DOCSLIB.ORG

Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) Mammals from Fissure Deposits in the Jurassic Todilto Formation, White Mesa Mine, Sandoval County, North-Central New Mexico Gary S

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) Mammals from Fissure Deposits in the Jurassic Todilto Formation, White Mesa Mine, Sandoval County, North-Central New Mexico Gary S Late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) mammals from fissure deposits in the Jurassic Todilto Formation, White Mesa mine, Sandoval County, north-central New Mexico Gary S. Morgan, [email protected], and Larry F. Rinehart, [email protected], New Mexico Museum of Natural History, 1801 Mountain Road NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87104 Abstract A late Pleistocene (Rancholabrean) fossil site containing partial to nearly complete articu- lated skeletons of large mammals preserved in fissure deposits was discovered in 2005 at the White Mesa mine near San Ysidro in San- doval County, north-central New Mexico. The fissures are in gypsum of the Jurassic Todilto Formation. Structural analysis suggests the fissures opened to the surface during the Pleistocene in response to extension associ- ated with the Rio Grande rift. Bones were found approximately 9–12 m (30–40 ft) below the modern land surface in three different fis- sures within approximately a 15-m (~50-ft) radius. Four species of large mammals are preserved in the fissures, each known from at least one partial to nearly complete skeleton: stilt-legged horse (Equus cf. E. francisci), camel (Camelops hesternus), extinct bison (Bison anti- quus), and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus). The most fossiliferous fissure, containing one skeleton each of a camel and a bison, was 18 cm (7 in) wide and contained bones over a depth of approximately 40–50 cm (15–20 in) and a length of approximately 3.5–4 m (11–13 ft). The camel consists of a partial skeleton of a very old individual of Camelops hester- nus with heavily worn teeth and evidence of osteoarthritis on the articular surfaces of several limb bones and toes. The bison is a FIGURE 1—Map showing the location of the White Mesa mine, Sandoval County, north-central nearly complete articulated skeleton of a New Mexico. juvenile Bison antiquus with deciduous pre- molars, unerupted third molars, and unfused The fissures were wider near the surface and of 2005. A study of the structural geology epiphyses on all limb bones. A second nearby narrower at depth. The animals either died of these fissure deposits was recently pub- fissure contained an articulated front limb of from falling into the fissures or were unable lished (Rinehart et al. 2006). This paper an advanced juvenile or young adult Equus to climb out and starved to death. The artic- summarizes the vertebrate paleontology cf. E. francisci and an articulated hind limb ulated condition of the skeletons and the lack of bite marks on the bones suggest the and taphonomy of the late Pleistocene fis- of a second adult Camelops hesternus. A third sure deposits from the White Mesa mine. fissure had a nearly complete skeleton of a fissures were inaccessible to predators or young adult female Odocoileus hemionus. The scavengers that would have damaged and To our knowledge, the White Mesa mine White Mesa mine differs from most New disassociated the carcasses. The bodies of the represents the first record of Pleistocene Mexico Pleistocene cave faunas in the pre- ungulates began to decompose in the wider fissure deposits in New Mexico, although dominance of articulated skeletons and the portion of the fissures nearer the surface. several Pleistocene cave sites with vertical rarity of small vertebrates, although a par- Finally, the mostly decomposed skeletons openings functioned as natural traps. tial skeleton of the pocket gopher Thomomys still held together by connective tissues fell Abbreviations used are: LF (Local talpoides was found in the same fissure that and became lodged in the lower and nar- Fauna); NMMNH (New Mexico Museum produced the deer skeleton. An AMS radio- rower portion of the fissures where they were eventually discovered. of Natural History). The abbreviations for carbon date on a Camelops metacarpal from tooth positions in mammals are standard, the White Mesa mine yielded an age of 12,910 ± 60 14C yrs B.P. with upper case letters for upper teeth The predominance of grazing ungulates Introduction and lower case letters for