88058704 t PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW THE WESTERN UNITED t Supporting report to the Draft Vegetation Treatments Using Herbicides on Bureau 9f Land Management Lands in 17 Western States Programmatic EIS QE 747 .W4 P354 2005 FOR STATES ?>Q^'^^ >eHi &Q225 t t t t ^;!i|'?C^:W-^2 liJW'jf/Df PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW 7^7 PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW FOR 'p3(^ THE WESTERN UNITED STATES The BLM is responsible for managing public lands and their various resources so thai that will best meet the present and fiiture needs of this Nation. The western U.S. ha^ almost all of the geologic periods from the Cambrian (500+ million years ago) to the years), and nearly every imaginable ancient environment (Table 1). Many fossil international importance, and many thousands of different kinds of fossils were ofi scientific world from specimens first found in the west. they are utilized in a manner a fossil record that includes more Recent (the last 10,000 deposits are of national and ginally made known to the Eire more The BLM manages fossils as a natural heritage resource on public lands under the gi Land Policy and Management Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Fossils use in research, education, and recreation, and paleontological localities are an developing land use management decisions. More than 200 properties, totaling managed either wholly or in part for paleontological values or contain paleontolog special management strategies in the future. Significant paleontological resources can lands estimated to total over 20 million acres. Because of the increasing interest and the past 3 decades, it is estimated that there are more than 50,000 fossil sites documented A fossil is defined as the remains, trace, or imprint of a plant or animal that has been and is more than 10,000 years old. This paleontological overview summarizes in geneital occur in 17 western states where BLM vegetation treatments would occur. Sources of infc end of each section for each state. :eperal guidance of the Federal managed to promote their important consideration in than 5 million acres, are ;ical values that may require also be found on other public Activity related to fossils over on public lands. preserved in a geologic context, terms what kinds of fossils brmation are provided at the .g., mosasaurs), flying reptiles Fossils are grouped into the following categories for this overview: trace, plant, invertebrate, fish, amphibian, reptile, dinosaur, bird, mammal, and vertebrate. Table 2 shows the occurrence of these fossr types for each state through geologic time. A trace fossil (ichnofossil) is a track, trail, biorrow, or tube formed by the activity of an animal. Coprolites, or fossilized dung, are also trace fossils. Fossilized plants occur as physical remains (e.g., petrified wood) or imprints (e.g., leaf impressions). Stromatolites (laminated algal mounds) and Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are included in the plant category, hivertebrates are animals without backbones that inliabit marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments, although this overview does not differentiate the different forms vertebrates, are subdivided into fish, amphibian, reptile, dinosaur, bird, mammal, and ve-tebrate. The latter subdivision is used when unspecified or unidentified vertebrate remains are mentioned in the hterature. As with invertebrates, differentiation between marine, freshwater, or terrestrial vertebrates is not included. The reptile category includes a variety of animals such as thecodonts (primitive reptiles), crocodiles, marine reptiles (e.j (pterosaurs), lizards, snakes, and turtles. Alaska Invertebrates are found throughout the Paleozoic Era record in Alaska. However, vertebrate remains do not appear until the beginning of the Mesozoic Era in Triassic-age rocks, which also contain invertebrates, hivertebrates and trace fossils have been found in Jurassic Period formations. Cretaceous-age units have produced many different types of fossils, including traces, plants, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals. With the exception of rare turtle remains, reptiles and amphibians are conspicuously absent. Their absence is thought to be a reflection of climatic conditions in Alaska during the Cretaceous Period, rather than a preservational bias. Plants occur in Paleogene-age rocks, whereas Neogene-age units have produced both plant and invertebrate fossils. Pleistocene-age sediments contain plant, invertebrate, bird, and mammal remains (Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Thurston and Fujita 1994; Coimor and O'Haire 2001). Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER November 2005 PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW Arizona The fossil record in Arizona extends back into the Precambrian Era, where algal reef forms and jellyfish have been found in Proterozoic-age rocks. Cambrian- and Devonian-Eige invertebrates, and Devonian-age fish occur. Plant and invertebrate fossils are found in Mississippian- and Pennsylvanian-age units. Permian-age fossils include the physical remains of plants, invertebrates, and fishes, as well as amphibian and reptile tracks. Triassic-age rocks produce many difierent types of fossils including traces, plants, iavertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, and dinosaurs. Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona showcases and protects maitiy of these unique Triassic-age fossils. Invertebrates, trace fossils, and unspecified vertebrate remains are reported from Jurassic-age rocks. Cretaceous foimations contain plant, invertebrate, fish, reptile, and dinosaur remains, along witli trace fossils. Neogene-age fossils include traces, plants, invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals. Invertebrate, amphibian, reptile, and mammal remains occur in Pleistocene-age sediments (Lane 1946; Denison 1951; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Chronic 1989; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Daniels 1998; Hohnan2000). California Although invertebrates dominate the Paleozoic-age fossil record in CaUfomia, fish have been found in Devonian- and Permian-age rocks. Triassic-age fossils include invertebrate and reptile remains. Plants and invertebrates occur in Jurassic-age rocks. Cretaceous units have produced plant, invertebrate, reptile, and dinosaur fossils, although the latter are uncommon. Paleogene-age rocks contain plants, invertebrates, reptiles, and mammals. Neogene- and Pleistocene- age sediments contain many different types of fossils — pkmts, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In addition, Neogene-age trace fossils have also been reported. Rancho La Brea Tar Pits is one of the best Pleistocene-age fossil localities known. Owned by Los Angeles County, the locality is located in the middle of Los Angeles, California, and registered as a National Natural Landmark. Numerous Ice Age fossils have been excavated and include saber-toothed cat, dire wolf, giant sloth, mammoth, mastodon, dwarf pronghom, short-faced bear, Hon, horse, bison, coyote, rodent, fish, amphibian, reptile, bird, insect, and plant remains (Bode 1935; Wilson 1935a, b; Wheeler 1939; Lane 1947a; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Sharp and Glazner 1993; Alt and Hyndman 1995, 2000; Hohnan 2000). Colorado The oldest fossils found in Colorado are Cambrian-age invertebrates. Primitive, jawless, armored fish (ostracoderms) occur in Ordovician-age rocks along with trace fossils anci invertebrates. Fishes and invertebrates also occur in the Devonian-age rocks. Mississippian-age invertebrates, Pennsylvanian-age plants and invertebrates, and Permian-age invertebrates and reptiles have been reported in this state. Trace fossils, plants, fishes, amphibians, and reptiles occur in Triassic-age formations. Jurassic and Cretaceous-age units have produced many different types of fossils including traces, plants, invertebrates, fishes, reptiles, dinosaurs, and mammals. Paleogene-age fossils include plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument in Colorado contains thousands of exceptional insect and plant fossils preserved in Oligocene (Paleogene)-age lake deposits. Although Neogene-age rocks are uncommon in Colorado, some mammal and unspecified vertebrate remains have been reported. Pleistocene-age mammal, reptile, invertebrate, and plant remains occur as well (Akersten et al. n.d.; Denison 1951; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Kuntz et al. 1989; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Chronic 1994a; Hohnan 2000). Idaho Proterozoic-age worm trails and stromatolites are the oldest fossils found in Idaho. Stromatohtes are mounded structures composed of alternating layers of blue-green algae and sediment. They are found today in warm, shallow, marine environments and the layers form as mats of blue-green algae trap sedimentary material, grow above the sediment cover, and trap more sediments. Invertebrates occur in the Cambrian-, Ordovician-, Mississippian-, Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. 2 November 2005 Draft Programmatic ER t s t t PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVffiW Peimsylvanian-, and Permian-age, and fish are found in the Devonian-age units, fishes, and invertebrates. Plant and invertebrate remains occur in Jurassic-age units Cretaceous-age rocks of southeastern Idaho along with invertebrates, plants, and trace limited to plant remains, whereas Neogene-age fossils are much more diverse and amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants. One such Neogene-age locality is Monument, which is internationally significant for its Phocene-age fossils. Of note are closely related to zebras in Africa than they are to horses. Other animals include the otter, bear, sloth, hyena-like dog, beaver, shrew, mole, muskrat, giant marmot, turtle, swan. Pleistocene-age sediments contain mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, (Akersten et al. n.d.; Shimer and Schrock 1944; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Lundbt^r Hyndman 1995; Holman 2000). Montana cfl Triassic-age rocks contain reptiles, Dinosaurs and reptiles are found in fossils. Paleogene-age fossils are include mammals, birds, reptiles, Hagerman Fossil Beds National fossilized "horses" that are more camel, pronghom, cat, peccary, ;atfish, snake, cormorant, and invertebrate, and plant fossils •g 1975; Dorr 1985; Alt and Stromatolites, trace fossils, and invertebrates are found in some Proterozoic-age rocks as trilobites occur in Cambrian-age units. Ordovician-age units contain worm burrojvs remains, and Silurian-age rocks, although uncommon, have produced stromatolites invertebrates, and trace fossils occur in Devonian-age units. Mississippian-age invertebrates as are Pennsylvanian-age invertebrates and fish. Permian-age rocks have produced sometimes fish remains. Invertebrates are the only type of fossil reported fi^om Triassic- contain dinosaur remains along with invertebrates and plants. All fossil types are found including dinosaur, bird, mammal, reptile, amphibian, fish, invertebrate, plant, and Glendive, Montana, is a complex of badlands where the Hell Creek Formation and including dinosaurs such as Triceratops and Tyrannosawus. Other exposures of the Peck Reservoir on the Missouri River are registered as a National Natural Landmatk, produced remains of fossilized plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and invertebrate fossils occur in Neogene-age rocks, and Pleistocene-age sediments invertebrates (Wilhs 1902; Deis 1939; Shrimer and Shrock 1944; Ransom 1964: Rasmussen 1974; Alt and Hyndman 1986; Carroll 1988; Homer 1989; Weishampel el 2001). trace its Hkl , and Nebraska Pennsylvanian- and Permian-age rocks in Nebraska contain invertebrates. CretacecjuS' invertebrates, reptiles, dinosaur remains, and a dinosaur track. Mammal and reptUe rejnams units. In addition to trace fossils, Neogene-age deposits contain mammal, bird, reptile, and plant remains. Agate Fossil Beds National Monument in northwestern Nebraska features Epoch including rhinos, giant pigs, camels, and beardogs, as well as spiral-shaped, vertical (i.e., devil's corkscrew) excavated by a land-dwelling beaver, Palaeocastor. mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates. Petrified wood, opalized wood, and reported fi-om Nebraska, but their age is unspecified. The Queen Hill Quarry south of many marine invertebrates, an impression of a large shark, and a fish skeleton. Althou: unspecified, they probably date to the Cretaceous Period when an inland seaway cormectin; Arctic Ocean bisected North America (Akersten et al. n.d.; Lane 1945; Ransom 1964 Lundberg 1975; Smith and Friedland 1975; Voorhies 1981; Weishampel et al. 1990; Hohnan Nevada Cambrian-, Ordovician-, Silurian-, Devonian-, Mississippian-, and Pennsylvanian-age and Devonian-age fish have been found as well. Fish also occur in Permian-age rocks units contain mvertebrates, fish, and marine reptiles. Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park m Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER Montana. Invertebrates such and invertebrate and fish and invertebrates. Fishes, and trace fossils are found, inVertebrates, stromatolites, and age rocks. Jurassic-age rocks in Cretaceous-age rocks, . Makoshika State Park near suite of fossils are exposed, Creek Formation near Fort ,. Paleogene-age units have mammals. Mammal, reptile, Contain mammals, fishes, and Murray 1967; Balster 1971; al. 1990; Hohnan 2000; Hill Pleistocene- age rocks have produced occur in Paleogene-age amphibian, fish, invertebrate, fossils fi-om the Miocene burrows called Daemonelix :-age sediments contain remains of cycads and ferns are Omaha, Nebraska, produced gh the age of these fossils is g the Gulf of Mexico to the Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; 2000; Joeckeletal. 2001) invertebrates occur in Nevada, (Wheeler 1939). Triassic-age the Shoshone Mountains of November 2005 PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW northern Nevada features carnivorous, marine reptiles from the Triassic Period called ichthyosaurs. Approximately 40 ichlhyosaur skeletons have been found in the park thus far. Although these swimming reptiles look similar to dolphins, they are unrelated. The ichthyosaur fossil area is a National Natural Landmark and the historic town of Berlin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Reptiles, fishes, and invertebrates occur in Jurassic-age units, and invertebrates in the Cretaceous-age rocks. Although dinosaur remains have been reported from Cretaceous-age rocks in Nevada, they are uncommon. Many different types of Neogene-age fossils occur including mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Pleistocene-age sediments contain: mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, and plant remains; fracks; and sloth dung (Akersten et al. n.d.; Furiong 1935; Laudermilk and Munz 1935; Wheeler 1939; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Sander et al. 1994; Daniels 1998; Holman 2000). New Mexico Stromatolites that lived during the Proterozoic Eon are found in New Mexico. Cambrian-age fossils include traces and invertebrates, and Ordovician-age remains include stromatolites and invertebrates. Silurian-age invertebrates are reported as well. Fishes and iavertebrates occur in Devoni£in-age rocks, and land plants, fishes, and invertebrates are found in Mississippian-age units. Pennsylvanian-age rocks have produced plants and invertebrates. Remains of reptiles, amphibians, fish, invertebrates, and plants occur in Permian-age units. Carlsbad Caverns National Park is composed of limestone that represents a massive fossil reef system, which formed when southeastern New Mexico was under the ocean during the Permian Period. This reef deposit extends mto Texas and is contiguous with that foimd in Guadalupe Mountains National Park. The Triassic Period record in New Mexico contains many different fossil types including dinosaur, reptile, amphibian, fish, invertebrate, plant, and trace fossils. Ghost Ranch, a National Natural Landmark, contains numerous skeletons of the primitive, carnivorous, dinosaur named Coelophysis that is preserved in the Triassic Period Chinle Formation. Dinosaur and plant remains occur in the Jurassic Period, and dinosaurs, reptiles, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and trace fossils are found in the Creitaceous Period. Paleogene-age fossils include mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, invertebrates, and plants. Plant and mammal fossils occur in Neogene-age rocks, whereas Pleistocene-age sediments have mammals, birds, and reptiles (Williston 1911; Lane 1944; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Weishampel et al. 1990; Chronic 1994b; Hohnan 2000; Spearing 2001). North Dakota Ordovician- and Devonian-age rocks of North Dakota formed when the state was beneath an ocean and contain marine invertebrates. Mississippian-age units also formed in marine environments, and contain plant, invertebrate, and trace fossils. In the Mississippian Period Mission Canyon Formation, Luther (1995) discovered toothed jaw elements (called scolecodonts) from a segmented, marine worm (Class Polychaetia). Polychaete worms first appeared in the late Precambrian Era and are ahve today. Jurassic-age invertebrates occur, and Cretaceous-age fossils include dinosaurs, reptiles, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and traces. North Dakota's state fossil is Cretaceous-age petrified wood, which exhibits borings created by a woim-shaped mollusk {Teredo). In addition to trace fossils, the remains of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants are found in Paleogene-age deposits. The only Neogene-age fossils reported from North Dakota are fish remains, whereas Pleistocene-age sediments include mammals, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants (Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; North Dakota Geological Survey 1977; Bluemle et al. 1986; Luther 1995; Daniels 1998). Oklahoma Cambrian-age fish remains foimd in Oklahoma represent some of the oldest vertebrate fossils found in North America. Invertebrates are found in Cambrian-, Ordovician-, SUurian-, and Devonian-age units. Mississippian-age fishes and invertebrates occur. Amphibian and fish remains, amphibian fracks, and invertebrates are found in Pennsylvanian-age rocks. Permian-age fossils include reptiles, amphibians, atid invertebrates. The oldest known cave/fissure deposits occur in the Slick Hills of Oklahoma, and contain fossilized reptiles from the early Permian Period. Amphibians and Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. 4 November 2005 Draft Programmatic ER t t PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW t t reptiles have been discovered in Triassic-age units. Jurassic-age dinosaur and trace fossils are known, as are Cretaceous-age dinosaur, vertebrate (unspecified), invertebrate, and trace fossils. Neogene-age fossils include fish, amphibian, reptile, and mammal remains. Pleistocene-age units contain mammals, birds, invertebrates. Petrified wood reportedly occurs in stream gravels, and although the Quaternary Period in age, it is likely that the petrified wood was reworked fi^om an older rock unit (Shimer and Shrock 1944; Lane 1945; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Smith 1978; Weishampel et all 990; Hohnan 2000; Sullivan and Reisz 2002) and Friedland 1975; Repetske Oregon reptiles, amphibians, fish, and stream deposits are probably The oldest fossils reported from Oregon are Triassic-age invertebrates. Jurassic fossils include fish and invertebrates. Rare dinosaur remains occur in Cretaceous-age rocks, along with mammal, reptile, and invertebrate fossils. Oregon has exceptional Tertiary-age fossil assemblages. John Day Fossil Beds National Monument features these Paleogene- and Neogene-age fossils, which include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertel^rates, and plants. The rocks at the Monument span approximately 48 million years and record biotic relationships, evolutionary changes, and climatic changes. Pleistocene-age animals foimd in Oregon include remains of mammals, b:rds, fishes, and invertebrates (Akersten et al. N.d.; Scharf 1935; Wilson 1935c; Lane 1947a; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Weishampel et al. 1990; Fremd 1992; Santucci 1993; Alt and Hyndman 1998a; Daniels 1998; Hohnan 2000). South Dakota Cambrian-age trace fossils are the oldest remnants of prehistoric life in South Dakota. Invertebrates and primitive, jawless, armored fish are found in Ordovician-age rocks. Devonian-, Mississippian-, Permsylvanian-, and Permian-age invertebrates occur, and Permian-age fish have been found as well. Dinosaur, invertebrate, and trace fossils are reported reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and and plants. Badlands National from Jurassic-age units. Cretaceous deposits contain traces, plants, invertebrates, fishes, mammals. Paleogene-age fossils include mammals, birds, reptiles, fishes, invertebrates. Park in southwestem South Dakota has Oligocene-age fossil beds that are 35-23 millio:i years old and contain horse, sheep, rhinoceros and pig fossils. Neogene-age fossils include traces, plants, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals. Remains of mammals, reptiles, and fishes are found in Pleistocene-age deposits. The Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, South Dakota (a National Natural Landmark), showcases 26,000-year-old Pleistocene-age mammoths preserved in an ancient sinkhole deposit. (Akersten et al. n.d.; Gregory 1942; Shimer and Shrock 1944; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Smith and Friedland 1975; Rich 1985; Weishampel et al. |990; Hohnan 2000) Texas In Texas, invertebrates occur in Cambrian-, Ordovician-, Silurian-, Devonian-, and Mississippian-age units, and fish are found in Ordovician-, Devonian-, and Mississippian-age formations. Pennsylvaniaii-age rocks contain reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants. Permian-age fossils include reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and coprolites. Guadalupe Mountains National Park in southwestem Texas features a fossil reef system that formed when the area was a marine environment during the Permian Period. Triassic-age fossils include: dinosaur, reptile, amphibian, and fish remains; invertebrates; plants; and trace fossils. Dinosaur remains and invertebrates have been found in Jurassic-age rocks. Cretaceous-age units contain a wide variety of fossil types including dinosaur, bird, reptile, fish, invertebrate, plant, and trace. Dinosaur Valley State Park, a National Natural Landmark near Glen Rose, Texas, features Cretaceous-age dinosaur footprints that have been exposed by the Paluxy River. Paleogene-age fossils include mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, and plants. Bird remains, and mammals, reptiles, and fishes occur in Neogene-age units. Pleistocene-age sediments contain mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, and invertebrates (Akersten et al. n.d.; Williston 1911; Shimer and Shrock 1944; Lane 1947a; Ransom 1964; Gelbach 1965; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Smith and Friedland 1975; Repetski 1978; Weishampel et al. [1990; Santucci 1993; Daniels 1998; Hohnan 2000; Spearing 2001). Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER November 2005 PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW TABLE 1 Chart Showing Subdivisions of Geologic Time and Their Age Ranges after Palmer and Geissman (1999) EON ERA PERIOD EPOCH AGE Phanerozoic Cenozoic Quaternary Holocene 0.01-0 Ma Pleistocene 1.8-0.01 Ma Neogene Pliocene 5.3-1.8 Ma Miocene 23.8-5.3 Ma Paleogene Oligocene 33.7-23.8 Ma Eocene 54.8-33.7 Ma Paleocene 65-54.8 Ma Mesozoic Cretaceous 144-65 Ma Jurassic 206-144 Ma Triassic 248-206 Ma Paleozoic Permian 290-248 Ma Pennsylvanian 323-290 Ma Mississippian 354-323 Ma Devonian 417-354 Ma Silurian 443-417 Ma Ordovician 490-443 Ma Cambrian 543-490 Ma Proterozoic Precambrian 2,500-543 Ma Archean 73,800-2,500 Ma The Tertiary sub-Era (not shown) includes the Paleogene and Neogene. Ma = million years ago. Utah Proterozoic-age trace fossils and stromatolites are the oldest fossils in Utah. Cambrian-age invertebrates and vertebrates (unspecified) occur, and Ordovician-age traces, invertebrates, and fishes are found as well. Fishes and invertebrates are present in Devonian-age rocks. Mississippian-age invertebrates are reported, as are Pennsylvanian-age invertebrates and plants. Invertebrate, plant, and trace fossils occur in Permian units. Triassic-age fossils include reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and traces. Trace fossils found in Triassic-age units include vertebrate tracks, lungfish burrows, and a coprolite. Dinosaurs, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and traces occur ia Jurassic-age rocks. Dinosaur National Monument (spanning northeastern Utah and northwestern Colorado) and Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry National Natural Landmark (in eastern Utah) feature Jurassic-age fauna and flora. All fossil types are present in Cretaceous-age rocks — trace fossils, plants, invertebrates, fishes, amphibians, reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, and mammals. Paleogene-age fossils include mammals, reptiles, fishes, bird tracks, invertebrates, and plants. Mammal and fish remaias have been found in Neogene-age rocks. Pleistocene-age deposits contain mammals, birds, reptiles, plants, and trace fossils (Akersten et al. n.d.; Dension 1951; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Repetski 1978; Weishampel et al. 1990; Santucci 1993; Chronic 1994c; Gillette and Hayden 1997; Holman 2000). t t Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER November 2005 Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands In Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER Summary of Fossils TABLE 2 Types that Occur in Each State Through Geologic Time Period Fossil Type Plant Invertebrate Fisii Amphibian Dinosaur Reptile Bird Mammal Vertebrate Trace Pleistocene 1.8-0.91 Ma AK,CA, CO, ID, NV.ND. UT' AK, AZ, CA, CO, TD. MT, NE, ND, OK, OR, TX, WA CA, ID, ND, OK, OR.TX AZ, CA, ID, NE, NV, ND, OK,TX AZ,CA, CO, ID, NE,NV, NM, OK, SD, TX, UT AK, CA, ID, NV, NM, OK, OR, TX, UT AK. AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY CO,OK, TX NV,UT,WA > s Neogene 23.8-1.8 Ma AK,AZ. CA, ID, NE,NV, NM,OR, SD, AZ, ID, MT, NE, NV, OR, WA CA,ID,NE, NV,ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT,WY CA,ID,NE, NV, OK, OR, SD, AZ,CA, ID, MT, NE.NV, OK, OR, SD,TX, WA, WY CA,ID, NE, OR, SD,TX AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV,NM,OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY CO, NE, OR, SD. WA AZ, CA. NE, SD -J Paleogene 65-23.8 Ma AIC, CA, CO, ID, MT.NM, ND. OR. SD, TX, UT, WA, WY CA, CO, MT, NM, ND, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA.WY CO, MT. NM, ND, OR, SD, UT,WY CO, MT, ND, OR, WY CA, CO, MT, NE, NM, ND, OR, SD, TX. UT, WY CO, MT, NM, ND, SD,WY CA OR ND,UT Cretaceous 144-65 Ma AK,AZ, CA, CO. ID,MT, NM,ND, SD, TX. UT, WA, WY AK, AZ. CA, CO, ID, MT, NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY AK, AZ, CO, MT, NM,ND. SD, TX, UT,WY MT AK,AZ, CA, ID, MT,NE, NV, NM, ND, OK, OR,SD, TX, UT, WY AK,AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE,NM, ND,OR, SD, TX, UT,WY SD, TX, UT, AK, CO, MT, OR, SD, UT, WY AZ, OK, TX AK, AZ, CO, ID, MT, NE, NM.ND.OK, SD. TX, UT. WY IiTrassic CA, CO, ID, MT, AK, AZ. CA. CO, ID. MT, rr> DR CO, MT, NM, OK, CO, NV, AK, AZ, CO, 206-144 Ma NM, UT, WY NV,ND, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY UT.'WY SD, TX. UT,WY UT,WY CO, u r, WY AZ OK, SD. TX, UT,WY O o o < o < Triassic 248-206 Ma AZ,CO, NM, TX, UT AK, AZ. CA. ID,MT,NV, NM, OR, TX, UT, WA, WY AZ,CO. NV.NM, TX, UT, WY AZ,CO,NM, TX,UT AZ,NM, TX,WY AICAZ, CA,CO. ID,NV, NM,OK, TX,UT, WY AZ. CO, NM, TX, UT O ^ TABLE 2 (Cont.) Summary of Fossils Types that Occur in Each State Through Geologic Time a ?3 r I Period Fossil Type | Plant Invertebrate Fish Amphibian Dinosaur Reptile Bird JVIammal Vertebrate Trace Pemiian 290-248 Ma AZ,MT, NM,TX, UT AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE,NM,OK, SD, TX, UT, WA,WY AZ,CA, MT,NV, NM, SD, TX NIVI, OK, TX CO,NM, OK,TX AZ, TX, UT Pennsylvaniaii 323-290 Ma AZ,CO, NM, TX, UT AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NE,NV.NM, OK, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY MT, OK, TX OK,TX TX OK Mississippian 354-323 Ma AZ,NM, ND AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV,NM,ND, OK, SD. TX, UT, WA, WY NM,OK, TX MT,ND Devonian 417-354 Ma AK, AZ, CA, CO, MT. N^V, NM,ND,OK, SD, TX, UT, WA,WY AZ,CA, CO, ID, MT,NV, NM,TX, UT,WY MT Silurian 443-417 Ma MT AK. CA, MT, NV,NM,OK, TX Ordovician 490-443 Ma NM AK, CA. CO, ID, MT. NV, NM,ND,OK, SD, TX, UT, WA,WY CO, MT, SD, TX, UT,WY CO, MT, UT Cambrian 543-490 Ma AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NV,NM,OK, SD, TX, UT, WA,WY OK, WA, WY UT NM,SD Proterozoic 2,500-543 Ma AZ,ID, MT,NM, UT,WY AZ, MT, ID, MT, UT Age unspecified AK, NE, NV,OK AK,NE NE ' AK = Alaska; AZ = Arizona; CA = California; CO = Colorado; ID = Idalio; MT = Montana; ND = North Dakota; NE = Nebraska; NM = New Mexico; NV = Nevada; OK = Oklahoma; OR = Oregon; SD = Soutli Dakota; TX = Texas: UT = Utah; WA = Washington; and WY = Wyoming. m s H O r o o i— I n o <: M 1— I W t t PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVIEW Washington Cambrian-age fish remains from Washington are some of the oldest vertebrate remains found in North America. Invertebrates occur in Cambrian-, Ordovician-, Devonian-, Mississippian-, Pennsylvanian-, Permian-, Triassic-, and Jurassic-age rocks. Cretaceous- and Paleogene-age fossils include invertebrates and plants. Neogene-age deposits contain mammal, reptile, and unspecified vertebrate remains; invertebrates; petrified wood; and leaf impressions. Gingko Petrified Forest, a state park near Ellensburg, Washington, is a National Natural Landmark featuring Miocene- age petrified wood that was preserved when "...lava covered waterlogged wood buried in the mud in the bottom of a shallow lake." Mammals, invertebrates, and trace fossils are found in Pleistocene-age sediments (Akerstein et al. n.d.; Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Repetski 1978; Alt and Hyndman 1998b; Daniels 1998; Hchnan 2000). Wyoming Proterozoic-age stromatolites occur in Wyoming. Some of the oldest fish remains discovered in North America come from this state, and are found along with invertebrates and calcareous algae in Cambrian-age rocks. Osfracoderms (fish) and invertebrates are found in Ordovician-age units. Devonian-age rocks contain fish, whereas invertebrates occur in Mississippian-, Pennsylvanian-, and Permian-age units. Triassic-age dinosaurs, reptiles, fishes, and invertebrates are present. Jurassic fossils are diverse and include mammals, dinosaurs, reptiles, amphibiaiis, fishes, invertebrates, plants, and traces. Red Gulch Dinosaur Track Site on pubHc land near Shell, Wyoming, showcases 167 million-year-old dinosaur tracks from the Jurassic Period and is the largest track site in the state. Cretaceous-age units contain frace fossils, plant remains, invertebrates, fish, reptiles, dinosaurs, and mammals. Paleogene-age formations have produced mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fishes, invertebrates, and plants. Fossil Butte National Monument is well known for its fossil fish, but it also protects plant, insect, reptile, and mammal fossils preserved in 50 million-year-old Eocene- age lake deposits. Neogene-age deposits contain mammal, reptile, and fish remains. Ice Age mammals have been found in Pleistocene-age sediments (Akersten et al. n.d.; Shimer and Shrock 1944; Lane 1945 Ransom 1964; Murray 1967; Lundberg 1975; Repetski 1978; Dorr 1985; Lageson and Spearing 1988; Weishamp^ et al. 1990; Chronic 1994a; Hohnan 2000). Vegetation Treatments on BLM Lands in Western U.S. Draft Programmatic ER November 2005 PALEONTOLOGICAL OVERVffiW REFERENCES Akersten, W.A., H.G. McDonald, D.J. Meldrum, and M.E.T. Flint (eds.). n.d. And Whereas... Papers on the Vertebrate Paleontology of Idaho Honoring John A. White. Volume 1. Occasional Paper 36. Idaho Museum of Natural History. Pocatello, Idaho. Alt, D.D., and D.W. Hyndman. 1986. Roadside Geology of Montana. Mountain Press. Missoula, Montana. , . 1995. Roadside Geology of Idaho. Mountain Press. Missoula, Montana. , . 1998a. Roadside Geology of Oregon. Mountain Press. Missoula, Montana. , . 1998b. Roadside Geology of Washington. Mountain Press. Missoula, Montana. , . 2000. 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