looking back in time: the mastodon matrix project kristin t. rearden, chris a. underwood, daniel b....

Looking Back in Time: Looking Back in Time: The Mastodon Matrix The Mastodon Matrix

ProjectProject

Kristin T. Rearden, Chris A. Underwood, Kristin T. Rearden, Chris A. Underwood, Daniel B. Lewis and Sally P. HornDaniel B. Lewis and Sally P. Horn

TSTA Annual ConferenceTSTA Annual Conference

NashvilleNashville

November 17, 2006November 17, 2006

Materials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

GKGK–12 Program–12 Program

• The University of The University of Tennessee GKTennessee GK–12 –12 Earth Project: Earth Project: Enriching Earth Enriching Earth Science in Rural Science in Rural Tennessee Middle Tennessee Middle Schools through Schools through Research-Based Research-Based Activities on Climate Activities on Climate and Environmental and Environmental HistoryHistory

• We are funded by the We are funded by the National Science National Science Foundation and are Foundation and are one of many GKone of many GK–12 –12 University programs in University programs in the nationthe nation


The Mastodon Matrix ProjectThe Mastodon Matrix Projecthttp://priweb.org/mastodon/HP_mast/HP_mast_mainhttp://priweb.org/mastodon/HP_mast/HP_mast_main

.html.html

Image used with permission from the Paleontological Research Institution.


The PRIThe PRI


The PRIThe PRI

• Founded by Gilbert Dennison Harris Founded by Gilbert Dennison Harris (Cornell geologist) in 1932(Cornell geologist) in 1932

• Moved to into the West Hill Children’s Moved to into the West Hill Children’s Home building in 1968Home building in 1968

• Currently holds over 2 million fossils and Currently holds over 2 million fossils and shells, and a 50,000 volume research shells, and a 50,000 volume research librarylibrary

• Opened the 18,000 ftOpened the 18,000 ft22 Museum of the Museum of the Earth in 2003Earth in 2003


The Museum of the EarthThe Museum of the Earth(at the Paleontological Research Institution)(at the Paleontological Research Institution)


Museum Prep RoomMuseum Prep Room


Geologic Time ExhibitsGeologic Time Exhibits

• Big Bang to CambrianBig Bang to Cambrian• Cambrian to SilurianCambrian to Silurian

• The DevonianThe Devonian• Carboniferous to TriassicCarboniferous to Triassic

• The Triassic/JurassicThe Triassic/Jurassic• Jurassic to QuaternaryJurassic to Quaternary

• The QuaternaryThe Quaternary


Ancient Sea FossilsAncient Sea Fossils


Dunkleosteus Dunkleosteus !!!!


DunkleosteusDunkleosteus

• Giant, armored Giant, armored predatory fish of the predatory fish of the Devonian (360 mya Devonian (360 mya or millions of years or millions of years ago)ago)

• We know what the We know what the skull looked like, but skull looked like, but can only guess can only guess about the rest of its about the rest of its bodybody


TitanotheresTitanotheres

• Rhinoceros-like Rhinoceros-like animal that lived animal that lived during the Tertiary during the Tertiary (50 (50 – 25 mya)– 25 mya)

• Preparation of this Preparation of this skull took 500 hrsskull took 500 hrs


Cornell Department of Earth Cornell Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall CollectionsSnee Hall Collections

• Gilbert MastodonGilbert Mastodon• American mastodonAmerican mastodon

((Mammut Mammut americanum)americanum)

• Lived ~ 2 million Lived ~ 2 million – – 8,000 yrs ago8,000 yrs ago

• 8 – 10 feet tall8 – 10 feet tall• 4 – 5 tons4 – 5 tons


http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/yates/Grape/CCE%20Logo%20just%20seal%20culogo_web_60red%20larger.gif&imgrefurl=http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/yates/Grape/index.htm&h=233&w=234&sz=47&hl=en&start=2&tbnid=j9PLvRgPHKhDyM:&tbnh=109&tbnw=109&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcornell%2Bseal%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D

Department of Earth and Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall Atmospheric Sciences, Snee Hall

CollectionsCollectionsThe Gilbert MastodonThe Gilbert Mastodon

femur and tibia

tusk

vertebraemandible


Gilbert Mastodon at the Museum of the EarthGilbert Mastodon at the Museum of the Earth*mammoth bones were found alongside!*mammoth bones were found alongside!

femur

mastodon vs. mammoth tooth


Hyde Park MastodonHyde Park Mastodon



• Found in Found in Hyde Park, Hyde Park, NYNY

• Hudson Hudson Valley Valley RegionRegion


Map produced by GK-12 Fellow Sarah Deane


• First discovered in 1999 by Larry First discovered in 1999 by Larry Lozier during the deepening of his Lozier during the deepening of his glacially-formed pondglacially-formed pond

• He originally thought the humerus he He originally thought the humerus he found was that of a horsefound was that of a horse

• PRI staff and hundreds of volunteers PRI staff and hundreds of volunteers helped unearth the entire skeletonhelped unearth the entire skeleton

• Excavation lasted six weeksExcavation lasted six weeks


The Hyde Park Excavation



http://www.graphics.cornell.edu/outreach/mastodon/skeleton-overhead-pos03.jpg

The Hyde Park Excavation




• The Hyde Park specimen was The Hyde Park specimen was determined to be an American determined to be an American mastodon (mastodon (Mammut americanumMammut americanum))

• Probably an adult male 30 Probably an adult male 30 – 40 yrs old– 40 yrs old• May have weighed as much as 10,000 – May have weighed as much as 10,000 –

15,000 lbs (4,500 – 6,800 kg)15,000 lbs (4,500 – 6,800 kg)• Lived around 11,500 BCLived around 11,500 BC



• Other research focuses on:Other research focuses on:• sediment charcoalsediment charcoal• ostracodesostracodes• plant macrofossilsplant macrofossils• taphonomytaphonomy• beetlesbeetles• stable isotopes of sediments and mastodon stable isotopes of sediments and mastodon

teethteeth• sedimentology/stratigraphysedimentology/stratigraphy• mollusksmollusks

• This is where we come in!This is where we come in!



