Faunal remains from the surface of lake bottoms provide insight into the mid- to late-Holocene history of Alberta. The project will focus on the development of primary Quaternary palaeontological data (e.g., bone element classification) for sub-samples of two Holocene faunal assemblages from the Lac La Biche region (Beaver Lake and North Buck Lake). Once you have classified the samples, you will compare and contrast the two collections. This will be done quantitatively by examining the numbers of the different skeletal elements recovered and by summarizing characteristic metrics of the samples. By referencing pertinent literature, you will also provide explanations for the similarities and differences you observe between the two collections. These results will provide insight into the Holocene paeloenvironments, mammalian ecology and taphonomy in of shallow lake in northern Alberta, a hitherto underrepresented source of vertebrate fossils in Alberta.

As discussed with Educator (Dr. Robin Woywitka)