PhD: The nature, importance and protection of British vertebrate fossil track sites

Project highlights:
Study the nature, importance and relative value of the UK vertebrate fossil track record
Field- and lab-based project to develop skills in scientific description, recording and monitoring of vertebrate fossil track sites
Work closely with Natural England (the government advisor for the natural environment in England) to determine how best to conserve and manage vertebrate fossil track sites

Overview: Fossil tracks and trackways (a type of trace fossil or ichnofossil) provide highly complementary information to the body fossil record. Tracks are more abundant than body fossils as organisms have one skeleton, but may leave many of tracks in their lifetime, often occur in stratigraphic levels where bone is rare, filling key gaps in the fossil record, and are more likely to be found in-situ, providing direct evidence of the organism in that location. They can also provide major insights into organisms’ distribution and palaeobiology, such as speed and nature of locomotion, anatomy, behaviour, life histories and interactions.

The UK has a rich vertebrate fossil track record including amphibians, early reptiles, dinosaurs, birds, mammals and humans, spanning the Devonian (~380 Myrs ago) through to the Holocene. Fossil tracks have been recorded for hundreds of years, and many sites can be viewed in the present day, e.g., dinosaur tracks at Spyway Quarry, Dorset (Fig. 1). However, currently aspects of the paleontological conservation network do not fully reflect advances in ichnofauna scientific research and interpretation, nor does it adequately address the evolving management needs and prescriptions for emerging threats and the increasing significance of known impacts to trackway sites.

Here, the student will conduct a comprehensive review of UK fossil vertebrate track(way) sites to understand their distribution in time and space, and to determine their scientific value in the context of their contribution to understanding of the fossil group, relative national and international importance of the records (in the context of the Geological Conservation Review ref Ellis et al, 1996)), and current conservation measures. Fieldwork will be undertaken at a series of in-situ case-study track sites, to help fill knowledge gaps, and to apply and develop different approaches to recording, monitoring, and conserving tracks. This work will form the evidence base for: [1] considering the merits and practicalities for fossil track site conservation and protection, to ensure that the most important sites are conserved appropriately, e.g., by local or national level protection, and [2] generate a best practice guide for the recording, monitoring and conserving of different types of track ​​sites.

Methodology: A new synthesis of UK vertebrate fossil tracks based on published literature and fieldwork will be undertaken to determine their contribution to our understanding of different groups, relative importance of current in-situ track(way) sites nationally and internationally, and suitability of current conservation and protection measures. This will consider existing track sites (e.g. Benton and Spencer, 1995) and follow Geological Conservation Review principals (Ellis et al 1996) identifying representatives for different vertebrate groups, exceptional preservation, and international significance. Different digital and manual site recording techniques will be tested at selected sites, alongside a threat analysis, e.g., erosion, visitors, and potential mitigations, e.g., Britain’s earliest dinosaur tracks in S. Wales, tracks in disused and active quarries, or Holocene trackways of the Formby Coast. These insights will facilitate development of a best practice guide for managing and valuing fossil track sites in collaboration with Natural England.

Training and Skills: This project will provide a broad base of palaeobiological, digital and conservation skills. The review phase of the project will involve developing an understanding of UK trace fossils, methods for establishing importance, and familiarity with national and local conservation legislation. Statistical programming (R-coding) and presentation skills will be developed. Field- and computer-based lab work will include the development of skills in planning and executing fieldwork, palaeontology, sedimentology, palaeoenvironmental interpretation, and photogrammetry and drone-based approaches to building 3D models.