placed on examining variation of this structure within a small clade. Most varanopids, members of a clade of gracile synapsid predators, have well pre− served atlas−axes permitting detailed descriptions and examination of morphological variation. This study indicates that the size of the transverse processes on the axis and the shape of the axial neural spine vary among members of this clade. In particular, the small mycterosaurine varanopids possess small transverse processes that point posteroventrally, and the axial spine is dorsoventrally short, with a flattened dorsal margin in lateral view. The larger varanodontine varanopids have large transverse processes with a broad base, and a much taller axial spine with a rounded dorsal margin in lateral view. Based on outgroup comparisons, the morphology exhibited by the transverse processes is interpreted as derived in varanodontines, whereas the morphology of the axial spine is derived in mycterosaurines. The axial spine anatomy of Middle Permian South African varanopids is reviewed and our interpretation is consistent with the hypothesis that at least two varanopid taxa are present in South Africa, a region overwhelmingly dominated by therapsid synapsids and parareptiles. Key words: Synapsida, Varanopidae, Mycterosaurinae, Varanodontinae, atlas−axis complex, axial skeleton, Middle Permian, South Africa.
    [Show full text]
  • Postcrania of Large Dissorophid Temnospondyls from Richards Spur, Oklahoma
    Foss. Rec., 21, 79–91, 2018 https://doi.org/10.5194/fr-21-79-2018 © Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. Postcrania of large dissorophid temnospondyls from Richards Spur, Oklahoma Bryan M. Gee and Robert R. Reisz Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5L 1C6, Canada Correspondence: Bryan M. Gee ([email protected]) Received: 27 October 2017 – Revised: 25 January 2018 – Accepted: 14 February 2018 – Published: 22 March 2018 Abstract. The early Permian karst system near Richards ements may reflect a taphonomic bias, but it is also likely to Spur, Oklahoma preserves a diverse assemblage of terrestrial be, at least in part, reflective of the historic sourcing of spec- dissorophoid temnospondyls. Here we report the presence of imens from local collectors and a historic emphasis on both a large-bodied dissorophine dissorophid that is represented the collection and study of cranial materials by amateur and by an articulated anterior trunk region, including a partial professional palaeontologists alike. The postcranial skeleton pectoral girdle, a ribcage characterized by extremely devel- of Doleserpeton is well-characterized (e.g., Sigurdsen and oped uncinate processes, and a rare, completely articulated Bolt, 2010), and description of partial, articulated postcra- pes. This represents the first documentation of the clade at nia of C. morrisi is forthcoming (Gee and Reisz, 2018), but the locality. Previously, dissorophids were represented only the postcrania of all other taxa are poorly known. All of the by the eucacopine Cacops. A complete pelvic girdle with postcranial material referred to A.
    [Show full text]
  • Mapping, Stratigraphy, and Tectonic Implications of Lowerrermian
    ...MAPPING, STRATIGRAPHY, AND TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS OF LOWERRERMIAN STRATA, EASTERN ~ICHITA MOUNTAINS, OKLAHOMA By STEVE DWAYNE BRIDGES \\ Bachelor of Science Arkansas Tech University Russellville, Arkansas 1982 Submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the Oklahoma State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December, 1985 . ~ T h.ts\.s \tl r 5' ~g S)m car.?- ; . t: .. ' MAPPING, STRATIGRAPHY, AND TECTONIC IMPLICATIONS OF LOWER PERMI-AN STRATA, EASTERN WICHITA MOUNTAINS, OKLAHOMA Thesis Approved: Thesis Adviser ,/JrdL'VV\ Ce~ ean of the Graduate College ii 1236335 PREFACE The purpose of this thesis is to map, propose a revised stratigraphic section for, and comment on the tectonic implications of the Lower Permian deposits surrounding the eastern Wichita Mountains of southwestern Oklahoma. It is hoped that this thesis will raise questions and encourage investigators to scrutinize the geologic literature so that our geologic interpretations can continue to evolve. I am deeply indebted to the many individuals that provided useful comments, ideas, and suggestions which helped in the completion of this study. Deepest appreciations are conveyed to my major advisor Dr. R. Nowell Donovan for his counsel, guidance and friendship and to my committee members Dr. Gary F. Stewart and Dr. Ibrahim Cemen for their suggestions and review of the text. Sincere thanks are expressed to Deborah Ragland who ordered photos and provided interpretations which were vital in the preparation of this thesis. Gratitude is expressed to Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Oliver for their hospitality, friendship and for allowing me the "run" of the Kimbell Ranch.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Reptile from the Lower Permian of Brazil (Karutia Fortunata Gen
