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Taphonomy of the Winton Formation fossils at Isisford
As part of my PhD, I am currently researching the taphonomy of the vertebrate fauna from the Winton Formation in Queensland, Australia. The taphonomic process can be divided into biotic and abiotic factors or agents acting upon a carcass and the surrounding matrix. There are some excellent specimens coming out of sandstone concretions, beautifully preserved partially articulated skeletal elements, which in itself is a little bit of an enigma! And obviously, what my research will be focused on.
As well as examining prepared fossils from this formation, I will also be conducting a fresh water decay experiment using modern crocodile and fish carcasses, to determine the rates at which limb and other skeletal elements disarticulate.
As well as examining prepared fossils from this formation, I will also be conducting a fresh water decay experiment using modern crocodile and fish carcasses, to determine the rates at which limb and other skeletal elements disarticulate.
A simplified overview of taphonomic process.
From Fastovsky, D. E. and Weishampel, D. B., 2009. Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History. Cambridge University Press, New York.
From Fastovsky, D. E. and Weishampel, D. B., 2009. Dinosaurs: A Concise Natural History. Cambridge University Press, New York.
Biotic taphonomic factors
Biotic factors include:
- the health of the animal before it died, and potential influence on rates of decay
- agents acting upon the carcass before burial (including scavengers, aerobic or anaerobic microbial decay, trampling etc...)
- agents acting upon the carcass immediately after burial (microbial decay including the break down of tissues, fats and bone into adipocere)
Abiotic taponomic factors
Abiotic factors include:
- environmental agents (water, wind, gravity) as erosional forces
- formation of concretions
- mineralogical alteration of bone and surrounding sediment (diagenesis)
- influence of groundwater movement and composition on bone chemistry
