The Trilobite Shuffle with Anne Miller
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The Trilobite Shuffle: Traces of Ancient Life in Grand Canyon By Anne Miller, M.S. Body Fossil vs. Trace Fossil A body fossil is the fossilized A trace fossil is a record of remains of an organism after the interaction between an it dies organism and the substrate (Caron et al. 2011) Resting trace Body fossil Locomotive trace Organism *Ichnology is the behavior study of trace fossils (GeoDZ.com 2010) Precambrian: 1-2 billion years Mesozoic 275 Ma Paleozoic 510 Ma Pre- Stromatolites Cambrian Cambrian: Tonto Group Mesozoic Tapeats Sandstone Bright Angel Shale Muav Limestone 275 Ma Paleozoic (modified from Blakey and Ranney 2008) 510 - 500 Ma Pre- Cambrian (Peng et al. 2012) Cambrian: Tapeats Sandstone (~510 Ma) Palaeophycus Rusophycus Tapeats Sandstone burrows Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma) Glossopleura mckeei Lingulid Ehmaniella basilica Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma) Trace Fossils! Cruziana Palaeophycus Trace Fossils Tracemakers? Bergaueria (Huanzhen Li & Qiang Ou) Xianguangia Cochlichnus Peronochaeta Trace Fossils Tracemakers? Teichichnus Ottoia Ancalagon Planolites Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma) *May have been created by the appendages of the large predator, Anomalocaris Monomorphichnus lineatus var giganticus Cambrian: Bright Angel Shale (~505 Ma) Fox 2016 Cambrian: Muav Limestone (~500 Ma) Solenopleurella erosa Solenopleurella porcata Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma) Bryozoans Crinoids Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma) Coral Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma) Mississippian: Redwall Limestone (~350 Ma) Nautiloid Gastropod Pennsylvanian-Permian: Supai Group (~320-295 Ma) Pennsylvanian-Permian: Supai Group (320-295 Ma) Fern Impressions Pennsylvanian-Permian: Supai Group (320-295 Ma) Vertebrate Trackway Supai Group – Manakacha Formation Supai Group – Manakacha Formation Oldest vertebrate trackway reported from Grand Canyon! Permian: Hermit Formation (~285 Ma) Conifer Impressions Dragonfly Wing Walpia hermitensis Permian: Hermit Formation (~285 Ma) Fern Impressions Permian: Coconino Sandstone (~280 Ma) Modern analogue – Namib Desert Permian: Coconino Sandstone (~280 Ma) Reptile Trackways Permian Coconino Sandstone Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum Francischini et al. 2019 Permian Coconino Sandstone Ichniotherium sphaerodactylum Possibly made by an amphibian-like reptile, such as the diadectomorph Francischini et al. 2019 Permian Mesozoic Ocean 275 Ma Paleozoic 510 Ma Pre- Cambrian Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Brachiopods Productus bassi Derbyia regularis Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Bryozoans Rugose Corals and Crinoids Sponges Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Conulariid Conularia kaibabensis Permian Mesozoic Ocean 275 Ma Burrow Networks Paleozoic 510 Ma Pre- Cambrian Thalassinoides Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Vertebrates: Sharks! Phyllodont tooth plate Crassidonta stuckenbergi Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Vertebrates: Sharks! Gilkmanius sp. Megactenopetalus kaibabanus Permian: Kaibab Limestone (~275 Ma) Kaibab Sharks! Great White Mesozoic: Moenkopi and Chinle formations Megactenopetalus kaibabanus Rotodactylus cursorius Trackway of a small Petrified wood five-toed reptile Triassic: 250-230 Ma Example of Fossil Vulnerability Fern impressions in the Hermit Formation 04/15/2013 Example of Fossil Vulnerability Same fern impressions in the Hermit Formation 03/15/2017 *Fossils are vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic erosion Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 SEC. 6302. MANAGEMENT. “(a) In General- The Secretary shall manage and protect paleontological resources on Federal land using scientific principles and expertise. The Secretary shall develop appropriate plans for inventory, monitoring, and the scientific and educational use of paleontological resources, in accordance with applicable agency laws, regulations, and policies. These plans shall emphasize interagency coordination and collaborative efforts where possible with non- Federal partners, the scientific community, and the general public.” SEC. 6303. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. “The Secretary shall establish a program to increase public awareness about the significance of paleontological resources.” Grand Canyon Fossil Resources There is a new fossil exhibit in the visitor center! There are new Grand Canyon fossil trading cards for the public National Fossil Day! Takeaways Takeaways . Tell your guests about the fossils you learned today! . Inform your guests on significance and vulnerability of fossils in Grand Canyon . If you find a fossil: . Leave it there . Take a picture with GPS coordinates if you can . Email: [email protected] .