The Geology, Paleontology and Paleoecology of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation
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The Geology, Paleontology and Paleoecology of the Cerro Fortaleza Formation, Patagonia (Argentina) A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Drexel University by Victoria Margaret Egerton in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy November 2011 © Copyright 2011 Victoria M. Egerton. All Rights Reserved. ii Dedications To my mother and father iii Acknowledgments The knowledge, guidance and commitment of a great number of people have led to my success while at Drexel University. I would first like to thank Drexel University and the College of Arts and Sciences for providing world-class facilities while I pursued my PhD. I would also like to thank the Department of Biology for its support and dedication. I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Kenneth Lacovara, for his guidance and patience. Additionally, I would like to thank him for including me in his pursuit of knowledge of Argentine dinosaurs and their environments. I am also indebted to my committee members, Dr. Gail Hearn, Dr. Jake Russell, Dr. Mike O‘Connor, Dr. Matthew Lamanna, Dr. Christopher Williams and Professor Hermann Pfefferkorn for their valuable comments and time. The support of Argentine scientists has been essential for allowing me to pursue my research. I am thankful that I had the opportunity to work with such kind and knowledgeable people. I would like to thank Dr. Fernando Novas (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales) for helping me obtain specimens that allowed this research to happen. I would also like to thank Dr. Viviana Barreda (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales) for her allowing me use of her lab space while I was visiting Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales. I would also like to thank Dr. Roberto Pujana (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales), Ricardo Ponti (Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales), Dr. Nora Franco (Universidad de Buenos Aires) and Mary Palacios (Museo Padre Monina) for all of their help and guidance while visiting Argentina. iv I would also like to thank the staff and curators of the British Antarctic Survey and the British Natural History Museum for allowing me to search through their collections. I am indebted to the Jurassic Foundation for providing the funding necessary to complete my research. I am grateful for all the friendships that I have gained during my PhD. I would like the thank Dr. Elizabeth Spudich for being such a good mentor and friend. Her knowledge of anatomy and her teaching style has been inspirational to me. I would also like to thank Jason Poole for his friendship and encouragement. He taught me the importance of communicating science to the public and how to communicate it effectively. I am also indebted to my past lab mates, Jessica Battisto, Elena Schroeter, Christopher Coughenour, Lucio Ibiricu, Jason Schein, Paul Ulman and Zach Boles, for their support and friendship. I would also like to thank my parents and Phillip Manning whose support has been essential for my success. Without their encouragement and love, I don‘t know how I could have accomplished all that I have thus far. v TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... viii Abstract ....................................................................................................................................... xviii CHAPTER 1: LATE CRETACEOUS GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN AUSTRAL BASIN WITH EMPHASIS ON THE CERRO FORTALEZA FORMATION ............................................ 1 INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................... 1 Separation of Gondwana .......................................................................................................... 3 Austral Basin Evolution ........................................................................................................... 5 Historical Review of Patagonian Geology ............................................................................... 7 LATE CRETACEOUS REGIONAL GEOLOGY OF THE RÍO SHEHUEN VALLEY AND LAGOS VIEDMA AND ARGENTINO ................................................................................... 11 Mata Amarilla Formation ...................................................................................................... 11 La Anita Formation ................................................................................................................ 18 Cerro Fortaleza/Pari Aike Formation ..................................................................................... 23 La Irene Formation ................................................................................................................ 38 Chorrillo Formation ............................................................................................................... 41 Late Cretaceous Depositional Cycles in the area of Lago Viedma/Lago Argentino ............. 45 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................ 48 CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................... 54 CHAPTER 2: GYMNOSPERM WOOD FROM THE CERRO FORTALEZA FORMATION .. 70 INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................................... 70 GEOLOGICAL SUMMARY .................................................................................................... 72 METHODS AND MATERIALS ............................................................................................... 73 SYSTEMATIC PALEOBOTANY ............................................................................................ 76 DISCUSSION ............................................................................................................................ 99 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................... 106 CHAPTER 3: ANGIOSPERM WOOD FROM THE CERRO FORTALEZA FORMATION ... 125 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 125 METHODS AND MATERIALS ............................................................................................. 126 SYSTEMATIC PALEOBOTANY .......................................................................................... 128 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................... 135 vi CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................... 140 CHAPTER 4: NEONATAL TEETH IN DIRECT ASSOCIATION WITH A MATURE TALENKAUEN SANTACRUCENSIS ........................................................................................... 155 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 155 MATERIAL ............................................................................................................................. 157 DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 158 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................... 158 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................... 161 CHAPTER 5: ASSOCIATED SHARK VERTEBRAE FROM THE CRETACEOUS- PALEOGENE BOUNDARY OF NEW JERSEY ....................................................................... 165 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 165 GEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND ........................................................................................... 166 METHODS .............................................................................................................................. 168 DESCRIPTION ....................................................................................................................... 170 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................ 171 DISCUSSION .......................................................................................................................... 172 CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................................................... 173 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 182 APPENDIX A: FOSSIL GYMNOSPERM WOOD SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS AND PLATES ..................................................................................................................................................... 203 APPENDIX B: FOSSIL ANGIOSPERM WOOD SAMPLE DESCRIPTIONS AND PLATES 238 APPENDIX C: ELASMOBRANCH VERTEBRAL MEASUREMENTS. ................................ 249 VITAE ........................................................................................................................................