Turtles are important components of ecosystems around the world, with diverse ecological niches and adaptations. However, there are few detailed studies of how turtle community structure reflects local environments. This project applied techniques of community structure analysis to sites across the United States to infer past ecosystem and environmental conditions of the early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site (GFS) in northeastern Tennessee based on the ancient turtle community. Results indicate extant turtle community structure closely reflects environmental conditions, and that ancient turtle communities can be used to infer climate and habitat conditions of past ecosystems. Application to the GFS turtle community shows similarity to modern communities of the southern Gulf Coast and subtropical southeastern United States. These findings are consistent with previous interpretations of the GFS environment as warmer and wetter than the southern Appalachian climate of today, and demonstrate the utility of fossil turtle assemblage data in determining past environmental conditions.

No description available.

<p> Extensive bedding plane exposures in the Ludlowville shales along Cazenovia Creek near Spring Brook, New York display the spatial distribution of the skeletal remains from a marine faunal assemblage. Fossils typically occur in aggregates that are subcircular in plan view and plano-convex in cross-section with the convex side down. The clusters measure 1 meter in diameter and 2 centimeters thick at the center. This dispersion pattern has led to a general consideration of the different mechanisms responsible for creating fossil aggregations. Possible mechanisms, a spectrum from biological to geological, have been categorized into reproductive, ecological, postmortem redistributional, and preservational modes of formation. </p> <p> Quantitative sampling of the most abundant species, Ambocoelia umbonata, in four successive 5 millimeter layers within three clusters was carried out to determine which process is responsible for cluster formation. Between level variation in shell parameters demonstrates that fragmentation, distortion and valve ratios are independent of trends in position, density, and disarticulation. The trends are not controlled by geological agents, but rather result from ecological conditions. Furthermore, the size distributions of Arnbocoelia are bimodal and have to be explained on a biological basis. This has led to an interpretation of cluster development involving initiation by occasional spat survival on a somewhat "lethal" substrate, subsequent succession and regulation by ecological requirements, and final termination due to failure of spat recruitment probably because of fecal and/or decay toxin buildup. </p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No description available.

The occurrences of species of Delotaxis and Icriodus and the Ozarkodina remscheidensis eosteinhornensis--Ozarkodina remscheidensis remscheidensis lineage indicate that (1) most of the Keyser Formation of western Virginia is assignable to the uppermost Silurian eosteinhornensis zone; (2) the top of the upper limestone member of the Keyser is assignable to the basal Devonian woschmidti zone; (3) the remainder of the Helderberg Group is no younger than the delta zone; and (4) the basal Needmore Shale at the Price's Bluff section is assignable to the serotinus, patulus, or costatus costatus zones, of uppermost lower Devonian and lowermost Middle Devonian age, leaving a gap of at least six conodont zones represented by the Ridgeley Sandstone and its bounding unconformities. Conodonts tend to avoid tidal flat and lagoonal environments. They are not uniformly distributed through the rest of the section, but the occurrence of all but two species is not related to water depth, energy, or substrate; Ozarkodina excavata and Pseudooneotodus beckmanni prefer moderate energy environments. Icriodus helderbergensis and most of the simple cone species are associated with each other. There were 13,360 specimens collected, divided among 10 biological species and 15 form species; of the biological species, 3 are new and 2 are newly reconstructed apparatuses. / Master of Science

This study documents the occurrence of dinoflagellate cysts from the Middle Eocene Tallahatta and Lisbon Formations in the Baldwin County, Alabama, Core. This is part of a larger project being conducted by the ARCO Depositional Sequence Analysis Group to gather paleontological, sedimentological, paleomagnetic, geophysical, and geochemical data from the Alabama Coastal Plain for the purpose of calibrating the Tertiary time scale with the sequence stratigraphy of the Gulf region. A total of 101 taxa were identified, including 55 genera, 91 species, and 10 subspecies. Statistical analyses were run on the data collected to identify paleoecologic patterns and to relate these patterns, if possible, to sedimentary sequences. Diversity curves generated from the data show that there is usually a rise in diversity at sequence boundaries and at introsequence surfaces. Q-mode cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis indicate that samples tend to cluster within sequences. R-mode cluster analysis was performed and live informal cyst associations are discussed. Comparison of this studies assemblage with ranges published by Goodman and Stover (1975, 1983), and Edwards (1982) confirm the Middle Eocene age assigned to these units. / Master of Science

