PROMOTING PALEONTOLOGY IN SOUTHEASTERN PARKS: A GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY AND NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PARTNERSHIP

Georgia State University is a minority-serving institution in downtown Atlanta. Every other year, Principles of Paleontology is offered to undergraduate and graduate students seeking to learn foundational concepts in paleontology, how to identify fossils in the lab/field, and how to conduct research as part of their experience in the course. Typically, students study fossil specimens, but in Fall 2023, an additional research opportunity was provided as part of a partnership with the National Park Service. Six national parks in the southeastern region were selected for study given their known and/or potential for paleontological resources: Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Cumberland Gap National Historical Park, Little River Canyon National Preserve, Obed Wild and Scenic River, and Russell Cave National Monument. All six parks were previously assessed prior to 2010 by the NPS Paleontology Program in Inventory and Monitoring network reports that reviewed their geology, known paleontological resources, and potential for fossils based on fossil-bearing strata in the park. Further research has been limited, however. Parks in the southeastern U.S. are often not recognized for their paleontological resources despite widespread fossil-rich rocks in the region. This partnership between Georgia State University and the National Park Service seeks to provide an updated view of the geology and paleontology at these parks. Through the compilation of baseline paleontological resource data on stratigraphic units, review of new/existing literature on local fossils, and comparisons of geologic/park maps, fossil fact sheets were developed for these six parks to support park staff in learning about their fossil resources. Stories for public interpretation, management considerations, and opportunities for fieldwork that might lead to new fossil discoveries were additionally noted. This work is a first step in elevating the understanding of the scope, significance, distribution, and management issues associated with paleontological resources at these parks. Training students in this way presents a novel and applied approach to learning paleontology, as natural resource management is not often a focus of paleontology education at universities.