Carnegie Museum of Natural History

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Revisiting a former expedition: Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project (AP3)

The following was taken from a blog series posted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History which documented a paleontology expedition in 2016.

researcher in Antarctica

“February 29–March 6, 2016

Project G-182-N (PI Matt Lamanna)

The team completed several of its research objectives and continued to make progress towards others during week three. At the Sandwich Bluff locality on Vega Island, scientists discovered four new fossil plant sites, found additional Cretaceous fish and bird material, and prepared a plesiosaur (long-necked marine reptile) shoulder girdle for extraction.

All of these specimens were recovered from the Upper Cretaceous Sandwich Bluff Member of the López de Bertodano Formation. At approximately 70 million years in age, this rock unit dates to only a few million years prior to the infamous mass extinction that ended the Mesozoic era, or Age of Dinosaurs.

researchers at work in Antarctica

Geologists Eric Roberts and Zubair Jinnah completed their stratigraphic and sedimentological study of the sections of the Snow Hill Island and López de Bertodano formations exposed on the southwestern flank of Sandwich Bluff, an area that, due to its steepness, elevation, and snow cover, has been nicknamed ‘K2’ after that well-known Himalayan peak. They sampled the middle and upper levels of the Sandwich Bluff Member for aragonitic fossil invertebrate shells to be used in strontium isotope geochronological analyses.

Scientists also continued to conduct helicopter-supported reconnaissance visits to other areas of the James Ross Basin, identifying two previously undocumented Cretaceous exposures that were targeted for future investigation.

Inclement weather forced many members of the team to return to their ship, the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer, for two days during week three. They spent the time refining strategies for the remainder of the field season, updating the project’s blog and social media pages, and studying fossils that had already been collected.

researchers in Antarctica

1) G-182-N paleontologists Abby West (left) and Steve Salisbury (center) collect a plesiosaur shoulder girdle co-discovered by Salisbury with ASC Marine Technician Julia Carlton (right). Photo by Matt Lamanna.

2) G-182-N geologists Zubair Jinnah (foreground) and Eric Roberts study the stratigraphy and sedimentology of the ‘K2’ section on Vega Island. Photo by Pat O’Connor.

3.) G-182-N paleontologist Kerin Claeson searches for fossils in the ‘Fish Horizon’ near the K–Pg boundary on Seymour Island. Claeson and other G-182-N personnel have collected dozens of partial to nearly complete fish skeletons from the ‘Fish Horizon’ to date, the analysis of which promises to inform understanding of the K–Pg mass extinction in the southern high latitudes. Photo by Meng Jin.”

Matt Lamanna is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blogged frequently from Antarctica while on expedition at antarticdinos.org. Detailing his trip in a family-friendly, interactive documentary, Expedition Antarctica, paleontologist Matt Lamanna shares his unique experience. Members are required to preregister for the event. Sign up now.

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Revisiting a former expedition: Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project (AP3)

The following blog was taken from a series posted by Carnegie Museum of Natural History which documented a paleontology expedition in February 2016. 

sunset

Sunset over camp on Vega Island. The eastern shore of James Ross Island and the RVIB Nathaniel B. Palmer are visible in the background. Photo by Pat O’Connor.

“February 21–28, 2016

Project G-182-N (PI Matt Lamanna)

Work at the main basecamp on the western shore of Vega Island continued in week two and resulted in the discovery of a wealth of fossils.

Senior project geologist Eric Roberts located a partial plesiosaur. The specimen, which preserves numerous vertebrae, ribs, paddle bones, and gastroliths (stomach stones), appears to be the most complete marine reptile discovered by the project to date. Many of its bones remain articulated (preserved in life position) and are beautifully preserved within sandstone concretions. With time and effort in the laboratory, much of the postcranial skeleton will likely be reassembled and will likely be significant both for scientific study and possible display.

The project made significant progress towards its geological aims as well. Roberts and fellow geologist Zubair Jinnah continued their efforts to decipher the age and depositional environments of the sediments exposed on the uppermost levels of Sandwich Bluff. They collected rock and fossil samples from the uppermost Sandwich Bluff Member and basal Sobral Formation for geochemical and palynological analyses and strontium isotopic dating. They also began to subdivide the Sobral Formation into discrete units, as Roberts and colleagues did for the Sandwich Bluff Member in a 2014 paper.

Helicopter reconnaissance efforts continued with additional trips to Seymour and eastern Vega Island. Considerable effort was expended during week two towards installing a field camp near the Cretaceous–Paleogene boundary horizon in the central area of Seymour Island. Those at the camp are having success in recovering fossils of fishes, putative turtles, and other Cretaceous vertebrates.

Lastly, filmmaker Matt Koshmrl continues to skillfully document all aspects of the project through video and still photography.

geologist Zubair Jinnah doing field work

G-182-N geologist Zubair Jinnah studies an exposure of the Upper Cretaceous upper Cape Lamb Member of the Snow Hill Island Formation on Vega Island. Photo by Pat O’Connor.

Also discovered during week two

– A second plesiosaur partial skeleton. Several partial-to-complete fossil leaves and a conifer branch. Partial skeletons of Cretaceous fishes that may be the most completely-preserved fishes yet found from Cretaceous sediments on Vega Island.

– A partial dorsal rib of a very large-bodied tetrapod, possibly a sauropod (long-necked plant-eating dinosaur)

– Multiple isolated Cretaceous bird bones were also collected, as was a possible avian skull

– An abundance of exceptionally-preserved Eocene penguin bones, including a partial skull of a giant species (possibly Anthropornisnordenskjoeldi or Palaeeudyptes antarcticus). This is exciting as only a handful of cranial elements of fossil penguins have ever been described from Seymour Island.”