Great (Mw >8.5) earthquakes occur over long temporal intervals that extend beyond current historical (written and oral) records along most subduction zone coastlines often leading to the underestimation of magnitude, recurrence, and spatial extent of these events. Paleoseismic studies target low energy depositional environments that record primary and secondary evidence of earthquake occurrence within the coastal stratigraphy over much longer temporal scale, thus improving our understanding of the behavior of subduction zone earthquakes. Diatoms preserved within coastal stratigraphic records are sensitive to earthquake-induced environmental change and are useful bioindicators in paloesiesmology studies. The two studies in this dissertation employ diatoms to create novel approaches to investigate behavior and recurrence of earthquakes along two subductions zones: Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone and the Cascadia subduction zone. In these chapters we use diatoms to explore 1) the potential for combined slip along the Patton Bay splay fault system and the eastern Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone within Prince William Sound, Alaska, and 2) lacustrine turbidite source mechanisms in Ozette Lake, Washington to potentially improve the spatial and temporal earthquake record for the northern Cascadia subduction zone. This work has implications for improving our earthquake chronologies along subduction zone coastlines and making important contributions to coastal hazards assessments. / Doctor of Philosophy / Subduction zones are capable of producing great (>Mw 8.5) earthquakes with accompanying tsunamis that can impact nearby coastlines with devastating force. Great earthquakes occur over long timescales (thousands of years) and are often not captured in short historical records, leaving questions about the recurrence, behavior, and range of potential future earthquakes along these boundaries. Paleoseismology, the study of earthquake history, employs methods that use the earthquake-induced environmental changes along subduction zone coastlines to provide long-term records of earthquake occurrence. Diatoms, a type of siliceous microalgae entrained in coastal sediments, react to changes in pH, salinity, water depth, and sediment type, and are important indicators of environmental change that can be used to expand our understanding of earthquake behavior. This dissertation uses diatoms in two projects that explore the earthquake history along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone and the Cascadia subduction zone. First, we determine that secondary faults, called splay faults, in Prince William Sound are likely triggered only by slip along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, suggesting that combined slip has occurred during four of the eight total megathrust earthquakes in the last ~4,200 years. Second, we investigate the sediment origins of the youngest six deposits (turbidites) in Ozette Lake, linking them to diatoms located on the subaqueous delta and shallow lake surfaces, leading us to infer the source is likely earthquake-induced slope failure. Both projects help to expand our understanding of subduction zone earthquake behavior, and will help inform future hazards assessments for coastal communities.

