UTILIZING LITERATURE BY A. R. PALMER TO CONDUCT AN UNDERGRADUATE TAXONOMY RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE OLENELLID FAUNA OF THE PIOCHE SHALE

An important area of study in paleontology is taxonomy. An understanding of this system of classification allows expansion into all other related fields. Unfortunately, the opportunity to study with taxonomic specialists is extremely limited, especially for undergraduates.

To overcome this disadvantage and gain a reasonable experience with taxonomy, a combined literature/hands-on study was devised. Dr. A. R. Palmer was contacted regarding his well-documented research on Olenellid trilobites of the Lower Cambrian Pioche Shale, Lincoln County, Nevada. He graciously supplied detailed information on the collection sites included in several of his published papers.

Our undergraduate invertebrate paleontology class conducted a collecting trip to one of the sites where the entire class collected several hundred usable specimens. During a subsequent laboratory all specimens were shared with this author by the field participants. Samples were prepared and, utilizing the published literature of Dr. Palmer as an expert model, taxonomically described. It was a productive and rewarding experience.