Tracking Dinosaur Origins: The Triassic/Jurassic Terrestrial Transition

[MKIRKALDY@aol.com]

(Posted for Jim Kirkland)

Announcement

TRACKING DINOSAUR ORIGINS:
THE TRIASSIC/JURASSIC TERRESTRIAL TRANSITION

March 15-17, 2005
Dixie State College
St. George, Utah, USA

Followed by the Utah Friends of Paleontology Annual Meeting - March 18-20, 2005

    The Triassic/Jurassic transition is a critical time in Earth history, 
recording the origins and early radiation of dinosaurs, pterosaurs, 
crocodilians, mammals, and several other significant Mesozoic vertebrate 
clades.  Additionally, a major interval of faunal stepwise extinction is 
recorded in both the marine and terrestrial environments that may be linked to 
impact events, setting the stage for the ascendance of dinosaurs to a position 
of dominance for the remainder of the Mesozoic.  Current research in this area 
is dynamic with important implications to a number of areas in paleobiology and 
geology.
    A number of recently discovered fossil localities in a little researched 
area of southwestern Utah that preserves a thick sequence of rocks spanning the 
Triassic/Jurassic interval are proving to be a catalyst for new studies on this 
time period.  In addition to discoveries at Zion National Park and Grand 
Staircase-Escalante National Monument, many of these discoveries have centered 
on the basal Jurassic St. George Dinosaur Tracksite at Johnson Farm.  This 
remarkable new site preserves an extraordinary series of track levels along the 
margin of a Hettangian lake (âLake Dixieâ) and has associated fossil 
plants, invertebrates, fish, and dinosaur remains making it particularly 
significant.  These discoveries, along with a new interpretive center slated to 
open in the summer of 2004, provide an impetus to bring scientists together to 
discuss terrestrial faunas across the Triassic/Jurassic transition in a 
dramatic geologic setting unfamiliar to most attendees in the warm p!
 alm-tree
 studded desert of SW Utah.
    A full color overview volume is planned by the Utah Geological Survey for 
initial distribution to attendees at the conference.  This volume will include 
short review papers on areas of critical interest regarding the 
Triassic/Jurassic terrestrial transition in various areas of the world, summary 
papers on these rocks, and their preserved fossils in southwestern Utah.
    
Preliminary Conference Program

March 15 AM - Plenary Papers - 30 min. each
March 15 PM, March 16 - General Conference Papers -
20 min. each
March 17 - Field Trip: Triassic/Jurassic Geology and Paleontology in the St. 
George and Zion National Park areas

Abstracts

    Electronic abstracts are due on October 15, 2004. They are to be no more 
than one page long at 12 pitch, Times Roman with titles all caps followed by 
indented list of authors (names in caps) and affiliations. Speakerâs 
information should include e-mail address. Abstract text follows. Send to 
e-mail jameskirkland@utah.gov; or by snail-mail James Kirkland, Utah Geological 
Survey, PO Box 146100, Salt Lake City, UT 84044.

A proceedings volume is to be published by the New Mexico Museum of Natural 
History and Science following the conference. For more information contact 
Spencer Lucas; NMMNH, 1801 Mountain Rd. NW, Albuquerque NM 87104-1375 
slucas@nmmnh.state.nm.us

Conference participants may fly into St George, Utah directly, or speakers may 
fly into Las Vegas, Nevada and then transported by volunteers to St. George.

Conference participants are invited to remain for the Utah Friends of 
Paleontology Annual Meeting, which will include additional afternoon field 
trips on March 18 and 19 and all day March 20.

In addition; there will be a Paleo Art Show: THE BEGINNING OF THE AGE OF 
DINOSAURS that will be up from February 
Hosted by Pioneer Center for the Arts
For more information contact Gary Sanders: Community Arts and Exhibits 
Administrator
City of St. George, Pioneer Center for the Arts, 47 East 200 North, St. George, 
Utah 84770
(435) 634-5942 ext. 16   artadmn@infowestcom

Information on the St. George tracksite may be viewed starting on page 4 of 
Survey Notes v. 34, no. 5. http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/snt34-3.pdf
Sponsored by Utah Geological Survey, Dixie State College, City of St. George, 
Utah Friends of Paleontology

Spring is a busy time in St. George, UT (Utahâs Palm Springs) so book your 
rooms early.

Host Hotels have reduced their price and set aside a block of rooms until 
February 21, 2005.

Crystal Inn
Rooms being held under GROUP NAME:  DINOSAUR ORIGINS CONFERENCE
Rate:  Single/Double:  $69.00/$69.00
       Triple/Quad:    $79.00/$89.00
Toll Free Reservation Line: 800-662-2525
Hotel Location: Crystal Inn, I-15, Exit 6, 1450 S. Hilton Drive, St. George, UT 
84770

Hampton Inn
Rate:  $85.00 (+ Tax (10.35%) 
Toll Free Reservation Line: 1 (800) 426-7866 (HAMPTON)
Location: 53 N River Rd., St. George, UT 84770

Other nearby budget Hotels include:

Sands Motel   
Phone: (435) 673-3501                                        Location: 581 East 
St. George Blvd., St. George, UT 84770

Days Inn
Phone: (435) 673-6123                                 Location: 150 N. 1000 E., 
St George, UT 84770

Comfort Inn
Toll Free Reservation Line: 1 (877) 577-6740    Location: 999 Skyline Dr., St 
George, UT 84770

Ramada Inn
Phone: 435-628-2828
Location: 1440 E Saint George Blvd., St George, UT 84790

Additional Questions: 
Contact Theresa Walker  1 (435) 703-3776
2flyfree@infowest.com