Abstract
Dinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality
of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological
potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño
(Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber
strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions,
encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a
feather. Additional palaeontological data—charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods— are provided.
Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one knownwhere the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial
transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of
two complementary windows of preservation—the bonebed and the amber—from the same site.
of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological
potential. Here, we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño
(Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber
strictly in situ and a litter layer mainly composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions,
encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a
feather. Additional palaeontological data—charophytes, palynomorphs, ostracods— are provided.
Ariño arguably represents the most prolific and palaeobiologically diverse locality in which fossiliferous amber and a dinosaur bonebed have been found in association, and the only one knownwhere the vast majority of the palaeontological assemblage suffered no or low-grade pre-burial
transport. This has unlocked unprecedentedly complete and reliable palaeoecological data out of
two complementary windows of preservation—the bonebed and the amber—from the same site.
| Originalsprache | Englisch |
|---|---|
| Aufsatznummer | e72477 |
| Seitenumfang | 26 |
| Fachzeitschrift | eLife |
| Jahrgang | 10 |
| DOIs | |
| Publikationsstatus | Veröffentlicht - 30 Nov. 2021 |
ÖFOS 2012
- 105117 Paläobotanik
UN SDGs
Dieser Output leistet einen Beitrag zu folgendem(n) Ziel(en) für nachhaltige Entwicklung
