OpportunityTitle: Monitoring, inventory, public outreach, and trace fossil research
Description: Grand Canyon National Park (GRCA) exposes one billion years of preserved ancient life, including the largest exposure of Paleozoic rocks in the world. Fossils in GRCA such as; trilobites, nautiloids, ferns, reptile trackways, and trace fossils provide an important source for scientific research on ancient life. The paleontology management protocol at GRCA plays a critical role in implementing the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act of 2009 by preserving significant and substantial paleontological resources. GRCA paleontology inventories lack details on the fossilized organisms themselves and is in need of in-depth surveying for new sites. This project should help us improve our understanding of how ancient organisms lived in certain environments during the Paleozoic era, with a specific focus on Cambrian trace fossils. This focus will allow GRCA to improve its interpretation of the Cambrian explosion to the public. In addition, GRCA will gain a more robust paleontology inventory and an improved method for monitoring and prioritizing paleontological resources. This study will highlight paleontology as an invaluable resource for GRCA, creating more attention on environmental assessments to reduce fossil damage or loss.
GrantorContactEmailDescription: .
GrantorContactText: Grants Management Specialist Kelly Adams &lt;br/&gt;Kelly_Adams@nps.gov