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An Early Pliocene Fish Assemblage From The Southern Appalachians: Ichthyofauna Of The Gray Fossil Site, Shay Maden
An Early Pliocene Fish Assemblage From The Southern Appalachians: Ichthyofauna Of The Gray Fossil Site, Shay Maden
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The Gray Fossil Site (GFS) preserves an early Pliocene sinkhole pond that accumulated a rich flora and vertebrate fauna. Fossils of fish are incredibly common at GFS, representing thousands of specimens recovered to date. Comparison with extant species reveals a depauperate freshwater fish fauna consisting of only two species: Lepomis sp. and Micropterus sp. The absence of fishes that are ubiquitous in modern streams suggests no perennial surface hydrologic connection between the Gray Fossil Site and the nearby Holston River. Limited opportunities for dispersal into the pond and deleterious conditions such as eutrophy and high competition may have resulted in …
Community Structure Analysis Of Turtles With Application To The Early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site, Julian Conley
Community Structure Analysis Of Turtles With Application To The Early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site, Julian Conley
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Turtles are important components of ecosystems around the world, with diverse ecological niches and adaptations. However, there are few detailed studies of how turtle community structure reflects local environments. This project applied techniques of community structure analysis to sites across the United States to infer past ecosystem and environmental conditions of the early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site (GFS) in northeastern Tennessee based on the ancient turtle community. Results indicate extant turtle community structure closely reflects environmental conditions, and that ancient turtle communities can be used to infer climate and habitat conditions of past ecosystems. Application to the GFS turtle community …
The Paleoecology Of High-Elevation Bison In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem And Implications For Modern Bison Conservation, Darian Bouvier
The Paleoecology Of High-Elevation Bison In The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem And Implications For Modern Bison Conservation, Darian Bouvier
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The national mammal of the United States, the American Bison (Bison bison) was once nearly extinct. Populations have recovered to the degree that thousands roam the Great Plains today. Due to their large numbers and body size, this species has an oversized impact on the ecological communities where it lives and is considered a keystone herbivore in modern North American grasslands. This study explores the detailed, seasonally resolved, paleoecology of seven bison from the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem during the Late Holocene through stable isotope analyses and species niche modeling. Isotopic analyses of δ13C, δ15N, …
Community Structure Analysis Of Mammals Found At The Gray Fossil Site, Tn, Sarah Clark
Community Structure Analysis Of Mammals Found At The Gray Fossil Site, Tn, Sarah Clark
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The early Pliocene Gray Fossil Site (GFS) is a biodiverse site with a unique faunal assemblage that represents one of few sites of its age in eastern North America. A community structure analysis of the mammals at GFS was done to characterize species and better understand the paleoenvironment. Data and was gathered from twenty modern communities and five late Neogene sites to compare with GFS. Species from these 26 sites were categorized by body size, locomotor mode, cheek tooth crown height, and diet to characterize niches occupied. Descriptive statistics contrasted proportions of species within categories across communities. Discriminant function analyses …
Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Of Quaternary Saltville, Virginia, Using Ostracode Autecology, Austin Gause
Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Of Quaternary Saltville, Virginia, Using Ostracode Autecology, Austin Gause
Electronic Theses and Dissertations
The Saltville valley in southwestern Virginia is home to Quaternary localities containing paleontological and archaeological remains. Historically the valley has been mined for salt and the small lakes, ponds and springs along the valley floor have a brackish signature. A preliminary report on the site’s ostracode fauna suggested that the site’s water was not always saline. This study analyzed modern and Quaternary ostracodes to understand the valley’s hydrologic and chemical evolution. Sediments contained primarily freshwater species, including the environmentally sensitive Candona crogmaniana. The presence of Pelocypris tuberculatum and a new Fabaeformiscandona species throughout a vertical section spanning the latest Pleistocene …