published_or_final_version / Ecology and Biodiversity / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Paleomagnetic poles were obtained from the Chinle, Kayenta, Summerville, and Morrison Formations. Combined with paleomagnetic poles from the Moenave Formation, poles from the Chinle and Kayenta formations record ∼30 m.y. of North American apparent polar wander (APW) within a regional stratigraphic succession. During the Carnian and Norian stages of the Late Triassic, Chinle poles progress westward. During the Hettangian through Pliensbachian stages of the Early Jurassic, the pattern of APW changed to an eastward progression. Even after correction for 4° clockwise rotation of the Colorado Plateau, a sharp corner in the APW path (J1 cusp) is resolved near the pole from the Hettangian/Sinemurian (∼200 Ma) Moenave Formation (59.4°N; 59.2°E). The J1 cusp implies an abrupt change from counterclockwise rotation of Pangea prior to 200 Ma to clockwise rotation thereafter. Paleomagnetic poles obtained from the Summerville and Morrison formations are consistent with the Middle and Late Jurassic APW path described by the Corral Canyon and Glance Conglomerate paleomagnetic poles as well as a Late Jurassic Cusp (J2 cusp) in the APW path. The APW path described by the J2 cusp, a single Morrison Formation pole, and mid-Cretaceous paleomagnetic poles suggest from ∼150-126 Ma the North American plate experienced a minimum rate of motion of 0.93°/m.y. which is similar to rates calculated for the Late Triassic (0.73°/m.y.) and Jurassic (0.66°/m.y.). This rate is much lower than rates based on previous APW paths. Thermal demagnetization and data analysis indicate that within-site dispersion is an important criterion for selecting sites which retain a high unblocking-temperature, characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM). This criterion was used to define at least three stratigraphically-distinct, antipodal polarity-zones within each member/formation, suggesting the ChRM was acquired soon after deposition. ChRMs from 15 to 22 sites in the Upper Shale Member of the Chinle Formation define an early Norian paleomagnetic pole position of 57.4°N, 87.8°E (K = 60, A₉₅ = 5.0°). ChRMs from 18 to 43 sites in the Owl Rock Member of the Chinle Formation define a middle Norian paleomagnetic pole position of 56.5°N, 66.4°E (K = 183, A₉₅ = 2.6°). ChRMs from 23 of 35 sites in the Kayenta Formation define a Pliensbachian pole position of 59.0°N, 66.6°E (K = 155, A₉₅ = 2.4°). ChRMs from 15 to 35 sites in the Summerville Formation define a late Callovian pole position of 53.8°N, 133.6°E (K = 25, A₉₅ = 7.5°). ChRMs from 15 sites in the Morrison Formation (9 from the study of Steiner and Helsley [1975]) define a single, ∼147 Ma, paleomagnetic pole position of 64.1°N, 152.4°E (K = 113, A₉₅ = 3.6°).

abstract: The recent emergence of global ‘megafires’ has made it imperative to better understand the role of humans in altering the size, distribution, and seasonality of fires. The dynamic relationship between humans and fire is not a recent phenomenon; rather, fire has deep roots in our biological and cultural evolution. Because of its long-term perspective, archaeology is uniquely positioned to investigate the social and ecological drivers behind anthropogenic fire. However, the field faces challenges in creating solution-oriented research for managing fire in the future. In this dissertation, I originate new methods and approaches to archaeological data that enable us to interpret humans’ long-term influences on fire regimes. I weave together human niche construction theory and ecological resilience, creating connections between archaeology, paleoecology, and fire ecology. Three, stand-alone studies illustrate the usefulness of these methods and theories for charting changes in land-use, fire-regimes, and vegetation communities during the Neolithic Transition (7600 - 3800 cal. BP) in eastern Spain. In the first study (Ch. II), I analyze archaeological survey data using Bayesian methods to extract land-use intensities from mixed surface assemblages from a case study in the Canal de Navarrés. The second study (Ch. III) builds on the archaeological data collected computational model of landscape fire, charcoal dispersion, and deposition to test how multiple models of natural and anthropogenic fire activity contributed to the formation a single sedimentary charcoal dataset from the Canal de Navarrés. Finally, the third study (Ch. IV) incorporates the modeling and data generated in the previous chapters into sampling and analysis of sedimentary charcoal data from alluvial contexts in three study areas throughout eastern Spain. Results indicate that anthropogenic fire played a significant role in the creation of agricultural landscapes during the Neolithic period, but sustained, low-intensity burning after the late Neolithic period maintained the human created niche for millennia beyond the arrival of agro-pastoral land-use. With global fire activity on the rise, it is vital to incorporate perspectives on the origins, development, and maintenance of human-fire relationships to effectively manage fire in today’s coupled social-ecological landscapes. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Anthropology 2019