Matt Lamanna is a paleontologist and the principal dinosaur researcher at Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. Matt and his team of researchers blogged frequently from Antarctica while on expedition at antarticdinos.org. Detailing his trip in a family-friendly, interactive documentary, Expedition Antarctica, paleontologist Matt Lamanna shares his unique experience. Members are required to preregister for the event. Sign up now.

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We had a great turn out for our museum Pub Talk

Abby West speaking at a podium

crowd enjoying the pub talk

objects from the Antartica expedition

artifacts on a table

artifacts from Antartica

Matt speaking at a podium

Expedition Antartica Slides

vegetable and cheese trays

We had a great turn out for our museum Pub Talk at Dave and Busters in October hosted! Paleontologists Dr. Matt Lamanna and Dr. Abby West entertained a crowd of about 60 with a talk about their recent expedition to Antarctica as part of the AP3 Project. Their presentation touched on dinosaurs, evolution, how to find fossils, and even very friendly penguins. Matt and Abby also answered questions and brought fossils so that those in attendance could examine and even touch real fossils found in Antarctica. Guests enjoyed some complimentary appetizers and watched the new documentary “Expedition Antarctica,” which will be coming soon to the Earth Theater! Thanks to Matt and Abby and all who came out for a great night of science and fun. For more events like this, follow our museum Meetup page!

Pub Talks is a public relations initiative that brings our science out of the museum and into the public. Different scientists are featured throughout the year at various pubs around the beautiful city of Pittsburgh.

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From Antarctica to Pittsburgh

Last week, several tons of fossils arrived at Carnegie Museum of Natural History from Antarctica, where our paleontologist and principal dinosaur research Matt Lamanna led the AP3 Expedition this spring. The fossils traveled by boat from Antarctica to Chile to the United States, where they were then trucked across the country to our museum.

In the coming weeks, our staff will begin carefully unpacking these specimens and studying them.

To read more about the expedition, visit our expedition blog.

 

Lamanna and Dan Pickering, a scientific preparator, open one package containing the largest fossil in the shipment.
A box with fossils collected from Vega Island in Antarctica.

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Live from Antarctica!

Eric Dorfman and one of the many young aspiring paleontologists who attended
Eric Dorfman and one of the many young aspiring paleontologists who attended
The crowd at Forbes Digital Plaza for Live from Antartica!
The crowd at Forbes Digital Plaza for Live from Antartica!
Dr. Matt Lamanna shows the audience a fossil of a clam from Antarctica
Dr. Matt Lamanna shows the audience a fossil of a clam from Antarctica
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Eric Dorfman
Carnegie Museum of Natural History Director Dr. Eric Dorfman
Dino treats provided by Dunkin' Donuts
Dino treats provided by Dunkin’ Donuts
Members of Taylor Allderdice High School's band performed
Members of Taylor Allderdice High School’s band performed

Undeterred by rain, about 65 people attended Live from Antarctica! to ask a paleontologist on the southernmost continent questions about his search for fossils.

Using Skype and a large, high-definition digital screen, Dr. Matt Lamanna, Carnegie Museum of Natural History’s principal dinosaur researcher, answered questions from museum director, Dr. Eric Dorfman, and members of the audience on March 10 during the free community event at Forbes Digital Square in Oakland.

Along with a team of experts, Dr. LaManna is searching for fossils on the Antarctica Peninsula. He Skyped in from aboard the research vessel Nathaniel B. Palmer to talk about his work to answer questions about Antarctic weather, live animals he’s seen, fossils his team has found, and what he will bring back to our museum here in Pittsburgh.

Its summer in Antarctica, but Dr. Lamanna said weather has still been challenging with occasional snow, rain and fog. Interestingly, some of the fossils his expeditions have found have been of leaves, which he said indicate that the coldest continent was once covered in forests, much like Western Pennsylvania.

“It’s a great example of how environments can change over time,” Dr. Lamanna said. Because days and nights that far south are extended and shortened the changing seasons, he said there’s no contemporary equivalent of the ancient environment that existed there as the age of the dinosaurs ended.

“We’re unearthing an ancient ecosystem and bringing that ecosystem back to Pittsburgh,” he said.

Other fossils found include clams, fish, and even dinosaur bones. Dr. Lamanna said they’ll carefully pack and ship an estimated three to four tons of fossils back to Pittsburgh.

Visitors will be able to view many of the new specimens in the museum’s PaleoLab this summer.

Many thanks to Oakland Business Improvement District for helping put on the event, the Taylor Allderdice High School jazz band for a great performance, and Dunkin’ Donuts for passing out dino donuts.

Dr. Lamanna’s expedition ends next week, but you can see photos of his work, wildlife he’s seen and the stunning landscape of Antarctica by following the Carnegie Museum of Natural History on Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook .

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AP3 Antarctica Peninsula Paleontology Project 2016

boats surrounded by chunks of ice

Q: What is the biggest anticipated challenge facing the expedition?

A: The thing that concerns us the most are the weather and climate conditions in our
study area. If it is very windy or foggy, our helicopters cannot fly.  If
there is fast ice stuck to the islands we want to visit, our small boats (i.e.,
landing craft) cannot reach them. If it snows, the rocks are covered, and so we
can’t find the fossils in them. Lots of different environmental factors could
pose problems for us. Other potential hazards include injuries, exhaustion,
frostbite, inability to find fossils in some places, and problems with
helicopters.

If you live in Pittsburgh, stop by tomorrow evening on 3/10/16 at 6 p.m. for Live from Antarctica at the corner of Forbes and South Bouquet in Oakland. You will be able to ask Dr. Matt Lamanna questions about his expedition from the field via a live video conference. Learn more at http://www.carnegiemnh.org/live_from_antarctica/