Taphonomy and abundance of birds from the Lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
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Taphonomy and abundance of birds from the Lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark. / Dyke, Gareth; Lindow, Bent Erik Kramer.
In: Geological Journal, Vol. 44, No. 3, 2009, p. 365-373.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Taphonomy and abundance of birds from the Lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark
AU - Dyke, Gareth
AU - Lindow, Bent Erik Kramer
PY - 2009
Y1 - 2009
N2 - The pattern, pace and extent of the evolutionary radiation of modern birds (Neornithes) by the end-Cretaceous (65 Ma) has long been debated. Well-dated, taphonomically understood and phylogenetically constrained fossil birds from both sides of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary are required to quantify the shape of this radiation, but have largely been lacking. Here we report on a large collection of fossil birds from the Lower Eocene of Denmark (ca. 54 Ma) that includes three-dimensionally preserved, articulated specimens from carbonate concretions as well as skeletal imprints and feathers. These birds are from a marine diatomite sequence (the Fur Formation), a low-energy deep-water preservational environment unique to the Cretaceous and Paleogene avian fossil record. We present taphonomic and palaeoecological information gleaned from these birds that in combination with phylogenetic data have implications for unravelling avian survivorship across the K-Pg boundary as well as for the pattern of the neornithine evolutionary radiation.
AB - The pattern, pace and extent of the evolutionary radiation of modern birds (Neornithes) by the end-Cretaceous (65 Ma) has long been debated. Well-dated, taphonomically understood and phylogenetically constrained fossil birds from both sides of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary are required to quantify the shape of this radiation, but have largely been lacking. Here we report on a large collection of fossil birds from the Lower Eocene of Denmark (ca. 54 Ma) that includes three-dimensionally preserved, articulated specimens from carbonate concretions as well as skeletal imprints and feathers. These birds are from a marine diatomite sequence (the Fur Formation), a low-energy deep-water preservational environment unique to the Cretaceous and Paleogene avian fossil record. We present taphonomic and palaeoecological information gleaned from these birds that in combination with phylogenetic data have implications for unravelling avian survivorship across the K-Pg boundary as well as for the pattern of the neornithine evolutionary radiation.
KW - Faculty of Science
KW - Fugle
KW - Tafonomi
KW - Evolution
KW - Eocæn
KW - Aves
KW - Taphonomy
KW - Evolution
KW - Eocene
U2 - 10.1002/gj.1150
DO - 10.1002/gj.1150
M3 - Journal article
VL - 44
SP - 365
EP - 373
JO - Geological Journal
JF - Geological Journal
SN - 0072-1050
IS - 3
ER -
ID: 13622183