McAbee Fossil Beds

Summary

50°47.831′N 121°8.469′W / 50.797183°N 121.141150°W / 50.797183; -121.141150

McAbee Fossil Beds viewed from the Highway.
Heritage status sign

The McAbee Fossil Beds is a Heritage Site that protects an Eocene Epoch fossil locality east of Cache Creek, British Columbia, Canada, just north of and visible from Provincial Highway 97 / the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1). The McAbee Fossil Beds, comprising 548.23 hectares (1,354.7 acres), were officially designated a Provincial Heritage Site under British Columbia's Heritage Conservation Act on July 19, 2012.[1][2] The site is part of an old lake bed which was deposited about 52 million years ago and is internationally recognised for the diversity of plant, insect, and fish fossils found there. Similar fossil beds in Eocene lake sediments, also known for their well preserved plant, insect and fish fossils, are found at Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park near Smithers in northern British Columbia, on the Horsefly River near Quesnel in central British Columbia, and at Republic in Washington, United States.[3] The Princeton Chert fossil beds in southern British Columbia are also Eocene, but primarily preserve an aquatic plant community.[4] A 2016 review of the early Eocene fossil sites from the interior of British Columbia discusses the history of paleobotanical research at McAbee, the Princeton Chert, Driftwood Canyon, and related Eocene fossil sites such as at Republic.[5]

The McAbee site is now under the management of the Bonaparte First Nation, who have title on the lands.[6] The site is currently closed to the public while interpretive components are installed.[7]

Palaeontology and geology edit

 
Indeterminate bird skeleton

Fossil plants from the same area as the McAbee fossil beds (Cache Creek and Kamloops B.C.) were first reported by G.M. Dawson.[8] Palaeontological and geological studies of the McAbee Fossil Beds first commenced in the 1960s and early 1970s by Len Hills of the University of Calgary and his students on the fossil palynology (spores and pollen) and leaf fossils,[9][10][11] and research on the fossil fish from the fossil beds by Mark Wilson of the University of Alberta.[3] Thomas Ewing provided a detailed analysis of the geology of the Kamloops Group, including the McAbee beds.[12] More recently, Lowe et al. have assessed in detail the site lithostratigraphy.[13] Significant research on the fossil plants and insects has only occurred since the late 1980s.[14][15][16][17][18] The McAbee Fossil Beds are best known for the abundant and well-preserved insect and fish fossils (Amyzon, Eohiodon, and Eosalmo). Eohiodon rosei from the McAbee Fossil Beds and other Eocene sites in British Columbia is now considered to belong to the present-day mooneye genus Hiodon.[19]

The climate of the McAbee Eocene lake was reconstructed to be temperate and wet, with a mean annual temperature about 11 °C (52 °F), winters lacking frost (coldest month mean temperature ~5 °C), and annual precipitation over 1,000 mm (39 in) a year with little or no seasonality of precipitation.[16][17][20][21] The extraordinary detail preserved in the insect fossils, as well as the high diversity of insects, plants and other organisms means the McAbee Fossil Beds represent a Konservat-Lagerstätten.[18]

A volcanic ash exposed in the lake shale beds was originally radiometrically dated using the K-Ar method at ~51 million years ago;[10][12] however, a 2005 paper provided a radiometric date using the 40Ar-39Ar method places the McAbee Fossil Beds at 52.9 ± 0.83 million years ago, with both dates placing the McAbee fossil beds in the early Eocene Epoch.[22][23]

Flora edit

 
Fossil leaf of Sassafras hesperia from the McAbee Fossil Beds. Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology collection. Collected by L. Hills in 1983.

Fossils of plant leaves, shoots, seeds, flowers and cones are abundant and well preserved, and include up to 76 genera of plants.[24] Fossil plants described from the fossil beds include rare fruits such as Dipteronia brownii, a genus of trees now endemic to China,[25] extinct members of the birch family (Betulaceae) such as Palaeocarpinus,[26] maples (Acer rousei),[14] fruits and leaves of the beech Fagus langevinii[27] and the elm Ulmus okanaganensis.[28]

Below is an incomplete list of the plant genera found in the McAbee fossil beds based on the list found in Dillhoff, Leopold & Manchester (2005) and Wilson (2009) with extinct taxa denoted with a †.[29]

plant family genus or species notes

Equisetaceae

Equisetum

Scouring rushes

Cupressaceae

Chamaecyparis, Cunninghamia, Metasequoia, Sequoia, Thuja

cypress, Chinese fir, dawn redwood, California redwood, red or white cedar

Ginkgoaceae

Ginkgo biloba

ginkgo, maidenhair tree

Pinaceae

Abies,[30] Picea, Pinus, Pseudolarix,[31] Tsuga

fir, spruce, pine, golden larch, hemlock

Taxaceae

cf. Amentotaxus, cf. Torreya

catkin yew, nutmeg yew or 'torreya'