lower teeth: I/i in the fissures, including horse, camel, and (upper/lower incisors), C/c (upper/lower bison, suggests that the habitat in the vicin- Workers at the White Mesa mine in Sando- canines), P/p (upper/lower premolars), ity during the late Pleistocene consisted of val County, New Mexico, discovered several and M/m (upper/lower molars). All mea- a grassland. The following is a hypothetical skeletons of large late Pleistocene mammals surements are in millimeters (mm). sequence of events that led to the preserva- in 2005 in fissure-fill deposits developed tion of partial to nearly complete skeletons in gypsum of the Middle Jurassic Todilto of large Pleistocene mammals in very narrow Locality fissures that were not wide enough to accom- Formation. Field parties from the New modate the living (or recently dead) animals. Mexico Museum of Natural History, aided The White Mesa Mine Local Fauna The fissures were open to the surface in the by the miners, in particular David Pino and (NMMNH locality L-6112; Fig. 1) was col- late Pleistocene and acted as natural traps Lambert Pino, collected these fossils over lected from the White Mesa mine, oper- into which the animals inadvertently fell. a period of several months in the summer ated by the American Gypsum Company May 2007, Volume 29, Number 2 NEW MEXICO GEOLOGY 39 on land belonging to Zia Pueblo, approxi- 3 was located 10 m (~33 ft) south of fissure LF (NMMNH site L-6112). The specimens mately 6 km (~4 mi) southwest of San 1 and contained a complete deer skeleton, from the White Mesa mine are curated Ysidro in Sandoval County, north-central a partial skeleton of a pocket gopher, and in the vertebrate paleontology collection New Mexico (35°32’N, 106°48’W). Gypsum several isolated bones of a small mouse- of the New Mexico Museum of Natural from the White Mesa mine is mined from sized rodent. Besides removing all exposed History (NMMNH); however, the fossils the ~30-m (~100-ft) thick Tonque Arroyo bones from this fissure, we also collected a remain the property of Zia Pueblo. Most Member of the Middle Jurassic Todilto For- small sample of the sediment (several kilo- of the accounts are divided into three sec- mation and is used to manufacture sheet- grams) for screenwashing. Fissure 3 was tions, referred specimens, description, and rock or wallboard. During the removal of 25 cm (10 in) in width, and the fossils were remarks. Three of the species are members gypsum with heavy machinery, Pleistocene found over a depth of approximately 20–30 of the extinct Pleistocene megafauna, Equus fossils were discovered in three fissure-fill cm (8–10 in) and a length of less than 1 m cf. E. francisci, Camelops hesternus, and Bison deposits within a radius of about 15 m (~50 (~3 ft). antiquus, whereas Odocoileus hemionus and ft) approximately 9–12 m (~30–40 ft) below The lithology of the fissure fills consists of Thomomys talpoides are living species. A the present land surface (Fig. 2). These fis- brecciated fragments of gypsum in a matrix small mouse-sized rodent represents a sures were open to the surface during the of poorly consolidated, silty, fine- to medi- sixth species in the fauna. late Pleistocene and trapped large mam- um-grained gypsum sandstone with sparse mals. The site has produced articulated or quartz grains. The gypsum fragments are Order PERISSODACTYLA associated skeletal material of five species mostly 1–3 cm (0.4–1.2 in) in diameter, but Family EQUIDAE of mammals, including a horse (Equus cf. the largest are as much as 10 cm (4 in) or Equus cf. E. francisci Hay 1915 E. francisci), a camel (Camelops hesternus), more. The proportion of gypsum breccia to Stilt-legged horse a bison (Bison antiquus), a deer (Odocoileus sand varies considerably among the vari- Referred specimen hemionus), and a pocket gopher (Thomomys ous fissure deposits. The brecciated frag- —NMMNH 54152, par- talpoides), all of late Pleistocene (Ranchola- ments make up ~25–75% of the fill. Some tial front limb from fissure 2, including the brean) age. stratification is evident, with beds that are distal two-thirds of the humerus, radius- more or less sandy showing lateral conti- ulna, carpals (scaphoid, lunar, pisiform, Fissures and fissure-fill deposits nuity. Fissure 3 had a higher percentage of magnum, pyramidal, trapezoid, trape- fine-grained sand than the other two fossil- zium), metacarpal 3 (including associated There were at least 44 fissures within 100 m bearing fissures and was the only