Academic Level at Time of Presentation
Freshmen
Major
Earth & Environmental Sciences
List all Project Mentors & Advisor(s)
Katharine Loughney
Presentation Format
Event
Abstract/Description
Mammalian fossil assemblages are shaped by both ecological processes and taphonomic effects, complicating interpretations of community structure through time. Taphonomy is the study of the processes such as decomposition, transport, and burial that affect an organism from the time of death until its eventual fossilization. This project examines Eocene and Oligocene (~44–23 million years ago) mammalian assemblages from the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA) in Oregon to evaluate how climate-driven environmental change from subtropical rainforest to temperate savannah influenced both faunal composition and preservation. Using collections-based taphonomic information integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this study links fossil preservation patterns to ancient environmental variables across the landscape. The primary outcome is a predictive model of fossil preservation potential that incorporates taphonomic effects, allowing for improved interpretation of mammalian community structure. This research demonstrates how integrating museum collections with spatial analysis can refine paleoecological reconstructions across major climatic transitions.
Spring Scholars Week 2026
Watershed Studies Institute Research Symposium
Climate, Taphonomy, and Mammalian Community Structure in the John Day Fossil Beds: A GIS-Based Approach
Mammalian fossil assemblages are shaped by both ecological processes and taphonomic effects, complicating interpretations of community structure through time. Taphonomy is the study of the processes such as decomposition, transport, and burial that affect an organism from the time of death until its eventual fossilization. This project examines Eocene and Oligocene (~44–23 million years ago) mammalian assemblages from the John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA) in Oregon to evaluate how climate-driven environmental change from subtropical rainforest to temperate savannah influenced both faunal composition and preservation. Using collections-based taphonomic information integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS), this study links fossil preservation patterns to ancient environmental variables across the landscape. The primary outcome is a predictive model of fossil preservation potential that incorporates taphonomic effects, allowing for improved interpretation of mammalian community structure. This research demonstrates how integrating museum collections with spatial analysis can refine paleoecological reconstructions across major climatic transitions.