Betulaceae

Alnus, Betula, †Palaeocarpinus[26]

alder, birch, extinct hornbeam

Cercidiphyllaceae

Joffrea / Cercidiphyllum

extinct / katsura

Cornaceae

Cornus

dogwood

Fagaceae

Fagus langevinii

beech

Grossulariaceae

Ribes

currant/gooseberry

Hamamelidaceae

Langeria magnifica

extinct witch hazel relative

Lauraceae

Sassafras hesperia

sassafras

Malvaceae

Florissantia

extinct mallow relative

Myricaceae

Comptonia columbiana

sweet fern

Platanaceae

Macginicarpa, †Macginitiea

extinct sycamore/plane tree relative

Rosaceae

Amelanchier, Crataegus, Prunus

serviceberry, hawthorn, cherry

Salicaceae

Populus

cottonwoods/poplars

Sapindaceae

Acer, Aesculus, †Cruciptera,[32] Dipteronia, Koelreuteria

maples, buckeyes/horse chestnuts, golden rain trees

Trochodendraceae

Paraconcavistylon wehrii,[33][34]Trochodendron drachukii,[35] Trochodendron nastae,[33]Zizyphoides

wheel tree, extinct trochodendron relatives

Ulmaceae

Ulmus okanaganensis

elm

Vitaceae

Vitis

grape

incertae sedis

Dillhoffia cashensis

Flower of uncertain affliliation

Insects and other arthropods edit

The fossil insects are particularly diverse and well preserved, and include an extinct bulldog ant Macabeemyrma ovata,[36] a species of green lacewing (Neuroptera, Chrysopidae) (Archaeochrysa profracta), and stick insects (Phasmatodea).[23][37][38] A species of fossil freshwater crayfish (Aenigmastacus crandalli) was described from the McAbee Fossil Beds.[39] The very high diversity of fossil insects in the McAbee fossil beds is comparable to that of modern-day tropical forest areas.[40] Additionally, fossil palm beetles (Bruchinae) were detailed from the beds, confirming the presence of palms (Arecaceae) in the local environment in the early Eocene.[41]

Below is an incomplete list of the insect Orders, superfamilies and families, and genera found in the McAbee Fossil Beds based on information in Archibald, Bossert, Greenwood, and Farrell (2010),[23] Archibald, Mathewes, and Greenwood (2013), Archibald, Rasnitsyn and Akhmetiev (2005)[42] and other sources cited in the list below, with extinct taxa denoted with a †.

Arthropod order Super family/family Genus/Species Authors Notes Images

Ephemeroptera

Odonata

Aeshnidae

Darners (dragonflies)

Odonata

Megapodagrionidae

Flatwing damselflies

Blattodea

Blaberidae

blaberid cockroaches

Isoptera

Hodotermitidae

harvester termites

Dermaptera

earwigs

Orthoptera

Prophalangopsidae

Grigs

Orthoptera

Tettigoniidae

katydids

Hemiptera

Aphididae

aphids

Hemiptera

Cicadellidae

leaf hoppers

Hemiptera

Cercopoidea

spittlebugs

Neuroptera

Chrysopidae

Protochrysa

Green lacewings

Neuroptera

Chrysopidae

Okanaganochrysa

Green lacewings

Neuroptera

Chrysopidae

Adamsochrysa

Green lacewings

Neuroptera

Chrysopidae

Archaeochrysa

Green lacewings

Neuroptera

Hemerobiidae

brown lacewings

Neuroptera

Osmylidae

osmylid lacewings

Coleoptera

Cupedidae

reticulated beetles

Coleoptera

cf. Cantharidae

soldier beetles

Coleoptera

Cerambycidae

long horned beetles

Coleoptera

Chrysomelidae

leaf beetles

Coleoptera

Curculionidae

weevils, snout beetles

Coleoptera

cf. Elateridae

click beetles

Coleoptera

Mordellidae

tumbling flower beetles

Mecoptera

Bittacidae

hangingflies

Mecoptera

†Cimbrophlebiidae

Cimbrophlebia

extinct group

Mecoptera

Panorpidae

Panorpa

panorpid scorpionflies

Mecoptera

Dinopanorpidae

Dinokanaga

extinct family

Mecoptera

Holcorpidae

Holcorpa

extinct family

Mecoptera

Eorpidae

Eorpa

extinct family

Mecoptera

Eomeropidae

Eomerope

eomeropid mecopterans

Diptera

Bibionidae

Plecia

March flies

Diptera

Cylindrotomidae

long-bodied crane flies

Diptera

Limoniidae

limoniid crane flies

Diptera

Mycetophilidae

fungus gnats

Diptera

Tipulidae

crane flies

Diptera

Trichoceridae

winter crane flies

Diptera

Syrphidae

flower flies, hover flies

Trichoptera

caddisflies

Hymenoptera

Braconidae

braconid wasps

Hymenoptera

Cephidae

Cuspilongus cachecreekensis[43]

Archibald & Rasnitsyn, 2015

Sawfly

Hymenoptera

Cimbicidae

cimbicid wasps

Hymenoptera

Diapriidae

diapriid wasps

Hymenoptera

Figitidae

figitid wasps

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Avitomyrmex elongatus[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Avitomyrmex mastax[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Avitomyrmex systenus[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Macabeemyrma ovata[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Ypresiomyrma bartletti[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Ypresiomyrma orbiculata[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ants

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Myrmeciites(?) goliath[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ant form taxon

Hymenoptera

Formicidae

Myrmeciites herculeanus[44]

Archibald, Cover, & Moreau, 2006

bulldog ant form taxon

Hymenoptera

Ichneumonidae

ichneumon wasps

Hymenoptera

Proctotrupidae

proctotrupid wasps

Hymenoptera

Siricidae

Ypresiosirex orthosemos[43]

Archibald & Rasnitsyn, 2015

horntail wasps

Hymenoptera

Sphecidae

Sphecid wasps

Hymenoptera

Tenthredinidae

tenthredinid wasps

Hymenoptera

Vespidae

hornets

Phasmatodea

Susumanioidea

stick insects

Collections and collecting status edit

Collections of fossils are housed in the Royal BC Museum in Victoria, B.C.; the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology in Drumheller Alberta; the Royal Ontario Museum; the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa; the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, WA; as well as in university collections, principally Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.; and Brandon University in Manitoba. Significant collections of fossils from the McAbee Fossil Beds were in private ownership and fossils from the McAbee Fossil Beds are listed for sale on the internet.[24] In August 2018 a substantial private collection of fossils from McAbee was donated to the Royal British Columbia Museum.[45]

The cessation of fossil collecting at the McAbee Fossil Beds through heritage listing is consistent with British Columbia's Fossil Management Framework[46] which seeks to:

  • clarify the rules governing the management and use of fossils;
  • manage impacts on fossils from other activities;
  • provide for the stewardship of significant fossil sites;
  • raise internal and external awareness of the framework and the importance of fossils;
  • build knowledge of the nature and extent of the resource in British Columbia; and
  • clarify the rights and obligations of the public, business, government and other stakeholders.

References edit

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  2. ^ McAbee Fossil Beds Heritage Site. Canadian Register of Historic Places. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  3. ^ a b Wilson, M.V.H. (1977). "Middle Eocene freshwater fishes from British Columbia". Life Sciences Contributions, Royal Ontario Museum. 113: 1–66.
  4. ^ Cevallos-Ferriz, SRS; Stockey, RA; Pigg, KB (1991). "Princeton chert: evidence for in situ aquatic plants". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 70 (1–2): 173–185. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(91)90085-H.
  5. ^ Greenwood, D.R.; Pigg, K.B.; Basinger, J.F.; DeVore, M.L. (2016). "A review of paleobotanical studies of the Early Eocene Okanagan (Okanogan) Highlands floras of British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA". Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 53 (6): 548–564. Bibcode:2016CaJES..53..548G. doi:10.1139/cjes-2015-0177. hdl:1807/71961.
  6. ^ Wilson, Deborah (June 21, 2019). "Fossil bed reopens under new Indigenous management in B.C.'s southern Interior". CBC News.
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  9. ^ Hills, L.V. (1965). Palynology and age of early Tertiary basins, interior British Columbia (Ph.D.). Edmonton, Alberta: University of Alberta. p. 189.
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  13. ^ Lowe, A. J.; Greenwood, D. R.; West, C. K.; Galloway, J. M.; Sudermann, M.; Reichgelt, T. (2018). "Plant community ecology and climate on an upland volcanic landscape during the Early Eocene Climatic Optimum: McAbee Fossil Beds, British Columbia, Canada". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 511: 433–448. Bibcode:2018PPP...511..433L. doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.09.010. S2CID 134962126.
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  36. ^ Archibald, S.B.; Cover, S. P.; Moreau, C. S. (2006). "Bulldog Ants of the Eocene Okanagan Highlands and History of the Subfamily (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmeciinae)". Annals of the Entomological Society of America. 99 (3): 487–523. doi:10.1603/0013-8746(2006)99[487:BAOTEO]2.0.CO;2.
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  38. ^ Archibald, SB; Bradler, S (2015). "Stem-group stick insects (Phasmatodea) in the early Eocene at McAbee, British Columbia, Canada, and Republic, Washington, United States of America". The Canadian Entomologist. 147 (6): 744–753. doi:10.4039/tce.2015.2. S2CID 86608533.
  39. ^ Feldmann, R.A.; Schweitzer, C.E.; Leahy, J. (2011). "New Eocene crayfish from the McAbee Beds in British Columbia: First record of Parastacoidea in the Northern Hemisphere". Journal of Crustacean Biology. 31 (2): 320–331. doi:10.1651/10-3399.1.
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  45. ^ Royal British Columbia Museum
  46. ^ Fossil Management Framework (accessed May 4, 2015)