Taphonomy and abundance of birds from the Lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

TY - JOUR

T1 - Taphonomy and abundance of birds from the Lower Eocene Fur Formation of Denmark

AU - Dyke, Gareth

AU - Lindow, Bent Erik Kramer

PY - 2009

Y1 - 2009

N2 - The pattern, pace and extent of the evolutionary radiation of modern birds (Neornithes) by the end-Cretaceous (65 Ma) has long been debated. Well-dated, taphonomically understood and phylogenetically constrained fossil birds from both sides of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary are required to quantify the shape of this radiation, but have largely been lacking. Here we report on a large collection of fossil birds from the Lower Eocene of Denmark (ca. 54 Ma) that includes three-dimensionally preserved, articulated specimens from carbonate concretions as well as skeletal imprints and feathers. These birds are from a marine diatomite sequence (the Fur Formation), a low-energy deep-water preservational environment unique to the Cretaceous and Paleogene avian fossil record. We present taphonomic and palaeoecological information gleaned from these birds that in combination with phylogenetic data have implications for unravelling avian survivorship across the K-Pg boundary as well as for the pattern of the neornithine evolutionary radiation.

AB - The pattern, pace and extent of the evolutionary radiation of modern birds (Neornithes) by the end-Cretaceous (65 Ma) has long been debated. Well-dated, taphonomically understood and phylogenetically constrained fossil birds from both sides of the Cretaceous-Paleogene (K-Pg) boundary are required to quantify the shape of this radiation, but have largely been lacking. Here we report on a large collection of fossil birds from the Lower Eocene of Denmark (ca. 54 Ma) that includes three-dimensionally preserved, articulated specimens from carbonate concretions as well as skeletal imprints and feathers. These birds are from a marine diatomite sequence (the Fur Formation), a low-energy deep-water preservational environment unique to the Cretaceous and Paleogene avian fossil record. We present taphonomic and palaeoecological information gleaned from these birds that in combination with phylogenetic data have implications for unravelling avian survivorship across the K-Pg boundary as well as for the pattern of the neornithine evolutionary radiation.

KW - Faculty of Science

KW - Fugle

KW - Tafonomi

KW - Evolution

KW - Eocæn

KW - Aves

KW - Taphonomy

KW - Evolution

KW - Eocene

U2 - 10.1002/gj.1150

DO - 10.1002/gj.1150

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0072-1050

VL - 44

SP - 365

EP - 373

JO - Geological Journal

JF - Geological Journal

IS - 3

ER -