This week I
presented my work on micropalaeontology at the AGM of The Micropalaeontological Society, held in
Liverpool. It was a lively meeting with around 100 participants from the UK and
abroad.
I discussed how
different sedimentary deposits of the Ballagan Formation contain a different
microfossil assemblage. Of particular interest is the distribution of
actinopterygian, rhizodont and chondrichthyan remains, which are fairly common
as microfossil fragments (scales, bone pieces and teeth). Our new data is
helping to piece together the types of environments in which these animals
lived. This work will form the basis of an upcoming publication and has been
the result of many years of study.
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My presentation on microfossils from
Romer’s Gap
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During the
talk I was pleased to acknowledge all the fantastic support I have received
from other TW:eed Project staff and TW:eed Team volunteers over the years. To
date the microfossil count is now over 9,000 specimens! Along with my own
studies, it is very gratifying that the microfossil work is now being taken
forward in new directions by University of Leicester Master’s students Levi
Curry and Hattie Dulson who are each doing microfossil research projects.
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| SEM pictures of some typical microfossils, from left to right: an actinopterygian fish scale, a fragment of a rhizodont fish tooth and a megaspore from a Lycopsid-like tree. |
It’s been a
busy time for presentations. On Friday last week I presented our work in a
research seminar at Newcastle University. The staff and students were fascinated to hear of
all the rare tetrapod and fish fossils almost on their doorstep! And two weeks
ago, Tim Kearsey from the project presented his work on palaeosols at the
annual Geological Society of America
meeting, in Baltimore, USA. Well
done Tim and everyone involved, its great to be able to showcase the results of
this fascinating project.
Until next
time
Carys