Early Pennsylvanian Lagerstätte reveals a diverse ecosystem on a subhumid, alluvial fan
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: . Here we report a diverse Early Pennsylvanian trace and body fossil Lagerstätte (~320-318 Mya) from the Wamsutta Formation of eastern North America, distinct from coal-bearing deposits, preserved in clastic substrates within basin margin conglomerates. The exceptionally preserved trace fossils and body fossils document a range of vertebrates, invertebrates and plant taxa (n = 131), with 83 distinct foliage morphotypes. Plant-insect interactions include what may be the earliest evidence of insect oviposition. This site expands our knowledge of early terrestrial ecosystems and organismal interactions and provides ground truth for future phylogenetic reconstructions of key plant, arthropod, and vertebrate groups.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Richard J. Knecht, Jacob S. Benner, Anshuman Swain, Lauren Azevedo-Schmidt, Christopher J. Cleal, Conrad C. Labandeira, Michael S. Engel, Jason A. Dunlop, Paul A. Selden, Cortland F. Eble, Mark D. Renczkowski, Dillon A. Wheeler, Mataeus M. Funderburk, Steve L. Emma, Andrew H. Knoll, Naomi E. Pierce
Institutions: Harvard University, University of Tennessee at Knoxville, National Museum of Natural History, University of California, Davis, University of Bristol, University of Maryland, College Park, Capital Normal University, American Museum of Natural History, National University of San Marcos, Museo de Historia Natural, Museum für Naturkunde, Natural History Museum, University of Kansas, University of Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey, Tulane University, North Carolina State University
Language: English
Subfield: Paleontology
Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,790
OpenAlex ID: W4402356706