fissure sesamoids), lateral metacarpals 2 and 4, (~325 ft) of the fossil site (locality NMMNH that contained small mammals. and proximal, medial, and ungual (hoof) L-6112), only three of which contained The trends and widths of 44 fissures phalanges. bones, here designated fissures 1, 2, and in the White Mesa mine floor at the level Description—A nearly complete articu- 3. Fissure 1 contained the largest number of locality L-6112 were measured (Rine- lated front limb of an advanced juvenile or of bones, including an articulated skeleton hart et al. 2006). All were within a 100-m possibly a young adult stilt-legged horse of a bison and an articulated skull, lower (~325-ft) radius of the fossil site and had a Equus cf. E. francisci was found in fissure jaws, and cervical vertebrae of a camel nearly vertical orientation. Fissure widths 2 (Fig. 4D). No other postcranial elements, (Fig. 3). The camel was situated above the range from 1 to 34 cm (0.4 in to 14 in). A teeth, or cranial material of a horse were bison skeleton in the fissure and was heav- few of the narrower fissures are open and found in this fissure or disassociated in the ily damaged by the milling machine that unfilled in spots.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • To Pig out to Pig
    unclean meats. Cornelius was a Gentile. Gentiles were animals were not created for food. like pigs to the Israelites, they were unclean. This How can I pray over a piece of unclean meat and make it Gentile loved the Hebrew God, prayed, and gave clean….its body chemistry did not change. God did not To Pig Out money to the poor. The Father wanted Cornelius to change. He did not make it clean just because I want it. Go know His Son Jesus, and to be filled with the Holy back to Is. 65 & 66 and remember the distaste that God Or Spirit. Therefore the vision: unclean animals which the Creator of all things, has for pig. Do you want to be the Father says; “Get up, Peter. Kill and smoke in the nostrils of God? I truly pray that many of eat.” (vs.10:13) Peters reply? “No Lord?” I have you will not just discard this pamphlet as trash, but will never eaten anything impure or unclean vs. 14. This honestly seek the Father’s Word for your answers, then To Opt Out story takes place years after the death of Jesus. Peter, show Him you love Him by keeping His commandments. by this statement is saying that the Food Laws were It is obedience that shows Him how much you trust Him never changed by Jesus. Then the Father speaks a to be true to His Word. For He alone protects it and will second time, “Do not call anything impure that God cause every Word to come to pass.
    [Show full text]
  • Wild Or Bactrian Camel French: German: Wildkamel Spanish: Russian: Dikiy Verblud Chinese
    1 of 4 Proposal I / 7 PROPOSAL FOR INCLUSION OF SPECIES ON THE APPENDICES OF THE CONVENTION ON THE CONSERVATION OF MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS A. PROPOSAL: Inclusion of the Wild camel Camelus bactrianus in Appendix I of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals: B. PROPONENT: Mongolia C. SUPPORTING STATEMENT 1. Taxon 1.1. Classis: Mammalia 1.2. Ordo: Tylopoda 1.3. Familia: Camelidae 1.4. Genus: Camelus 1.5. Species: Camelus bactrianus Linnaeus, 1758 1.6. Common names: English: Wild or Bactrian camel French: German: Wildkamel Spanish: Russian: Dikiy verblud Chinese: 2. Biological data 2.1. Distribution Wild populations are restricted to 3 small, remnant populations in China and Mongolia:in the Taklamakan Desert, the deserts around Lop Nur, and the area in and around region A of Mongolia’s Great Gobi Strict Protected Area (Reading et al 2000). In addition, there is a small semi-captive herd of wild camels being maintained and bred outside of the Park. 2.2. Population Surveys over the past several decades have suggested a marked decline in wild bactrian camel numbers and reproductive success rates (Zhirnov and Ilyinsky 1986, Anonymous 1988, Tolgat and Schaller 1992, Tolgat 1995). Researchers suggest that fewer than 500 camels remain in Mongolia and that their population appears to be declining (Xiaoming and Schaller 1996). Globally, scientists have recently suggested that less than 900 individuals survive in small portions of Mongolia and China (Tolgat and Schaller 1992, Hare 1997, Tolgat 1995, Xiaoming and Schaller 1996). However, most of the population estimates from both China and Mongolia were made using methods which preclude rigorous population estimation.
    [Show full text]
  • 31 3 R -Ta.I¡¡V 25 Co ^ by 4^
    C:9 238 Studies on Curing, Aging and_Smoking_of_Camel_Meat. II- Microbiological and Sensory Evaluation. E. T. EL-Asnwah, Salwa B. El-Magoli and M. M. Ibrahim. Dept, of Food. Sci. & Tech. Collage of Agric. Cairo University. Egypt. Introduction: Camel meat is considered as one of the toughest meat in Egypt. If camel meat could ^ plJt zed by aging, smoking and chill storage treatments while conserving other quality ritional attributes, its consumption would increase especially from elder animals. Meat structure can be considered in its simplest form to be a collection of p a rilieljher a ü ’' V^ the myofibrillar structure bound together by a connective tissue network of collQeI iCn » cot The physical properties of the myofibrillar fibers could be affected by (a) aging fit ns myofxhrillarmyofibrillar per se (.uavez(Davez andana Dickson,uicsson, i^/ui1970), , whilew u u e piuuuuxiiijproducing smallomaij. and^insig^^gonu 313fia comitant changes in the connective tissue (Bouton et al., 1973); (b) loss of molS.lit'-*1“ . ^ other changes produced by cooking (Bouton and Harris, 1972) and (c) increased^my contraction which increased muscle fiber diameter (Herring et al., 1967 b). The tissue would be affected by factors including: (a) changes in spatial orientation of collagen fibers in the connective tissue network related to myofibrillar- - - - - - contrac■ — ctr1^ _i ay. #i (Rowe, 1974) and (b) changes in the collagen produced by cooking and related to a . ifl / (Herring et al., 1967 a). Bouton et al., 1975 found that shear force values were n tegt3 _ ced by the muscle fiber properties than b'y the connective tissue properties, A}’ would be influenced by connective tissues as well as by the fiber properties.
    [Show full text]
  • Correlation Structure of the Cheek Teeth Enamel Crown Patterns in the Genus Equus (Mammalia: Equidae): an Analysis by Geometric Morphometrics with Outline Points
    Russian J. Theriol. 20(1): 70–81 © RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF THERIOLOGY, 2021 Correlation structure of the cheek teeth enamel crown patterns in the genus Equus (Mammalia: Equidae): an analysis by geometric morphometrics with outline points Igor Ya. Pavlinov*, Natalia N. Spasskаya ABSTRACT. Correlation structure of the cheek teeth enamel crown patterns in the genus Equus was studied by means of geometric morphometrics using outline points as descriptors to reveal the levels of morpholog- ical integration of the toothrow elements. Crown patterns in 34 upper and 31 lower toothrows (260 teeth in total) from 30 horse species were analyzed, the respective sets of 70 to 150 outline points were processed using the elliptic Fourier, principal component, and cluster analyses. The most correlated were shown to be the serial homologous crown elements within premolar and molar toothrow portions and less across the total toothrow. Correlation between occluding upper and lower teeth was shown to be low. Such correlation structure allowed identifying several levels of integration of the cheek teeth crown patterns in the genus Equus. A possibility of considering the serial homologous crown elements as the modules of the evolutionary developmental structure of the equine toothrows was discussed. Certain perspectives of similar studies in the specialized artiodactyles were emphasized. How to cite this article: Pavlinov I.Ya., Spasskаya N.N. 2021. Correlation structure of the cheek teeth enamel crown patterns in the genus Equus (Mammalia: Equidae): an analysis by geometric morphometrics with outline points // Russian J. Theriol. Vol.20. No.1. P.70–81. doi: 10.15298/rusjtheriol.20.1.08. KEY WORDS: dentition, geometric morphometrics, outline points, Equus, levels of integration, evo-devo.
