Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #142: Paleobiology of a Pliocene forest community in the Canadian High Arctic  (Beaver Pond project)

Outline
The proposed project will involve exploration and excavation of the Beaver Pond fossil site, an early Pliocene deposit (4-5 million years) located on Ellesemere Island, Nunavut. The Beaver Pond deposit is unusual in that it has yielded exceptionally well-preserved fossil plants, insects and molluscs, as well as fossil vertebrates, including horse, musk deer, shrew, badger, and beaver. Surprisingly, most of the mammals appear most similar to Chinese taxa (Tedford & Harington 2003). The paleohabitat represented at the Beaver Pond was dominated by a larch boreal forest, and beetle remains suggest that the habitat was about 10°C warmer in the summer and 15°C warmer in the winter than it is today (Elias & Matthews 2002). This temperature regime is similar to modern Labrador (54°N) (Harington 2001). The Beaver Pond assemblage provides critical evidence for investigating the role of Arctic regions in the evolution of terrestrial communities prior to the Ice Age. Polar climates tend to respond quickly to global climate-change, and the resulting habitat changes are expected to be linked with faunal turnover, changes in evolutionary rates, and evolutionary innovation (Janis 1993; Vrba 1992). Polar climates, being relatively extreme and highly seasonal, also are considered to have functioned to mediate dispersal between continents (Beard & Dawson 1999). Discerning how Arctic regions have influenced and terrestrial biotic evolution is best investigated by comparing Polar fossil communities with their lower latitude counterparts. In the case of the Beaver Pond locality, suitable comparative sites are located in mid-latitudes of North America and Asia (i.e. China). Currently, the Beaver Pond deposit is know from a single, small excavation. Ongoing work aims to expand the excavation, and identify new, sites. Ultimately, fossil evidence from the Beaver Pond project will contribute to the development of a palaeontological database that will be used to study the effect of climate change on terrestrial communities by comparing patterns of community composition and change in Arctic with those of low latitude communities through geological time. Any general trends resulting from this research would be applicable to modern ecosystems faced with climate change. Cited literature Beard, K. C. & Dawson, M. R. 1999 Intercontinental dispersal of Holarctic land mammals near the Paleocene/Eocene boundary: paleogeographic, paleoclimatic and biostratigraphic implications. Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 170, 697-706. Elias, S. A. & Matthews, J. V. 2002 Arctic North American seasonal temperatures from the latest Miocene to the Early Pleistocene, based on mutual climatic range analysis of fossil beetle assemblages. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 39, 911-920. Harington, C. R. 2001 Life at a 3.5 million year old beaver pond in the Canadian Artic islands and the modern scene. Meridian Fall/Winter, 11-13. Janis, C. M. 1993 Tertiary mammal evolution in the context of changing climates, vegetation, and tectonic events. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 24, 467-500. Tedford, R. H. & Harington, C. R. 2003 An Arctic mammal fauna from the Early Pliocene of North America. Nature 425, 388 - 390. Vrba, E. S. 1992 Mammals as a Key to Evolutionary-Theory. Journal of Mammalogy 73, 1-28.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
Evidence recovered from this unique fossil locality will be used to test hypotheses related to the evolution and dispersal of high latitude vertebrates. It will also contribute to the development of a paleontological database that ultimately will be serve to study the effect of climate change on terrestrial communities by comparing patterns of community composition and change in Arctic with those of low latitude communities. Any general trends resulting from this research would be applicable to modern ecosystems faced with climate change. This research project is designed to incorporates student training, and will contribute in public outreach.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Dr. X.Wang, (Natural History Museum of Angeles County), and colleagues at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Palaeonthropology in the Chinese Academy of Science will be involved.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The main “Beaver Pond site” is located at the head of Strathcona Fiord, on Ellesmere Island, Nunavut (78º 33’ N, 82º 20’ W). The Beaver Pond deposit outcrops in other areas of Western Ellesmere Island. These are currently under investigation.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 06/07 – 07/07      06/08 – 07/08      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Research will be conducted from a tent base-camp. Twin Otter and Helicopter support is required for transportation.

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?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Ecosystems Terrestrial Processes

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?
yes

Paleontological work at this locality began in 1992 (by Dr. Richard Harington, Canadian Museum of Nature.), and is ongoing.

How will the project be organised and managed?
Project is managed by the primary investigator. Logistical support will be sought through the Polar Continental Shelf Project

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

Dr  Natalia Rybczynski
Canadian Museum of Nature
PO Box 3443 “D”
Ottawa, Ontario
K1P 6P4
Canada

Tel: (613) 364-4145
Mobile: no
Fax: (613) 364-4027
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation