BACKGROUNDER: Web resources for a story in the news
Date: Nov. 9, 2004
By: Brenda R. Solman
Story: Daily News
Nova Scotia is the site of the first mass migration from sea to land, says leading paleontologist Spencer Lucas. Blue Beach, in King’s Co. is the home of millions of 345 to 359 million-year-old fossilized footprints, from creatures as small as salamanders to as big as large dogs. Lucas says there are a few isolated older footprints around the globe, but this is the oldest mass migration site.
Site: Fossils of Nova Scotia
This is a Nova Scotia Museum site, featuring bios of Nova Scotia fossil-finders, pictures and information about some of the most important finds in Nova Scotia, and a map of important fossils sites in the province. There is also a gallery featuring over pictures and data of over 100 fossils found in Nova Scotia. The page also has information for fossil-hunters, including safety tips, permit information, and what to do if you find a fossil. The site isn’t quite up-to-date enough to feature the Blue Beach discovery.
Site: Museum Victoria
This site is part of ed-online, Museum Victoria’s online education project. It provides a basic history of migration from sea to land, and the necessary evolution to make that possible. It has sections on plants, invertebrates and amphibians. It also has links sections on time, life through time and extinction. It also features fossil activities for children of varying ages, and suggestions for further research.
Site: Palaeos Paleozoic: Carboniferous
This page is part of Palaeos, a site with extensive information about paleontology, evolution, geochronology, ecology, etc. The footprints found at Blue Beach are believed to date back to this period. The site provides information on the various epochs within the period, overviews of tectonic activity, climate and life in the period, as well as few links to more Carboniferous information.
Site: University of California Museum of Paleontology FAQs
This site provides an overview of paleontology, including what it is, its practical uses and how to get involved. It gives advice on how to find fossils and what to do with them. It also features a list of other online sources of information and news about paleontology.
Site: New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science
This museum is the home of Spencer Lucas, the expert who confirmed the presence of the fossilized footprints indicating the mass migration at Blue Beach. The site’s paleontology information is mostly about dinosaurs in New Mexico, but it features a bio of Lucas.