    [Show full text]
  • Bactrian Camel, Two-Humped Camel
    Camelus ferus/bactrianus Common name: Bactrian camel, two-humped camel Local name: Havtagai (Mongolian), Wildkamel (German), Jya nishpa yapung (Ladakhi) Classification: Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Artiodactyla Family: Camelidae Genus: Camelus Species: ferus/bactrianus Profile: The scientific name of the wild Bactrian camel is Camelus ferus, while the domesticated form is called Camelus bactrianus. The distinctive feature of the animal is that it is two-humped whereas the Dromedary camel has a single hump. DNA tests have revealed that there are two or three distinct genetic differences and about 3% base difference between the wild and domestic populations of Bactrian camels. They also differ physically. The wild Bactrian camel is smaller and slender than the domestic breed. The wild camels have a sandy gray- brown coat while the domestic ones have a dark brown coat. The predominant difference between them however is the shape of the humps. While that of the wild camel are small and pyramid-like, those of the domestic ones are large and irregular. The face of a Bactrian camel is long and triangular with a split upper lip. The Bactrian camel is highly adapted to surviving the cold desert climate. Each foot has an undivided sole with two large toes that can spread wide apart for walking on sand. The ears and nose are lined with hair to protect against sand and the muscular nostrils can be closed during sandstorms. The eyes are protected from sand and debris by a double layer of long eyelashes while bushy eyebrows give protection from the sun. It grows a thick shaggy coat during winter, which is shed very rapidly in spring to give the animal a shorn look.
    [Show full text]
  • Rancholabrean Hunters of the Mojave Lakes Country
    REVIEWS 203 the Myoma Dunes sites, but the coprolites University of Utah Bulletin, Biological there produced no pollen of domestic plants. Series 10(7): 17-166. Therefore, the squash probably were not grown locally. Wilke notes, however, that agriculture has some antiquity among the Cahuilla; it figures prominently in myth and ritual and there are Cahuilla terms for crop The Ancient Californians: Rancholabrean plants and planting methods. The crops Hunters of the Mojave Lakes Country. themselves derive from the Lower Colorado Emma Lou Davis, ed. Natural History agricultural complex. Museum of Los Angeles County, Science From this Wilke concludes that agriculture Series 29, 1978. $10.00 (paper). is best viewed as but one aspect of Cahuilla Reviewed by DAVID L. WEIDE Indian subsistence that had arisen by early University of Nevada, Las Vegas historic times. Late Prehistoric Human Ecology at Lake "The Mojave Desert is among all things Cahuilla is of major importance to scholars of contradictory" are the opening lines of an California Desert prehistory. It provides the archaeological report that, like its subject first clear picture of the changing lake stands matter—the reconstruction of prehistoric in the Salton Basin and the probable cultural lifeways in the lacustrine basins of the north­ changes and population movements that west Mojave Desert—is both controversial followed. The catastrophic changes in Lake and contradictory, speculative yet factual, Cahuilla must have had far-reaching influence tangible but agonizingly illusive. The author over a wide area of southern California. The clearly states that this book is "experimental" significance of these changes for the late pre­ and those of us who know her agree—the book history of adjacent areas should be apparent is experimental—life is experimental—and to the reader.
    [Show full text]
  • Bison Literature Review Biology
    Bison Literature Review Ben Baldwin and Kody Menghini The purpose of this document is to compare the biology, ecology and basic behavior of cattle and bison for a management context. The literature related to bison is extensive and broad in scope covering the full continuum of domestication. The information incorporated in this review is focused on bison in more or less “wild” or free-ranging situations i.e.., not bison in close confinement or commercial production. While the scientific literature provides a solid basis for much of the basic biology and ecology, there is a wealth of information related to management implications and guidelines that is not captured. Much of the current information related to bison management, behavior (especially social organization) and practical knowledge is available through local experts, current research that has yet to be published, or popular literature. These sources, while harder to find and usually more localized in scope, provide crucial information pertaining to bison management. Biology Diet Composition Bison evolutional history provides the basis for many of the differences between bison and cattle. Bison due to their evolution in North America ecosystems are better adapted than introduced cattle, especially in grass dominated systems such as prairies. Many of these areas historically had relatively low quality forage. Bison are capable of more efficient digestion of low-quality forage then cattle (Peden et al. 1973; Plumb and Dodd 1993). Peden et al. (1973) also found that bison could consume greater quantities of low protein and poor quality forage then cattle. Bison and cattle have significant dietary overlap, but there are slight differences as well.
