Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring, Rocky Mountain Network

Koch, Alison; Kenworthy, Jason; Santucci, Vincent

Paleontological resources are the remains of past life preserved in a geologic context. These fossils are non-renewable resources that possess scientific and educational values. Establishment of baseline paleontological resource data is essential for the appropriate management of fossils found within National Park Service areas. Although over 170 National Park Service areas have been identified with paleontological resources, only a small percentage of these parks have adequate baseline paleontological resource data. In conjunction with the National Park Service Geologic Resources Division and Inventory and Monitoring Networks, comprehensive paleontological resource inventories have been initiated in dozens of parks servicewide. This report represents paleontological resource inventory and monitoring data compiled for the parks within the Rocky Mountain Network. The Rocky Mountain Network is comprised of 6 National Park Service areas: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, Glacier National Park, Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site, Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and Rocky Mountain National Park. These parks are located in Colorado and Montana. The Rocky Mountain Network preserves the central Rocky Mountain region’s rich natural habitat. These parks share similar threats of loss of native species and habitat degradation, invasive species, pollution, urban/boundary development, and inadequate scientific data to make sound management decisions. Fossiliferous geologic units range from the Precambrian (around 1.5 billion years ago) to the Quaternary. Significant fossils of microfossils, invertebrates, vertebrates, plants, and traces have been found in many of the parks, and the potential to discover new localities and specimens is great. Some of the more interesting fossils in the ROMN can be found at GLAC, FLFO, and LIBI. GLAC contains some of the world’s oldest fossil resources of stromatolites from the Precambrian. The paleontological material from FLFO is world renowned for the diversity and quality of preservation of fossil insects and plants. Additionally, an almost complete skeleton of a plesiosaur was discovered at LIBI. The variety, abundance, and continuing great potential for fossils in the Rocky Mountain Network warrant the inclusion of these parks into the growing list of paleontological resource gems within the National Park Service.

Paleontological resource inventory and monitoring, Rocky Mountain Network

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