Taphonomy of a Middle Cretaceous Assemblage of Large Dicotyledonous Angiosperm Logs in the Zuni Basin, New Mexico

新墨西哥州祖尼盆地中白垩纪大型双子叶被子植物原木组合的埋藏学

• 批准号: 9901708
• 负责人: Karen Chin
• 金额: $ 7.2万
• 依托单位: Fellowships
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2000
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2000-01-01 至 2003-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=9901708&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Taphonomy; Middle; Cretaceous; Assemblage; Large

9901708ChinLarge numbers of fossil angiosperm logs have recently been discovered in the Turonian Moreno Hill Formation of New Mexico. This find represents one of the few Cretaceous sites known where large fossil dicotyledonous tree trunks have been preserved. The distinctive nature of the site is enhanced by its association with an unusual North American dinosaur fauna that appears to have Asian affinities. The intent of this research project is to conduct a taphonomic study of this highly unusual fossil log assemblage in order to reconstruct the physiognomy, paleoenvironment, taxonomic composition, and depositional history of the ancient angiosperm forest. This information will shed light on the nature of early broad-leaved forests and provide a three-dimensional paleocological context for an atypical dinosaur fauna.

最近在新墨西哥州的都罗尼亚莫雷诺山组发现了大量被子植物原木化石。这一发现代表了已知的少数保存有大型双子叶植物化石树干的白垩纪遗址之一。该遗址的独特性质因其与一种不同寻常的北美恐龙动物群的联系而得到加强，这种动物群似乎与亚洲有亲缘关系。这项研究的目的是对这一极不寻常的化石原木组合进行挖掘学研究，以重建古被子植物森林的地貌、古环境、分类组成和沉积史。这些信息将阐明早期阔叶林的性质，并提供非典型恐龙动物群的三维古生态背景。