Canadian Amber: A Snapshot of a Late Cretaceous Forest and Its Inhabitants

Explore the fascinating world of Canadian amber in this Royal Tyrrell Museum Speaker Series talk by Ryan McKellar from the University of Alberta. Delve into the nature of amber formation, its geological origins, and its significance in preserving Late Cretaceous flora and fauna. Discover the unique characteristics of Cedar Lake and Grassy Lake amber, and learn about their importance in the broader context of Cretaceous amber deposits worldwide. Examine the diverse insect biodiversity trapped within these ancient resins, including parasitoid wasps and early ant species. Investigate the groundbreaking findings of preserved feathers in amber, providing insights into the evolution of plumage from non-avian dinosaurs to early birds. Gain an understanding of advanced techniques like infrared spectroscopy and synchrotron X-ray microtomography used in amber research. Uncover the ongoing quest for Paleocene amber and the potential for future discoveries in this captivating field of paleontology.

Ryan C. McKellar
Outline
What exactly is amber?
Entombment and the nature of the trap: Flows
The stereotypical view of amber
Where did Cedar Lake amber come from?
Grassy Lake amber and the role of the RTMP
Other Albertan ambers (resinites)
Canadian amber in a broader context: why is Canadian amber important?
In the context of other Cretaceous ambers
Mosses and lichen in Grassy Lake Amber
Botanical affinities: plant inclusions
Botanical affinities: infrared spectra (FTIR)
Fingerprinting Grassy Lake amber
Insect biodiversity
Parasitoid wasps (microhymenopterans)
Serphites pygmaeus McKellar & Engel, 2011
Formicidae: Haidoterminus cippus (nomen nudum)
Insect conclusions
Mating congregations
Compression fossils of Sinornithosaurus plumage
Preservation and melanosomes in compression fossils
A feather evo-devo primer ...
The Canadian amber dichotomy
Stages I and II barbules: non-avian
Stage IV barbs and barbules: avialan
Stage IV, specializations for water uptake
Stage V, and specializations for flight
Pigmentation
Plumage conclusions
Coal-associated ambers
The quest for Paleocene amber
Synchrotron X-ray microtomography
General conclusions