    [Show full text]
  • Buffalo Hunt: International Trade and the Virtual Extinction of the North American Bison
    NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES BUFFALO HUNT: INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE VIRTUAL EXTINCTION OF THE NORTH AMERICAN BISON M. Scott Taylor Working Paper 12969 http://www.nber.org/papers/w12969 NATIONAL BUREAU OF ECONOMIC RESEARCH 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02138 March 2007 I am grateful to seminar participants at the University of British Columbia, the University of Calgary, the Environmental Economics workshop at the NBER Summer Institute 2006, the fall 2006 meetings of the NBER ITI group, and participants at the SURED II conference in Ascona Switzerland. Thanks also to Chris Auld, Ed Barbier, John Boyce, Ann Carlos, Charlie Kolstad, Herb Emery, Mukesh Eswaran, Francisco Gonzalez, Keith Head, Frank Lewis, Mike McKee, and Sjak Smulders for comments; to Michael Ferrantino for access to the International Trade Commission's library; and to Margarita Gres, Amanda McKee, Jeffrey Swartz, Judy Hasse of Buffalo Horn Ranch and Andy Strangeman of Investra Ltd. for research assistance. Funding for this research was provided by the SSHRC. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research. © 2007 by M. Scott Taylor. All rights reserved. Short sections of text, not to exceed two paragraphs, may be quoted without explicit permission provided that full credit, including © notice, is given to the source. Buffalo Hunt: International Trade and the Virtual Extinction of the North American Bison M. Scott Taylor NBER Working Paper No. 12969 March 2007 JEL No. F1,Q2,Q5,Q56 ABSTRACT In the 16th century, North America contained 25-30 million buffalo; by the late 19th century less than 100 remained.
    [Show full text]
  • Redalyc.Study of Cedral Horses and Their Place in the Mexican Quaternary
    Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas ISSN: 1026-8774 [email protected] Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México México Alberdi, María Teresa; Arroyo-Cabrales, Joaquín; Marín-Leyva, Alejandro H.; Polaco, Oscar J. Study of Cedral Horses and their place in the Mexican Quaternary Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas, vol. 31, núm. 2, 2014, pp. 221-237 Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Querétaro, México Available in: http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=57231524006 How to cite Complete issue Scientific Information System More information about this article Network of Scientific Journals from Latin America, the Caribbean, Spain and Portugal Journal's homepage in redalyc.org Non-profit academic project, developed under the open access initiative REVISTA MEXICANA DE CIENCIAS GEOLÓGICAS v. 31, núm. 2, 2014,Cedral p. 221-237horses Study of Cedral Horses and their place in the Mexican Quaternary María Teresa Alberdi1, Joaquín Arroyo-Cabrales2, Alejandro H. Marín-Leyva3, and Oscar J. Polaco2† 1 Departamento de Paleobiología, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal, 2, 28006 Madrid, España. 2 Laboratorio de Arqueozoología “M. en C. Ticul Álvarez Solórzano”, Moneda 16, Col. Centro, 06060 México, D. F., Mexico. 3 Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. * [email protected] ABSTRACT tral; y un nuevo caballo de pequeño tamaño Equus cedralensis sp. nov., conocido hasta ahora sólo en localidades mexicanas. El conocimiento A detailed study has been undertaken with an unique horse de la presencia conjunta de estas tres especies en el Pleistoceno tardío de bone deposit at Cedral, San Luis Potosí, central Mexico. Morphologi- México (género Equus sp.) es importante para entender los modelos de cal and morphometrical characters are used, as well as bivariate and diversidad y extinción en los primeros tiempos de la presencia humana multivariate statistics for both cranial and postcranial elements, and en el continente.
