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THE ALABAMA PALEONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY, INC.

Alabama Paleontological Society, Inc is a nonprofit organization  of amateur fossil enthusiasts and professional paleontologists who are interested in the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of knowledge of fossils and the rich natural history of the State of Alabama.   


Membership is open to anyone who shares the interests of the Society.  We expect our members to conduct their activities in accordance with our code of ethics

 

NEXT APS MEETING: MONDAY February 3, 2020 AT 7:00 PM
LOCATION:  THE LODGE AT THE ZOO (LOOK FOR THE WALKWAY UP THE HILL TO THE LODGE ACROSS THE PARKING LOT FROM  THE RECENTLY RENOVATED AUDITORIUM BUILDING)

TITLE: : “Seasonal environmental change during the End Cretaceous Mass Extinction in Antarctica” 

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Speaker: Tom Tobin, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Alabama Department of Geological Sciences

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Abstract: My research focuses on understanding major mass extinctions in earth history by employing multiple geologic tools to the same field area and questions. My work has primarily involved stable isotope geochemistry, invertebrate paleontology, and sedimentology. Field work is an essential component of my studies, and my current field sites are on the Antarctic Peninsula, the Indian Subcontinent, and in eastern Montana, all focusing on the end Cretaceous mass extinction.  My presentation will be an overview of some of the results from my ongoing studies in Antarctica.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Speaker: I received a B.A. degree in Geology from Macalester College (St. Paul, MN), and a Ph.D. from the Department of Earth & Space Sciences from the University of Washington (Seattle, WA).

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APS ACTIVITIES AND LINKS:

FIELD TRIPS: APS conducts monthly field trips to fossil localities in Alabama and surrounding states strictly with permission of landowners (please refer to our Ethical Statement for further details).  In accordance with our Statement of Purpose, we frequently make educational presentations to schools and public gatherings on subjects related to paleontology.   Field trip participation is generally limited to members but individuals interested in coming on a field trip as a guest with an eye towards membership should contact APS President Ashley Allen (alabamapaleo@gmail.com) or Vice President Prescott Atkinson (patkinson@peds.uab.edu).  We have also hosted classes ranging from upper elementary school grades to college geology groups and other groups with an interest in geology and paleontology on select field trips.

 

LINKS:

  • Interactive Photographic Index to the Steven C. Minkin Paleozoic Footprint Site (maintained by Dr. Ron Buta):  a newly updated collection of photos from the Minkin site that are much easier to view:  Steven C. Minkin Trackway Photographic Index

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  • Trace Fossils of the Crescent Valley Mine - a large collection of vertebrate tracks amassed by Dr. Ron Buta in his visits to this surface coal mine located very close to the underground coal mine which was the source of the vertebrate tracks described in the 1930 Bulletin of the Alabama Museum of Natural History by Aldrich and Jones:  http://kudzu.astr.ua.edu/cvm2/cvm-database2.html . 

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  • Downloadable Guide to the Minkin Footprint Site by Drs Ron Buta and David Kopaska-Merkel:  (Note:  This link is under construction)

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  • Alabama Museum of Natural History:  The AMNH sponsors a great program of family friendly weekend field trips throughout the year to various sites focusing on geology, paleontology, ecology and other areas.  The AMNH has an immense paleo research collection accumulated over the past 100 years (including what may be the largest mosasaur collection in the world) and is always looking for volunteers to help with cleaning and cataloguing specimens.  In addition, for the past 30 years the AMNH has conducted a several week-long summer Expedition, usually focused on archaeology or paleontology in which participants  camp in the field and work with experts to uncover the remote history of human activities in Alabama or the much more ancient fossil inhabitants of the State:        http://amnh.ua.edu/ . 

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  • WANT TO HELP SUPPORT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA’S PALEO PROGRAM?  Consider making your tax deductible contribution to the Alabama Museum of Natural History’s Paleo Collections Enhancement Fund. Your money will be earmarked to help modernize the paleo collections, for example by buying archival shelving and preservation materials, supporting creation of an online image database and more.  Select the link below to make your tax deductible contribution.  No contribution is too small!   JUST CLICK THIS LINK: AMNH Paleo Collections Enhancement Fund

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  • McWane Science Center:  In addition to its world class interactive exhibits on the other sciences and its eye-popping IMAX Theatre, the McWane Center has a spectacular fossil exhibit, with lifesize replicas of dinosaurs including several whose remains have been found in Alabama, as well as the actual fossil remains of other fossil creatures that once inhabited the State such as a virtually complete mosasaur (a giant marine Cretaceous reptile related to snakes and lizards) and a giant ground sloth:  http://mcwane.org .  This is the link to McWane’s extensive new collection section with images of specimens in their collection:  http://www.mcwane.org/learn/the-mcwane-science-center-collection/.

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  • Bighorn Basin Paleontological Institute:  Prescott Atkinson, your Vice President, and Carl Sloan, your Secretary, participated in their second weeklong dig in July 2018 and 2019 with the BBPI excavating Jurassic age dinosaurs in the Bighorn Basin in Montana.  This experience is open to anyone - it would be a particularly great adventure for a parent/child pair (for kids as young as 10-12 years).  For further information see the BBPI website: at this link:  http://www.bbpaleo.org/ and also take a look at this spectacular video from their website: http://www.bbpaleo.org/public-expeditions .  If you would like to provide support for the BBPI, every time you shop on Amazon, be sure to use the Smile.Amazon.com web address shown below, and with every purchase Amazon makes a donation to the BBPI - at no extra cost to you!  It’s the easiest way to support this great organization.  

        https://smile.amazon.com/ch/81-3350752 

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  • Oceans of Kansas:  Mike Everhart’s spectacular website on the Cretaceous world, focusing on the western interior sea previously occupying present day Kansas, USA:

        www.oceansofkansas.com 

 

In Memoriam:  Frank David Lueth November 5, 1940-July 7, 2007.  For those of you who knew him, this youtube photographic tribute to David created by his daughter is a wonderful memory of one of our departed friends:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6euSPzoVLk