• Remnants of at least ten species of Remnants of at least ten species of trees are represented in the trees are represented in the sediments that lined the bottom of sediments that lined the bottom of the ~18,000 yr-old pondthe ~18,000 yr-old pond

• Many of these species no longer live Many of these species no longer live around Hyde Park, but can be found around Hyde Park, but can be found near Hudson Bay in north central near Hudson Bay in north central CanadaCanada

• Can we find more?Can we find more?


North Java MastodonNorth Java Mastodon

cranial fragments



• The PRI’s newest ventureThe PRI’s newest venture• Much smaller than the Hyde Park Much smaller than the Hyde Park

mastodonmastodon• Cranium was fragmented (very Cranium was fragmented (very

common occurrence, perhaps due to common occurrence, perhaps due to hunters attempting to make use of hunters attempting to make use of the entire kill)the entire kill)



• Found in Found in North Java, North Java, NYNY

• Niagara Niagara Frontier Frontier RegionRegion


Map produced by GK-12 Fellow Sarah Deane

Behind-the-Scenes TourBehind-the-Scenes Tour


Mastodon Matrix MaterialMastodon Matrix Material

Rob Ross discussing previously recovered materials from the Mastodon Matrix program


Know Your MastodonKnow Your Mastodon


Reference SpecimensReference Specimens

African elephant (Loxodonta africana) skull for reference


CollectionsCollections


Petrified WoodMaterials produced by the University of Tennessee GK-12 Earth Project, funded by the National Science Foundation GK-12 Program under grant # DGE-0538420.

Middle School Students Middle School Students as Researchersas Researchers

• Middle school students in East Middle school students in East Tennessee are participating in the Tennessee are participating in the Mastodon Matrix Project as part of Mastodon Matrix Project as part of the GK-12 Programthe GK-12 Program

• Examination of the matrix provides a Examination of the matrix provides a unique method for meeting state unique method for meeting state science standardsscience standards


TN Curriculum Framework TN Curriculum Framework ConnectionConnection

Content Standard: 6.0 Biological ChangeContent Standard: 6.0 Biological ChangeThe student will understand that living things The student will understand that living things

have changed over time.have changed over time.

Learning Expectations:Learning Expectations:• 6.2 Recognize various forms of evidence 6.2 Recognize various forms of evidence

which which indicate that life forms have indicate that life forms have changed over changed over timetime

• 6.3 Reason how environmental changes are 6.3 Reason how environmental changes are associated with the extinction of a speciesassociated with the extinction of a species


State Performance State Performance IndicatorsIndicators

• As documented through state assessment,As documented through state assessment,at Level 1at Level 1,, the student is able to the student is able to::

• 6.6.spi.16.6.spi.1 analyze how fossils provide analyze how fossils provide information about the pastinformation about the past

• 6.6.spi.26.6.spi.2 identify factors that contribute identify factors that contribute to to extinction extinction..


Teacher Performance Teacher Performance IndicatorsIndicators

• As documented through teacher observation,As documented through teacher observation, at Level 2at Level 2,, the student is able to the student is able to::

• 6.6.tpi.26.6.tpi.2 compare and contrast the different compare and contrast the different processes of fossil formation. processes of fossil formation.

• 6.6.tpi.46.6.tpi.4 collect and/or observe various collect and/or observe various fossils fossils and relate them to and relate them to biogeographical biogeographical changes.changes.


Initial ResultsInitial Results• Six classes at Carpenters Middle School, Maryville, found Six classes at Carpenters Middle School, Maryville, found

861 items in ~3,000 cc of matrix. Students found:861 items in ~3,000 cc of matrix. Students found:

• 743 plant macrofossils (twigs, fragments of tree bark, 743 plant macrofossils (twigs, fragments of tree bark, seeds and conifer needles)seeds and conifer needles)

• 116 rocks116 rocks• 2 shells2 shells

• All items and data will be sent back to Ithaca, NY, where All items and data will be sent back to Ithaca, NY, where they will be cataloged by PRI and Cornell paleontologiststhey will be cataloged by PRI and Cornell paleontologists

• We plan to share this activity with nine other middle-We plan to share this activity with nine other middle-school teachers in the Knoxville areaschool teachers in the Knoxville area


Couldn’t Do This Without…Couldn’t Do This Without…

• Rob Ross and his staff at the PRIRob Ross and his staff at the PRI• The National Science Foundation GK-12 Program The National Science Foundation GK-12 Program

andandGrant # DGE-0538420 Grant # DGE-0538420

• Bryan Schultz, who helped collect matrix at PRIBryan Schultz, who helped collect matrix at PRI• The University of TennesseeThe University of Tennessee• Cornell UniversityCornell University• All of our GKAll of our GK–12 –12 teacher-partners at Carpenters, teacher-partners at Carpenters,

Halls, Heritage, Holston, Jefferson, Northview, and Halls, Heritage, Holston, Jefferson, Northview, and Seymour Middle SchoolsSeymour Middle Schools

• Faculty Advisors at the University of TennesseeFaculty Advisors at the University of Tennessee


looking back in time: the mastodon matrix project kristin t. rearden, chris a. underwood, daniel b....

Documents

national science foundation

enriching earth science

gk12 university programs

rural tennessee middle

researchbased activities

volume research libraryopened

ft2 museum

mastodon matrix projectkristin