SGER: Excavations of a Pliocene Fossil Cormorant Locality in Florida

1989年春，在佛罗里达州萨拉索塔县理查森路贝壳坑的松树岩层中发现了一个新的独特的化石矿床。该沉积物主要由一种鹈鹕的完整骨骼和关节骨骼以及数百块海洋鱼类的骨骼和耳石组成。如此完整的一种鸟类样本是罕见的，在北美只有一个其他地方(佛罗里达州骨谷，4.5 Ma；见Becker 1985)产生了大量完整的(但没有相关的)鹈鹕骨骼样本。来自NSF SGER赠款计划的资金将允许在这个独特的化石遗址被侵蚀、抢劫和采矿操作失去之前对其进行挖掘。由于该遗址面临着即将被彻底摧毁的危险，来自SGER计划的赠款将允许立即采取行动，确保对矿藏进行适当的挖掘和研究。这些发掘将导致大量化石材料的恢复，并提供有关这种组合如何形成的挖掘信息。

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.