    Journal of Systematic Palaeontology ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tjsp20 A new reptile from the lower Permian of Brazil (Karutia fortunata gen. et sp. nov.) and the interrelationships of Parareptilia Juan Carlos Cisneros , Christian F. Kammerer , Kenneth D. Angielczyk , Jörg Fröbisch , Claudia Marsicano , Roger M. H. Smith & Martha Richter To cite this article: Juan Carlos Cisneros , Christian F. Kammerer , Kenneth D. Angielczyk , Jörg Fröbisch , Claudia Marsicano , Roger M. H. Smith & Martha Richter (2021): A new reptile from the lower Permian of Brazil (Karutiafortunata gen. et sp. nov.) and the interrelationships of Parareptilia, Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, DOI: 10.1080/14772019.2020.1863487 To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2020.1863487 View supplementary material Published online: 12 Jan 2021. Submit your article to this journal Article views: 107 View related articles View Crossmark data Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=tjsp20 Journal of Systematic Palaeontology, 2021 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14772019.2020.1863487 A new reptile from the lower Permian of Brazil (Karutia fortunata gen. et sp. nov.) and the interrelationships of Parareptilia aà b c b,d Juan Carlos Cisneros , Christian F. Kammerer , Kenneth D. Angielczyk ,Jorg€ Frobisch€ , Claudia Marsicanoe,f , Roger M. H. Smithg,h and Martha Richteri aMuseu de Arqueologia e Paleontologia, Universidade Federal do Piauı, 64049-550 Teresina, Brazil; bPaleontology Unit, North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, Raleigh, NC 27601, USA; cNegaunee Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History, 1400 South Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, USA; dInstitut fur€ Biologie, Humboldt-Universitat€ zu Berlin, Invalidenstr.
    [Show full text]
  • Postcranial Anatomy and Histology of Seymouria, and the Terrestriality of Seymouriamorphs
    Postcranial anatomy and histology of Seymouria, and the terrestriality of seymouriamorphs Kayla D. Bazzana1,2, Bryan M. Gee1, Joseph J. Bevitt3 and Robert R. Reisz1,4 1 Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada 2 Department of Natural History, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 3 Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Lucas Heights, New South Whales, Australia 4 International Center of Future Science, Dinosaur Evolution Research Center, Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin Province, China ABSTRACT Seymouria is the best known of the seymouriamorphs, a group of Permo-Carboniferous reptiliomorphs with both terrestrial and aquatic taxa. The majority of research on Seymouria has focused on cranial anatomy, with few detailed descriptions or illustrations of the postcrania. We utilized neutron computed tomography (nCT) and histological sampling to provide updated, detailed figures that clarify details of the postcranial anatomy and to assess the development and histology of Seymouria through specimens from the early Permian Richards Spur locality. The correlation of morphological and histological data indicate rapid metamorphosis in this terrestrially capable stem amniote, with the youngest specimen being postmetamorphic despite being distinctly younger than premetamorphic individuals of Discosauriscus, the only other seymouriamorph to have been histologically sampled. The microanatomical data (e.g., semi-open medullary cavity) also
    [Show full text]
  • Synapsida: Eupelycosauria) from the Richards Spur Locality, Oklahoma
    - Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26(4);957-966, December 2006 © 2006 by the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology AN EARLY PERMIAN VARANODONTINE VARANOPID (SYNAPSIDA: EUPELYCOSAURIA) FROM THE RICHARDS SPUR LOCALITY, OKLAHOMA HILLARY C. MADDIN, DAVID C. EVANS, and ROBERT R. REISZ* Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, L5L lC6; [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] ABSTRACT-Description of the first varanodontine varanopid material from the highly fossiliferous limestone fissure fill deposits at Richards Spur (Dolese Brothers Limestone Quarry), Oklahoma, is based on elements of at least three individuals recovered from two separate blocks of sedimentary rock. One block, which yielded associated cranial and postcranial bones from both adult and juvenile individuals, includes two well-preserved parabasisphenoid complexes, vertebrae, forelimb, pelvic girdle, and hind limb bones. An isolated maxilla fragment from another block preserves the diagnostic dorsal process characteristic of varanodontines. Preserved cranial and postcranial material is virtually identical to the varanodontine Varanop,\' brevirostri,l'. Taxonomic assessment of this new material in the context of the most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Varanopidae to date indicates the Richards Spur varanodontine is referable to Varanops breviro,\'tns based on distinctive characters of the maxilla and the parabasisphenoid. The large size of Varanop,\' suggests it was one of the top predators of the Richards Spur ecosystem. The Richards Spur locality records the only known co-occurrence of a mycterosaurine and a vtlranodontine varanopid at a single locality, and varanopids are the most common synapsids in the assemblage. As generally rare componenls of the more typically preserved lowland environ­ ments, the relative abundance and diversity of varanopids at Richards Spur suggests that they may have been more common components of the upland ecosystems in the Early Permian.
