Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • Coastal Cretaceous Forest Fires, Paleosols, and Dinosaur Paleoecology From The Arlington Archosaur Site, North Texas

    Uploaded by

    farji pharji
    14 views2 pages
    This paper discusses evidence of wildfires found at the Arlington Archosaur Site in north Texas, dating back to 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Forest fires were a common occurrence in the coastal delta plain environment, as evidenced by large burned tree stumps, roots, and layers of charcoal conglomerate found both above and below the fossil-bearing layers. The presence of these fire remains suggests forest fires influenced the ecosystem and were not random events, but rather linked to the paleoclimate conditions of the time. The site has uncovered fossils of dinosaurs, turtles, crocodiles, and other vertebrates, providing insights into the paleoecology of coastal Cretaceous environments.

    Original Description:

    Original Title

    2010_04

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    Report this Document
    This paper discusses evidence of wildfires found at the Arlington Archosaur Site in north Texas, dating back to 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Forest fires were a common occurrence in the coastal delta plain environment, as evidenced by large burned tree stumps, roots, and layers of charcoal conglomerate found both above and below the fossil-bearing layers. The presence of these fire remains suggests forest fires influenced the ecosystem and were not random events, but rather linked to the paleoclimate conditions of the time. The site has uncovered fossils of dinosaurs, turtles, crocodiles, and other vertebrates, providing insights into the paleoecology of coastal Cretaceous environments.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    14 views2 pages

    Coastal Cretaceous Forest Fires, Paleosols, and Dinosaur Paleoecology From The Arlington Archosaur Site, North Texas

    Uploaded by

    farji pharji
    This paper discusses evidence of wildfires found at the Arlington Archosaur Site in north Texas, dating back to 95 million years ago during the Cretaceous period. Forest fires were a common occurrence in the coastal delta plain environment, as evidenced by large burned tree stumps, roots, and layers of charcoal conglomerate found both above and below the fossil-bearing layers. The presence of these fire remains suggests forest fires influenced the ecosystem and were not random events, but rather linked to the paleoclimate conditions of the time. The site has uncovered fossils of dinosaurs, turtles, crocodiles, and other vertebrates, providing insights into the paleoecology of coastal Cretaceous environments.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Flag for inappropriate content
    of 2

    See discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: https://www.researchgate.

    net/publication/263542511

    Coastal Cretaceous forest fires, paleosols, and dinosaur paleoecology from the
    Arlington Archosaur Site, north Texas

    Conference Paper · October 2010

    CITATIONS READS

    2 103

    3 authors, including:

    Christopher Noto Christopher Robert Scotese


    University of Wisconsin - Parkside Northwestern University
    57 PUBLICATIONS   616 CITATIONS    787 PUBLICATIONS   14,406 CITATIONS   

    SEE PROFILE SEE PROFILE

    Some of the authors of this publication are also working on these related projects:

    Predicting the occurrence of paleosoils using climate modeling (FOAM) View project

    Jurassic/Cretaceous System Boundary Working Group View project

    All content following this page was uploaded by Christopher Robert Scotese on 19 September 2014.

    The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.


    Coastal Cretaceous forest fires, paleosols, and dinosaur paleoecology from the Arlington
    Archosaur Site, north Texas
    Author: Main, Derek J; Noto, Christopher R; Scotese, Christopher R .
    Abstract: This is the first reported occurrence of wildfires from the Cenomanian of Texas at the
    Arlington Archosaur Site (AAS). The AAS is a diverse fossil locality from the Cretaceous (95 Mya)
    Woodbine Formation of north Central Texas. The paleoenvironmental setting is a coastal, delta
    plain system from the southeastern interior seaway. The site preserves multiple components of a
    delta plain ecosystem within a 2m section consisting of a peat bed containing numerous, well
    preserved fossil turtle, crocodile (adult and juvenile) and logs. The logs are carbonized and vary
    from 2m-4m in length. Overlying the peat is a fossil horizon containing mixed remains of
    vertebrates in a mudstone that demonstrates early pedogenesis from an inundated delta plain
    paleosol. The vertebrates occurring within this horizon include dinosaur, crocodile, turtle and
    lungfish. The dinosaurs recovered to date include a large herbivorous ornithopod and at least two
    theropods. Overlying the fossil bearing horizon is a well developed, heavily rooted Histic Gleysol
    with numerous calcareous concretions. Within the concretions occur charcoal fragments and
    several large (28-36 cm length) burned tree stumps and roots. Concretion formation is indicative
    of seasonal dryness, and the burned tree stumps are evidence of wildfires. Charcoal
    conglomerate beds were mapped both below and above the paleosol, and dinosaur bone
    bearing horizon. The charcoal conglomerates contain numerous charcoal and fossil wood
    fragments (1-4cm length) bound in a Fe rich sand. The presence of charcoal conglomerates is
    typical of coastal, deltaic systems where burned materials were transported by river channels.
    The forest fire horizons occur below, within and above the vertebrate fossil horizon. Periodic
    forest fires are therefore thought to have been an influential part of the coastal ecosystem
    preserved at the Arlington Archosaur Site. Forest fires are not geographically random, they occur
    within paleoclimatic zones that are predisposed to fires. Continued study of forest fires may
    elucidate links between paleoclimate and the biodiversity of coastal Cretaceous ecosystems.
     

    View publication stats

    You might also like