Geobiology of Mesozoic Terrestrial Environments

Faculty: D.E. Fastovsky

URI Collaborating Faculty: S.L. D'Hondt and J. King (Graduate School of Oceanography), M. Stolt (Natural Resources Sciences), J.C. Boothroyd (Geosciences)

Summary of Research: The evolution of Mesozoic terrestrial paleoenvironments, particularly those that contain dinosaurs and other terrestrial vertrebrates. Many paleobiological questions are uniquely addressed through geological means and here the sedimentary geology of a variety of terrestrial settings - from the Triassic of Arizona, to the Cetaceous of Mongolia, to the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary in the upper Great Plains of the United States - are studied to gain insights about fundamental stratigraphic and paleoecological questions.

Recently Funded Research Proposals:

(2000 - 2002) Magnetostratigraphic correlation of Late Cretaceous and Early Paleogene vertebrate-bearing deposits, Nemegt Basin, Mongolia, National Science Foundation. With J. Hicks and L. Tauxe, Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and M. Watabe, Hayashibara Museum of Natural History (Japan).

(1998 - 2001) Paleoenvironmental evolution and temporal framework of Chinle Formation (Late Triassic), Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona, Petrified Forest Museum Association. With S. Bowring, M.I.T., and K. McSweeney, University of Wisconsin - Madison.

(1998 - 2001) Space-related undergraduate research and education, Rhode Island Space Grant (NASA)

(1997 - 1999) Paleoenvironments and taphonomy of the Tepexi Lagerstatte (mid-Cretaceous), Puebla, Mexico, National Geographic Society. With M. Montellano, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico.

(1996) Radiometric age dates of an Early- to Middle Jurassic dinosaur-bearing fauna, Huizachal Canyon, Tamaulipas, Mexico, Dinosaur Society. With S. Bowring, M.I.T.

(1993 - 1995) Patterns of dinosaur abundance through time in facies of the Hell Creek Formation, National Science Foundation. With P.M. Sheehan, Milwaukee Public Museum.