Geological and Biological Records of the End-Cretaceous Terrestrial Successions

A special issue of Geosciences (ISSN 2076-3263). This special issue belongs to the section "Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeontology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 December 2020) | Viewed by 29682

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institut Català de Paleontologia, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction; paleobiology; vertebrates; evolution; paleoecology; paleobiogeography

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Co-Guest Editor
Institut Català de Paleontologia, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: vertebrate paleontology; palebiology; paleoecology; tafonomy; dinosaurs; saberthooted cats

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The overall goal of this Special Issue of Geosciences is to set and evaluate the geological and biological records of the terrestrial successions in the last few millions of years before the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction. The global comprehension of the end-Cretaceous terrestrial processes, mainly including biotic and physical interactions, needs strong worldwide research and integration. Out of the Western Interior continental formations of North America, our geologic and biologic knowledge of terrestrial successions from other regions of the planet is still scarce, so we need to set and explore the mechanisms that regionally and globally triggered the end-Cretaceous mass extinction event. A major goal is to understand how physical events occurred, and how they interacted with life on Earth during the last ten million years of the Mesozoic in distinct areas of the planet. This will also assist in better clarifying the role of the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event and how the ensuing recovery took place.

Specifically, this Special Issue aims to compile peer-reviewed studies in a multidisciplinary volume devoted to integrating, under a global scope, the biological (biology, ecology, distribution of organisms, ecosystem dynamics) and geological (geochronology, chronostratigraphy, sedimentary processes, biostratigraphy) records of the continental realm, to feature the evolution of the Campanian and Maastrichtian processes in the run-up to the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.

Some of the significant topics that this Special Issue aims to cover are as follows:

  • Geology of the terrestrial successions;
  • Continental biostratigraphy and geochronology of the end-Cretaceous (Campanian and Maastrichtian) formations. The Cretaceous–Paleogene transition;
  • Successions and paleobiogeography of terrestrial biotas;
  • Trophic networks and physical parameters for the end-Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems;
  • Climatic and vegetation trends

Dr. Bernat Vila
Dr. Àngel Galobart
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction
  • terrestrial successions
  • faunal and floral evolution
  • paleoclimate
  • ecosystem dynamics

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Review

37 pages, 31222 KiB  
Review
The Tetrapod Fossil Record from the Uppermost Maastrichtian of the Ibero-Armorican Island: An Integrative Review Based on the Outcrops of the Western Tremp Syncline (Aragón, Huesca Province, NE Spain)
by Manuel Pérez-Pueyo, Penélope Cruzado-Caballero, Miguel Moreno-Azanza, Bernat Vila, Diego Castanera, José Manuel Gasca, Eduardo Puértolas-Pascual, Beatriz Bádenas and José Ignacio Canudo
Geosciences 2021, 11(4), 162; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences11040162 - 2 Apr 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 6894
Abstract
The South-Pyrenean Basin (northeastern Spain) has yielded a rich and diverse record of Upper Cretaceous (uppermost Campanian−uppermost Maastrichtian) vertebrate fossils, including the remains of some of the last European dinosaurs prior to the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event. In this work, we update and [...] Read more.
The South-Pyrenean Basin (northeastern Spain) has yielded a rich and diverse record of Upper Cretaceous (uppermost Campanian−uppermost Maastrichtian) vertebrate fossils, including the remains of some of the last European dinosaurs prior to the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) extinction event. In this work, we update and characterize the vertebrate fossil record of the Arén Sandstone and Tremp formations in the Western Tremp Syncline, which is located in the Aragonese area of the Southern Pyrenees. The transitional and continental successions of these sedimentary units are dated to the late Maastrichtian, and exploration of their outcrops has led to the discovery of numerous fossil remains (bones, eggshells, and tracks) of dinosaurs, including hadrosauroids, sauropods, and theropods, along with other tetrapods such as crocodylomorphs, testudines, pterosaurs, squamates, and amphibians. In particular, this fossil record contains some of the youngest lambeosaurine hadrosaurids (Arenysaurus and Blasisaurus) and Mesozoic crocodylomorphs (Arenysuchus and Agaresuchus subjuniperus) in Europe, complementing the lower Maastrichtian fossil sites of the Eastern Tremp Syncline. In addition, faunal comparison with the fossil record of Hațeg island reveals the great change in the dinosaur assemblages resulting from the arrival of lambeosaurine hadrosaurids on the Ibero-Armorican island, whereas those on Haţeg remained stable. In the light of its paleontological richness, its stratigraphic continuity, and its calibration within the last few hundred thousand years of the Cretaceous, the Western Tremp Syncline is one of the best places in Europe to study the latest vertebrate assemblages of the European Archipelago before the end-Cretaceous mass extinction. Full article
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59 pages, 36774 KiB  
Review
The Hell Creek Formation, Montana: A Stratigraphic Review and Revision Based on a Sequence Stratigraphic Approach
by Denver Fowler
Geosciences 2020, 10(11), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences10110435 - 5 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 22148
Abstract
The Upper Maastrichtian fluvial Hell Creek Formation of the Fort Peck Lake area, Montana (and regional equivalents) is notable for its vertebrate fossils and for the K-Pg mass extinction at or near its upper contact. Despite intense study, internal stratigraphy of the Hell [...] Read more.
The Upper Maastrichtian fluvial Hell Creek Formation of the Fort Peck Lake area, Montana (and regional equivalents) is notable for its vertebrate fossils and for the K-Pg mass extinction at or near its upper contact. Despite intense study, internal stratigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation is still poorly constrained, hindering study. This work reviews the stratigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation, as currently understood, and proposes important revisions to the recently proposed type section, particularly concerning complexity of the Hell Creek Formation basal contact. This work also subdivides the Montanan Hell Creek Formation into four 4th order depositional sequences, superimposed over a 3rd order marine transgression. Sequence boundaries are defined by four, laterally continuous disconformities formed by pauses in the creation of accommodation space, marked by overlying amalgamated channel complexes, or less commonly, correlative interfluve paleosols. Cyclicity in Montana may be correlative with similar 4th order cyclicity and marine influence documented in North and South Dakota, Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Magnetostratigraphy and new biostratigraphic data support correlation of the upper Montanan sequence with the North Dakotan Cantapeta tongue (and overlying fines) and Canadian Scollard and Frenchman Formations. Full article
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