    [Show full text]
  • Upper Las Vegas Wash/ Tule Springs, Nevada Reconnaissance Report
    (J Æ NATIONAL PARK National Park Service SERVICE June 2010 U. S. Department of the Interior S y A 36// 3^ 39?. Upper Las Vegas Wash/ Tule Springs, Nevada Reconnaissance Report Prepared by: U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Denver Service Center June 2010 Acronyms BLM Bureau of Land Management NPS National Park Service SBCM San Bernardino County Museum Much of the background data for this report has been taken from the Bureau of Land Management's Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Upper Las Vegas Wash Conservation Transfer Area Las Vegas, Nevada, which was prepared in January 2010. This report has been prepared at the request of Senator Harry Reid and Representatives Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus to explore specific resources and advise on whether these resources merit further consideration as a potential new national park system unit. Publication and transmittal of this report should not be considered an endorsement or a commitment by the National Park Service to seek or support specific legislative authorization for the project or its implementation. This report was prepared by the U. S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Denver Service Center. Table of Contents 1 SUMMARY............................................................................................................................................... 1 2 BACKGROUND......................................................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Background of the
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix F Paleontological Assessment
    D RAFT E NVIRONMENTAL I MPACT R EPORT A MAZON F ACILITY A UGUST 2020 C YPRESS, C ALIFORNIA APPENDIX F PALEONTOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT \\VCORP12\Projects\CCP1603.05A\Draft EIR\Appendices\Appendix F Cover.docx (08/26/20) A MAZON F ACILITY D RAFT E NVIRONMENTAL I MPACT R EPORT C YPRESS, C ALIFORNIA A UGUST 2020 This page intentionally left blank \\VCORP12\Projects\CCP1603.05A\Draft EIR\Appendices\Appendix F Cover.docx (08/26/20) CARLSBAD FRESNO IRVINE LOS ANGELES PALM SPRINGS POINT RICHMOND RIVERSIDE July 6, 2020 ROSEVILLE SAN LUIS OBISPO Jeff Zwack Project Planner City of Cypress 5275 Orange Avenue Cypress, CA 90630 Subject: Paleontological Resources Assessment for the Amazon Facility, Cypress, Orange County, California Dear Mr. Zwack: LSA conducted a Paleontological Resources Assessment for the Amazon Facility (project) in Cypress, Orange County, California. The purpose of the assessment was to determine whether paleontological resources may be present within the proposed project site, whether they might be impacted by development of the project, and to make recommendations to mitigate any potential impacts to paleontological resources. PROJECT LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION The project site is located at 6400‐6450 Katella Avenue and is bounded by Katella Avenue to the north, Holder Street to the east, industrial/commercial facilities to the west, and the Stanton Storm Channel to the south. The project site is depicted on the Los Alamitos, California 7.5‐minute United States Geological Survey (USGS) topographic map in Township 4 South, Range 11 West, Section 27, San Bernardino Baseline and Meridian (USGS, 1981; Figure 1 [Attachment B]). The project proposes the development of a “Last Mile” logistics facility for Amazon, Inc.
    [Show full text]
  • Discovering the Mother of All Bison Researchers Trace Bison to Common Ancestor, Pinpoint Arrival in North America
    Discovering the mother of all bison Researchers trace bison to common ancestor, pinpoint arrival in North America. By Katie Willis on March 13, 2017 Unlike other notorious invaders such as zebra mussels, bison were not introduced by humans. But their rapid spread and diversification are hallmarks of an invasive species. Scientists from University of Alberta have pinpointed when bison “The DNA was too degraded, but as techniques have developed, first appeared in North America and learned more about their in particular new ways to 'fish out' bison DNA from the mixture of family tree, thanks to new fossils and genetic tools. bacterial and other DNA in these bones, these have allowed us to piece together these genome sequences,” explains Shapiro. New research by Duane Froese and Alberto Reyes in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences has identified The group showed that DNA of the earliest Yukon bison was North America’s oldest bison fossils and applied new techniques similar to DNA from a giant long-horned bison, called Bison for ancient DNA extraction to clarify the earliest parts of the bison latifrons, which was excavated in Colorado. family tree. “Bison latifrons is an interesting beast,” says Froese. “Its horns Froese and his colleagues worked with paleogeneticists to measured more than two metres across at the tips and it was sequence the mitochondrial genomes of more than 40 bison, perhaps 25% larger than modern bison.” including the two oldest bison fossils ever recovered: one from Ch’ijee’s Bluff in the Vuntut Gwitchin Territory in northern Yukon, The Colorado fossil was well-dated and only 10,000 to 20,000 and another from Snowmass, Colorado.
    [Show full text]