    [Show full text]
  • A New Lower Permian Trematopid (Temnospondyli: Dissorophoidea) from Richards Spur, Oklahoma
    Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161, 789–815. With 15 figures A new Lower Permian trematopid (Temnospondyli: Dissorophoidea) from Richards Spur, Oklahoma BRENDAN P. POLLEY and ROBERT R. REISZ* Department of Biology, University of Toronto, Mississauga Campus, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5L 1C6 Received 31 January 2010; revised 16 March 2010; accepted for publication 23 March 2010 A new trematopid amphibian, Acheloma dunni, is reported based on excellently preserved cranial and postcranial elements recovered from the Lower Permian fissure fill deposits of the Dolese Brothers Co. limestone quarry near Richards Spur, Oklahoma. The new taxon is characterized by lateral exposures of the palatine (l.e.p.) and ectopterygoid (l.e.e.), which are clearly visible externally and completely enclosed within the suborbital elements. This large, terrestrial carnivore may represent the top predator of the Richards Spur assemblage. A phylogenetic analysis including 12 taxa and 53 cranial characters yielded a single most parsimonious tree, placing Ach. dunni within the monophyletic Trematopidae as the sister taxon to Acheloma cumminsi. Furthermore, the analysis includes the enigmatic Ecolsonia and Actiobates within Trematopidae, forming a clade with the Upper Pennsyl- vanian Anconastes and the Lower Permian Tambachia. The study comprehensively analyses all valid and aberrant forms of Trematopidae. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 161, 789–815. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2010.00668.x ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Amphibia – Olsoniformes – Tetrapoda – Trematopidae. INTRODUCTION Formation of the Clear Fork Group of Texas (Olson, 1991). This assignment has been further supported by The Dolese limestone quarry, situated near Richards biostratigraphical evidence based on the fauna recov- Spur, Oklahoma is home to the most diverse known ered from the South Grandfield locality of southern assemblage of Palaeozoic terrestrial tetrapods.
    [Show full text]
  • New Specimen of Cacops Woehri Indicates Differences in the Ontogenetic Trajectories Among Cacopine Dissorophids
    Foss. Rec., 18, 73–80, 2015 www.foss-rec.net/18/73/2015/ doi:10.5194/fr-18-73-2015 © Author(s) 2015. CC Attribution 3.0 License. New specimen of Cacops woehri indicates differences in the ontogenetic trajectories among cacopine dissorophids N. B. Fröbisch1, A. Brar2, and R. R. Reisz2 1Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institut für Evolutions- und Biodiversitätsforschung, Invalidenstrasse 43, 10115 Berlin, Germany 2Department of Biology, University of Toronto at Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road N, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada Correspondence to: N. B. Fröbisch ([email protected]) Received: 28 October 2014 – Revised: 22 December 2014 – Accepted: 7 January 2015 – Published: 27 January 2015 Abstract. The Lower Permian Dolese locality has produced 1 Introduction numerous exquisitely preserved tetrapod fossils represent- ing members of a lower Permian upland fauna. Therein, at least nine taxa of the clade Dissorophoidea, ranging in The Lower Permian Dolese Brothers Limestone Quarry lo- size from the large predaceous trematopid Acheloma to the cality near Richard Spur in Oklahoma is the most produc- miniaturized amphibamid Doleserpeton, highlight the great tive fossil site for Paleozoic terrestrial ecosystems, and has taxic and ecological diversity of this anamniote clade. Here yielded more than 40 fully terrestrial tetrapod taxa, many we describe a large specimen of the dissorophid Cacops of which are endemic to the locality (Anderson and Bolt, woehri, which was previously only known from the juvenile 2013; Anderson and Reisz, 2003; Bolt, 1969, 1977; Fröbisch or subadult holotype skull. Another member of the genus Ca- and Reisz, 2008; Fröbisch and Reisz, 2012; Maddin et al., cops present at the Dolese locality, Cacops morrisi, is also 2006; Reisz, 2005; Sullivan and Reisz, 1999; Sullivan et al., represented by specimens spanning juvenile, subadult, and 2000).
