Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring—Appalachian Highlands Network
Santucci VL, McKenna RT, Kenworthy JP, Connors T. 2008. Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring—Appalachian Highlands Network. Natural Resource Technical Report. NPS/NRPC/NRTR—2008/080. National Park Service. Fort Collins, Colorado
Paleontological resources (fossils) are any remains of past life preserved in a geologic context. Paleontological resources are non-renewable resources found in nearly 190 National Park Service units. Despite the abundance and diversity of these resources throughout the NPS, until recently few parks have adequate baseline paleontological resource data. The NPS National Inventory and Monitoring Program and the NPS Geologic Resources Division have developed various strategies to provide parks with the baseline paleontological resource data necessary for greater understanding and appropriate management of these resources. This report presents a paleontological resource summary for the parks of the Appalachian Highlands Network. The summary was compiled through extensive literature reviews and interviews with park staff and professional geologists and paleontologists. Preliminary paleontological resource management recommendations are also included for each park. Similar summaries have already been prepared for 18 other NPS Inventory and Monitoring Networks. The National Inventory and Monitoring Program provided funding to complete these paleontological resource summaries for each of the remaining networks. In general, the paleontological resources known from the parks of the Appalachian Highlands Network are limited to Paleozoic fauna and flora. Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area (BISO) and Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM) contain some interesting fossil occurrences within the park boundaries. A rich Late Paleozoic flora and at least two dozen ichnogenera (trace fossils) are preserved at localities in the Kentucky portion of BISO. GRSM preserves additional trace fossils and a diverse group of Paleozoic marine invertebrates. Fossils are extremely rare in the highly metamorphosed rocks at Blue Ridge Parkway (BLRI) and have not yet been identified within the Obed Wild and Scenic River (OBRI).
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Santucci, Vincent; McKenna, Ryan; Kenworthy, Jason; Connors, Timothy
- Date of Issue
- 2008-02
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- APHN , BISO , BLRI , GRD , GRSM , OBRI
- Keywords
- Fossil, Geology, Inventory, Monitoring, Paleontology, Resource Management
- Subjects
- Ecological Framework: Geology and Soils | Paleontology | Paleontology