RUI: Deciphering Origins of Vertebrate Microfossil Bonebeds: A Comparative Taphonomic and Paleoecological Approach in the Late Cretaceous of Montana

解读脊椎动物微化石骨床的起源：蒙大拿州晚白垩世的比较埋藏学和古生态学方法。 Raymond Rogers 1，Matthew Carrano 2和Kristina咖喱Rogers 11 Macalester学院地质系，圣保罗MN 2史密森学会，华盛顿DC脊椎动物微化石骨床（VMB）是各种脊椎生物的小型、脱节骨骼遗骸的集中沉积物。 这些类型的化石沉积物在中生代和新生代的陆地沉积岩记录中很常见，并作为古代动物群（如哺乳动物和两栖动物）最小成员的丰富数据来源。 此外，VMB提供了物种多样性和相对丰富的脊椎动物化石群落的估计。 尽管它们对于理解化石脊椎动物生物多样性具有重要意义，但这些遗址形成的根本原因仍然知之甚少。 我们的研究将集中在蒙大拿州中北部的朱迪思河组，它保留了丰富的VMB在有据可查的地质背景，从而提供了一个理想的机会来分析形成过程。 比较工作将在蒙大拿州东部的地狱溪地层进行，该地层也保存了丰富的VMB。 这两个记录的分析将：1）推进我们对产生VMB的过程的理解，2）提供一套可用于任何VMB研究的测试和方法; 3）在晚白垩世的最后阶段，对沿海平原群落的组成和结构产生新的见解; 4）提供关于重大全球变化的新数据，最终导致大量灭绝。 该项目的研究部分与教育推广部分紧密结合，其中：1）涉及Macalester教师和大约12名本科生与史密森学会的策展和收藏人员的合作; 2）将与该项目相关的收藏品整合到麦卡莱斯特学院的课程中，并整合到史密森尼的公共宣传和教育活动中，无论是在展览厅（化石实验室）和通过陆地生态系统的演变网站;和3）作为一个渠道，合作的公共宣传与蒙大拿州土地管理局在上密苏里州河断裂国家纪念碑。

RUI: Deciphering Origins of Vertebrate Microfossil Bonebeds: A Comparative Taphonomic and Paleoecological Approach in the Late Cretaceous of Montana. Raymond Rogers1, Matthew Carrano2, and Kristina Curry Rogers11 Geology Department, Macalester College, St. Paul MN2 Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC Vertebrate microfossil bonebeds (VMBs) are concentrated deposits of small, disarticulated skeletal remains of diverse backboned organisms. These types of fossil deposits are common in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic terrestrial sedimentary rock record, and serve as a rich source of data on the tiniest members of ancient faunas (like mammals and amphibians). In addition, VMBs provide estimates for species diversity and relative abundance in fossil vertebrate communities. In spite of their significance for understanding fossil vertebrate biodiversity, the underlying causes for the formation of such sites remain poorly understood. Our study will focus on the Judith River Formation of north-central Montana, which preserves an abundance of VMBs in well-documented geological contexts, and thereby provides an ideal opportunity to analyze formative processes. Comparative work will be conducted in the Hell Creek Formation of eastern Montana, which also preserves abundant VMBs. Analysis of these two records will: 1) advance our understanding of the processes that generate VMBs, 2) provide a suite of tests and methods that may be employed in any VMB study; 3) yield novel insights into the composition and structure of coastal plain communities during the final stages of the Late Cretaceous; and 4) provide new data on a time of significant global change that culminates in amass extinction. The research component of this project is tightly integrated with an educational outreach component that: 1) involves a collaboration of Macalester faculty and approximately 12 undergraduate students with curatorial and collections staff at the Smithsonian Institution; 2) integrates collections related to this project into courses taught at Macalester College and into public outreach and education initiatives at the Smithsonian, both on the exhibit floor (FossiLab) and through the Evolution of Terrestrial Ecosystems website; and 3) serves as a conduit for collaborative public outreach with the Montana Bureau of Land Managemen in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument.