Diversity and structure of Late Cretaceous–Paleogene crocodyliform communities in southern Saskatchewan, Canada
| dc.contributor.advisor | Mangano, Gabriela | |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Bamforth, Emily | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Buatois, Luis | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Eglington, Bruce | |
| dc.contributor.committeeMember | Hastings, Alex | |
| dc.creator | Lindblad, Kaitlin | |
| dc.creator.orcid | 0000-0002-0693-0730 | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-07-25T02:30:11Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-07-25T02:30:11Z | |
| dc.date.copyright | 2024 | |
| dc.date.created | 2024-11 | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024-07-24 | |
| dc.date.submitted | November 2024 | |
| dc.date.updated | 2024-07-25T02:30:11Z | |
| dc.description.abstract | Crocodyliform fossils of extinct relatives and members of modern families are common finds in southern Saskatchewan, Canada, spanning a largely continuous interval of the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene. Although this location represents the northernmost known extent of many well-known taxa, only a few individuals are documented in the literature, demonstrating the importance of Saskatchewan to the study of early crown-group crocodylians from the area. This study approaches these fossil crocodyliforms from multiple angles; describing previously unpublished specimens, examining the stratigraphy and taphonomy of the most notable quarries, and identifying patterns of the microvertebrate sites of the latest Maastrichtian Frenchman Formation in a case study to learn about the composition, ecology, and taphonomic overprints of this crocodyliform community. Almost all crocodyliforms known from Alberta and the northern United States over the span of the Campanian to late Eocene are confirmed to be (or are likely) present in Saskatchewan, including multiple species of Borealosuchus, and various alligatoroid genera. Borealosuchus is the most common and longest-lived crocodyliform represented, persisting in Saskatchewan from about 66.3 to 59 million years ago. This genus is preserved in a variety of freshwater habitats over this time interval, demonstrating resilience and flexibility in the face of ecosystem changes that occurred across the Cretaceous–Paleogene (K–Pg) boundary and well into the Paleocene. Most Frenchman Formation microsites show an elevated number of osteoderms and teeth compared to fragments of skeletal material. This likely represents a preservation bias due to each individual animal having hundreds of osteoderms and teeth. Additionally, the smaller teeth are the most common, likely representing an abundance of small and/or young individuals shedding teeth at a greater rate. This resembles the population structure in other extinct and modern crocodyliform communities, suggesting similar life histories. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10388/15870 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.subject | crocodyliform | |
| dc.subject | crocodyliformes | |
| dc.subject | Saskatchewan | |
| dc.subject | Canada | |
| dc.subject | crocodylian | |
| dc.subject | Cretaceous | |
| dc.subject | Paleogene | |
| dc.subject | diversity | |
| dc.title | Diversity and structure of Late Cretaceous–Paleogene crocodyliform communities in southern Saskatchewan, Canada | |
| dc.type | Thesis | |
| dc.type.material | text | |
| thesis.degree.department | Geological Sciences | |
| thesis.degree.discipline | Geology | |
| thesis.degree.grantor | University of Saskatchewan | |
| thesis.degree.level | Masters | |
| thesis.degree.name | Master of Science (M.Sc.) |