Calibrating the zenith of dinosaur diversity in the Campanian of the Western Interior Basin by CA-ID-TIMS U-Pb geochronology.

ABSTRACT: The spectacular fossil fauna and flora preserved in the Upper Cretaceous terrestrial strata of North America's Western Interior Basin record an exceptional peak in the diversification of fossil vertebrates in the Campanian, which has been termed the 'zenith of dinosaur diversity'. The wide latitudinal distribution of rocks and fossils that represent this episode, spanning from northern Mexico to the northern slopes of Alaska, provides a unique opportunity to gain insights into dinosaur paleoecology and to address outstanding questions regarding faunal provinciality in connection to paleogeography and climate. Whereas reliable basin-wide correlations are fundamental to investigations of this sort, three decades of radioisotope geochronology of various vintages and limited compatibility has

SUBMITTER: Ramezani J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9512893 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature