Date of Award

8-2024

Degree Type

Report

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Geosciences

Committee Chair(s)

Benjamin Burger

Committee

Benjamin Burger

Committee

Becky Williams

Committee

Tammy Rittenour

Abstract

Isotopic analysis has been a common practice used in paleontology to study ancient ecosystems, and the lives of animals therein. Oxygen isotopic analysis is of particular importance not only because of its use in studying paleoecology, diet, and migration, but also its use in studying mountain elevation, and its impact on ancient ecosystems. I use stable oxygen isotopic analysis to study the habits and ecology of brontotheres from intermountain basins surrounding the Uinta Mountains of Utah and Wyoming, USA. I studied the oxygen isotopes from 16 fossil specimens of teeth, most of which belonged to brontotheres, including the genera Palaeosyops and Telmatherium, with some complimentary material belonging to the extinct rhinoceros Amynodon and fossilized garfish scales from lacustrine sedimentary rocks. My results indicate a mild rain shadow resulting from the east-west trending Uinta Mountains during the Middle Eocene (48-46 Ma) that supported a range of habitats on either slope. The brontotheres appear to have exhibited different habitat preferences and lifestyles, with the smaller Palaeosyops favoring upland habitats as well as possibly being more semiaquatic compared to the larger Telmatherium, which was found in more lowland areas farther from the mountains. The isotopic data from Amynodon suggests a semiaquatic lifestyle, exhibiting a similar lifestyle to a modern hippopotamus. This data supports the use of oxygen isotopic analysis in studying the social behavior and ecology of extinct animals.

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