Phytotaphonomy in the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation: Implications for Depositional and Paleoclimatic Settings

PI将对三叠纪Chinle组的植物化石进行地语学分析，以实现两个目标：1)解决关于植物生长的气候和其他物理环境方面的争议；2)证明地语学技术在与迄今研究的环境有很大不同的环境中的适用性。研究还将有助于我们了解盘古大陆时期的世界古气候。通过野外和实验室工作，将在其地质背景下研究植物群，记录死亡，生物层组学和成岩过程的影响，并解释其意义。

PI will perform a taphonomic analysis of plant fossils of the Triassic Chinle Formation to meet two objectives: 1) resolve controversies regarding climate and other aspects of the physical environment in which flora grew, and 2) demonstrate applicability of taphonomic techniques in environments that differ substantially from those thus far studied. Research will also contribute to our understanding of world paleoclimate during the time of the supercontinent, Pangaea. Through field and lab work, flora will be studied in its geologic context, documenting effects of necrologic, biostratinomic and diagenetic processes, and interpreting their meaning.