Explore the Early Jurassic mass extinction and exceptional fossil preservation at Ya Ha Tinda in this 55-minute lecture by Dr. Rowan Martindale from the University of Texas. Discover the first marine Konservat-Lagerstätte from the Jurassic Period in North America, featuring an incredible diversity of fossil marine life. Learn about the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event, a major global extinction, and its impact on marine communities. Gain insights into the diversity, ecology, and biogeography of marine life during a time of significant biological and environmental change. Examine the relationship between ancient biotic crises and modern ecological challenges, and understand how marine ecosystems survive catastrophic environmental degradation. Delve into the interdisciplinary science behind studying past extinctions, including the role of large igneous provinces, oxygen minimum zones, and paleophysiology in shaping ancient environments.
Ya Ha Tinda and Mass Extinction in the Early Jurassic
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology via YouTube
Overview
Syllabus
Intro
A new Jurassic "fossil bonanza" from Southern Alberta The Ya Ha Tinda Lagerstätte
What Motivates my Research? • Concern about ecosystems today. • Mass extinctions and ancient biotic crises as analogues for modern ecological change. • How do marine ecosystems survive catastrophic environmental degradation? - Wholesale mass extinctions vs. moderate mass
August 2013 - In search of an
Exceptional Fossil preservation
Vertebrates - Fish & Ichthyosaurs
Crustaceans - Shrimp
Crustaceans - Uncinid Lobsters
Crustaceans - Eryonid Lobster Specimen = 10 cm
Coleoids (Vampyropoda)
Ammonites
and a host of other flora & fauna
We have a new Lagerstätte...
In search of the Early Jurassic Oceanic Anoxic Event (-183 Ma)
Extinction(s) and Ecological Collapse(s)
Background - Early Jurassic The Pliensbachian/Toarcian and Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event are key intervals in the Early Mesozoic
Karoo-Ferrar-Chon Aike Large Igneous Province (LIP) • Eruptions coincident with extinctions and isotope excursions. • Synergistic environmental changes.
The 'Deadly Trio
The Oxygen Minimum Zone
Interdisciplinary Science
East Tributary of the Bighorn Creek
Size of the Bivalves & Brachiopods
Pre-CIE interval
CIE phase 2 (Minima)
What environmental conditions caused the biotic turnover?
Paleophysiology and oxygenation dynamics during the T-OAE
Dynamic Expansion/Contraction of Oxygen Minimum Zones
What about the rest of the world at this time?
Ya Ha Tinda vs. Europe
Similar Lagerstätten in Canada and Europe
Current Work on Ya Ha Tinda: Taphonomy & Fossil Preservation
Conclusions
Taught by
Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology
