Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #147: Cretaceous – Tertiary Vertebrate Faunal Transition  (K-T Fauna)

Outline
The current proposal will examine the impact of the Cretaceous – Tertiary (K-T) mass extinction (65 million years ago) on the terrestrial and marine vertebrate faunas in the Arctic regions of Canada, Greenland, and Svalbard, Norway. The K-T mass extinction was responsible for the loss of dinosaurs and nearly 50% of all other known life at the time. The massive loss of life opened new ecological spaces and was responsible for numerous radiations, including the radiation of modern mammal lineages. Well studied regions documenting both terrestrial and marine vertebrate faunal transitions during the K-T are at lower latitude localities such as Montana, California, and the Netherlands. These studies offer insight into the impact of the mass extinction on relatively warm climates with moderate variation in annual photoperiod. Examining similar parameters at high latitudes during this time offer a chance to look at the impact on more temperate climates with extreme variations in annual photoperiod. Indeed, numerous theories predict high latitudes many offer refuge for some animals during periods of mass extinctions due to the relatively harsher climates and photoperiods they are adapted to. The proposed project will visit, prospect, document in stratigraphic section, and collect when possible, terrestrial and marine vertebrates that bound the K-T at northern high latitudes. A latitudinal transect from Prince Patrick Island in the western Canadian Arctic to Svalbard, Norway will be used to sample roughly equivalent palaeoclimates and palaeophotoperiods. Sampling will take place on exposed rocks of Campanian and Maastrichtian ages (Late Cretaceous) and Early Palaeocene (Early Tertiary). The transect will include as many terrestrial and marine rock outcrops as is feasible on Prince Patrick, Melville, Axel Heiberg, Ellesmere, and Devon Island in Canada. The range will be extended to the western central margin of Greenland to the only known K-T interval on that island and also onto Svalbard, Norway. Collaboration during fieldwork will be sought with researchers from Canada, Denmark, and Norway. The resulting data will be examined firstly to estimate the impact of the mass extinction on the northern high latitude vertebrate faunas. The data will also be examined with that of lower latitudes to test if the higher latitudes did indeed offer a refuge for some animals.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?

What international collaboration is involved in this project?

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: n/a
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?

How will the project be organised and managed?

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?

How is it proposed to fund the project?

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Assistant Professor and Canada Research Chair Hans Larsson
McGill University 859 Sherbrooke St. W.
Redpath Museum, McGill University
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 2K6
Canada

Tel: (514) 398-4086 x089457
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Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information