Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #240: Taxonomy and biostratigraphy of Arctic plesiosaurian (Reptilia: Sauropterygia) fauna  (Arctic plesiosaurs)

Outline
Plesiosaurs are a group of Mesozoic reptiles, and their remains are known from marine sediments of various parts of the world, including the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Despite their commonality as a member of Mesozoic marine fauna, little is known about their biogeographic history throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous, and the pattern of extinction at the end of the Cretaceous. A major reason for this is the lack of detailed taxonomic and biostratigraphic data in several regions, including the Arctic. In general, rich plesiosaurian fossil record has been known in the Jurassic of Europe and the Upper Cretaceous of the circum-Pacific region, and as a potential geographic link between these two regions, biostratigraphic record of plesiosaurs in the Arctic is crucial. Previous studies in the marine fauna of the Western Interior of North America have shown certain latitudinal distribution pattern throughout the Late Cretaceous, and our study will replace the paucity of the data from the Arctic region, making it possible to test or strengthen previously proposed hypotheses. Understanding of distribution of marine reptiles such as plesiosaurs in the polar region is also important to understand the climate change in this area and the temperature tolerance of extinct reptiles. Recent progresses in geology and paleontology have given sketches of climate and fauna/flora in the polar region during the Mesozoic, and such data will be used for the interpretation of the biostratigraphic distribution pattern obtained by this project. It is also expected that the presence of reptiles such as plesiosaurs will serve as important evidence to interpret the paleoenvironment (such as temperature, abundance of food resources) of the Arctic during the Mesozoic. The proposed research includes fieldwork (prospecting and collection of fossils in various Mesozoic localities in Arctic), and examination of previously collected specimens in museum(s). Plesiosaurian fossils have biostratigraphically and geographically wide range among the Arctic. In addition to the fieldwork in the previously known localities, it is worthwhile to explore other areas where extensive exposures of Mesozoic marine sediments are known.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
This project relates to the “Change” and “Global linkage”, and probably “New frontiers” of the IPY themes. Arctic plesiosaurian or other marine reptilian fossils have not been intensively studied despite the previous reports of their occurrences in various places over the Arctic. The data collected in this project will bring a “big picture” of the change(s) in the Arctic marine vertebrate fauna during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. The same data is also important to understand the global distribution pattern of extinct marine reptiles, e.g., how they achieved their geographically wide distribution and how they became extinct at the end of the era despite their abundance during the Mesozoic.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The applicant (TS) is Japanese, considering a collaboration with researcher(s) in Canada and possible other countries (see 3.6).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Mesozoic marine sediments in areas such as: - Canadian Arctic Archipelago such as Banks, Melville, Prince Patrick, MacKenzie King, Devon, Axel Heiburg, and Ellesmere islands. - Anderson and Horton rivers area in NWT.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: one month in summer 2006      one month in summer 2007      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
Transportation (helicopter or aircraft); can be shared with other projects.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
Own support
Other sources of support

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
No

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

How will the project be organised and managed?
The applicant is planning to collaborate with other researcher(s), and will take responsibility for the organisation and management related to this project in co-ordination with theirs (see 3.6).

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The result from this project will educate/inform school children, young and potential new polar researchers, and general public about the long-term change in the Arctic fauna as we as about the evolutionary biology at global/geological scale.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
Specimens collected in this project should be deposited to public domain(s) such as local or national museums, as biological/geological specimens in general are.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The applicant is planning to apply for financial support(s) from Canadian and Japanese research grants

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
This project may be collaborated with the “Cretaceous-Tertiary vertebrate faunal transition” project proposed by Dr. Hans Larsson of McGill University (project #147).

PROPOSER DETAILS

Postdoctoral Research Fellow Tamaki Sato
Canadian Museum of Nature
PO Box 3443 STN”D”
Ottawa, ON
K1P 6P4
Canada

Tel: 613-364-4010
Mobile: no
Fax: 613-364-4027
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation