Biogeochemical analysis of late cretaceous vertebrate fossils of western Alabama, USA

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dc.contributorAndrus, C. Fred T.
dc.contributorLu, Yuehan
dc.contributorParham, James F.
dc.contributorTobin, Thomas S.
dc.contributor.advisorPerez-Huerta, Alberto
dc.contributor.authorHarrell, Terry Lynn
dc.contributor.otherUniversity of Alabama Tuscaloosa
dc.date.accessioned2017-04-26T14:25:26Z
dc.date.available2017-04-26T14:25:26Z
dc.date.issued2016
dc.descriptionElectronic Thesis or Dissertationen_US
dc.description.abstractIn the past, vertebrate paleontologists in Alabama focused primarily on classical methods of investigation, for example, by examining the gross anatomy of fossilized skeletal elements. More recently, new methods were developed that enable paleontologists to examine the molecular composition of fossilized bones and teeth, so that they may be used as proxies for determining past environmental and biological conditions. The analyses presented here examine vertebrate fossils from the Late Cretaceous aged marine formations of Alabama, which represent one of the warmest time periods in Earth’s history. The first analysis examines the rare earth element (REE) content of biophosphates to determine fossil provenance and relative paleobathymetry of the marine strata in which the fossils were deposited. The second analysis examines the strontium isotope ratios present in fossil shark tooth enameloid to determine numerical ages of the containing geologic formations. The final analysis examines the oxygen isotope content of biophosphates for ambient temperature determination of seawater present during the Late Cretaceous and the body temperatures of a variety of vertebrate organisms including mosasaurs and birds. The data obtained by this study on the greenhouse climate present during the Late Cretaceous may possibly be used to better enhance computer modelling of future climate change, given the current state of global warming, and the biological response to this warming trend.en_US
dc.format.extent123 p.
dc.format.mediumelectronic
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.otheru0015_0000001_0002310
dc.identifier.otherHarrellJr_alatus_0004D_12619
dc.identifier.urihttp://ir.ua.edu/handle/123456789/3078
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherUniversity of Alabama Libraries
dc.relation.hasversionborn digital
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Electronic Theses and Dissertations
dc.relation.ispartofThe University of Alabama Libraries Digital Collections
dc.rightsAll rights reserved by the author unless otherwise indicated.en_US
dc.subjectPaleontology
dc.subjectBiochemistry
dc.subjectGeochemistry
dc.titleBiogeochemical analysis of late cretaceous vertebrate fossils of western Alabama, USAen_US
dc.typethesis
dc.typetext
etdms.degree.departmentUniversity of Alabama. Department of Geological Sciences
etdms.degree.disciplineGeology
etdms.degree.grantorThe University of Alabama
etdms.degree.leveldoctoral
etdms.degree.namePh.D.
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