Paleonet: Field Paleontology Training

[James Mickle]

ann molineux wrote:
> Hi Peg,
>
> I'd be really interested to hear what people say about this.
> I would like to develop a substantive paleo field course and feel a 
> real lack in that area. We have pretty good vertebrate field work but 
> the opportunities for learning invertebrate field methods are very 
> thin. At NPL we have begun using Xplore mapping tablets and ARCGIS in 
> the field, tagging specimens, imaging in situ material and so forth, 
> in an effort to make fossil collection more integrated with the whole 
> geology. We have also tried, not terribly successfully, to use quadrats.
> I have added some comments and could go on at great length but I need 
> to get back to shifting a collection!
>
>> (1)  What are the key practical skills that students should learn and
>> develop to effectively conduct a field study in paleontology?
> Pre-planning of the project, maps, previous studies etc
> Health and safety issues
> Appropriate field gear, storage and labelling, note books cameras, 
> field computer, GPS etc

I would add appropriate collecting techniques from bulk sampling to 
individual specimens.  How to get the specimens out of the outcrop.  An 
understanding of this helps in interpreting what is in a museum collection.
>
>> (2)  What are the key paleontological concepts or knowledge that students
>> can learn most effectively in a field setting?
> Modes of fossilization (raises a plethora of diagenetic and biological 
> issues)
> Interaction between organisms (often excluded in pristine collection 
> environments)
> Index fossils etc
> Evolution of faunae
Sedimentological/geological setting/context of the fossils
Orientation of the fossils in the sediment, which goes back to 
taphonomic issues

Jim
>
>> (3)  What skills and knowledge does a field-based paleo project 
>> provide to a
>> NON-paleontology student, e.g., a student interested in sedimentary 
>> geology,
>> structural geology, or hydrogeology?
> The importance of the biota to the sedimentary environment
> Paleo know how facilitates structural histories
>
>> (4)  So many students view paleontology as a lab-based science - 
>> fossils in
>> neat, labeled boxes to be studied in isolation.  Is field paleontology
>> obsolete? 
> Absolutely not, field paleontology is the only way to place those 
> neat, labelled boxes into any kind of perspective. Field paleo is part 
> of geology.
>
> Ann
>
>> Thanks in advance for any thoughts you'd like to share!
>>
>> Best wishes,
>> Peg
>>
>> Dr. Margaret (Peg) M. Yacobucci
>> Associate Professor & Graduate Coordinator
>> Bowling Green State University
>> Department of Geology
>> 190 Overman Hall
>> Bowling Green, OH  43403
>> Office: 419-372-7982
>> Fax: 419-372-7205
>> Email: mmyacob at bgsu.edu
>>
>>
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>> Paleonet mailing list
>> Paleonet at nhm.ac.uk
>> http://mailman.nhm.ac.uk/mailman/listinfo/paleonet
>
> **********************************************************************
> Ann Molineux, Ph.D.              
> Collections Manager
> Non-vertebrate Paleontology              
> Texas Natural Science Center                      
> University of Texas              
> Austin, TX 78705  
>  
> e-mail:annm at mail.utexas.edu
> Phone: (512) 232-5384
> Fax: (512) 471-6090     
>
> Web: NPLpages: http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/npl/
> http://www.utexas.edu/tmm/npl/mineralogy
> http://www.texasnaturalsciencecenter.org
>
>
> <http://www.texasnaturalsciencecenter.org/>_Mailing address:
> _Non-vertebrate Paleontology Lab, Bldg122                 
> J. J. Pickle Research Campus                      
> 10100 Burnet Road                
> Austin, TX 78758 
>
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