    [Show full text]
  • Neosaurus Cynodus, and Related Material, from the Permo-Carboniferous of France
    The sphenacodontid synapsid Neosaurus cynodus, and related material, from the Permo-Carboniferous of France JOCELYN FALCONNET Falconnet, J. 2015. The sphenacodontid synapsid Neosaurus cynodus, and related material, from the Permo-Carbonifer- ous of France. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 60 (1): 169–182. Sphenacodontid synapsids were major components of early Permian ecosystems. Despite their abundance in the North American part of Pangaea, they are much rarer in Europe. Among the few described European taxa is Neosaurus cynodus, from the La Serre Horst, Eastern France. This species is represented by a single specimen, and its validity has been ques- tioned. A detailed revision of its anatomy shows that sphenacodontids were also present in the Lodève Basin, Southern France. The presence of several synapomorphies of sphenacodontids—including the teardrop-shaped teeth—supports the assignment of the French material to the Sphenacodontidae, but it is too fragmentary for more precise identification. The discovery of sphenacodontids in the Viala Formation of the Lodève Basin provides additional information about their ecological preferences and environment, supporting the supposed semi-arid climate and floodplain setting of this formation. The Viala vertebrate assemblage includes aquatic branchiosaurs and xenacanthids, amphibious eryopoids, and terrestrial diadectids and sphenacodontids. This composition is very close to that of the contemporaneous assemblages of Texas and Oklahoma, once thought to be typical of North American lowland deposits, and thus supports the biogeo- graphic affinities of North American and European continental early Permian ecosystems. Key words: Synapsida, Sphenacodontidae, anatomy, taxonomy, ecology, Carboniferous, Permian, France. Jocelyn Falconnet [[email protected]], CR2P UMR 7207, MNHN, UPMC, CNRS, Département Histoire de la Terre, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, CP 38, 57 rue Cuvier, F-75231 Paris Cedex 05, France.
    [Show full text]
  • Reptilia: Captorhinidae) and the Community Histology of the Early Permian Fissure-Fill Fauna Dolese Quarry, Richards Spur, Oklahoma
    The Ontogenetic Osteohistology of the Eureptile Captorhinus aguti (Reptilia: Captorhinidae) and the Community Histology of the Early Permian Fissure-Fill Fauna Dolese Quarry, Richards Spur, Oklahoma by Eilidh Jaine Richards A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto © Copyright by Eilidh Jaine Richards 2016 The Ontogenetic Osteohistology of the Eureptile Captorhinus aguti (Reptilia: Captorhinidae) and the Community Histology of the Early Permian Fissure-Fill Fauna Dolese Quarry, Richards Spur, Oklahoma Eilidh Jaine Richards Master of Science Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of Toronto 2016 Abstract Palaeohistological research has greatly enhanced our ability to draw conclusions about the physiology and growth of extinct vertebrates. A comprehensive histological growth study has never been undertaken in an Early Permian taxon at the initial stages of terrestrial vertebrate evolution. Captorhinus aguti, a common Early Permian eureptile from the fissure-fill locality near Richards Spur, Oklahoma, is the ideal taxon for a study of this type. C. aguti femora from all growth stages were measured and sectioned to compare bone structure through ontogeny. Representatives of other major taxa from the Richards Spur locality were also sectioned to compare histology across the palaeocommunity. Long bones of all sectioned Richards Spur taxa, including all growth stages of C. aguti, display slow growing parallel-fibered lamellar bone with poor vascularization. Captorhinids were the only taxon from this locality that lacked growth lines, implying that they were employing a different growth strategy from the other taxa that were preserved at this locality.
    [Show full text]