SGER: Excavations of a Pliocene Fossil Cormorant Locality in Florida

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In spring 1989, a new and unique fossil deposit was uncovered in the Pinecrest Beds at the Richardson Road Shell Pit, Sarasota County, Florida. This deposit is composed primarily of complete bones and articulated skeletons of one species of cormorant (Phalacrocoracidae) as well as hundreds of bones and otoliths of marine fish. Such a complete sample of one species of bird is rare, and only one other locality in North America (Bone Valley, Florida, 4.5 Ma; see Becker 1985) has produced a large sample of complete (but no associated) bones of cormorant. Funds from the NSF SGER grants program will allow excavation of this unique fossil site before it is lost to erosion, looting and mining operations. Because this site is in imminent danger of total destruction, a grant from the SGER program will allow immediate action to ensure that the deposits are properly excavated and studied. these excavations will result in the recovery of substantial fossil material and provide taphonomic information on how this assemblage formed.