NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Principal Investigator: Vavrek, Matthew J
Licensed Year(s): 2013
Summary: This project is a continuation of the collaborative research program on ancient biodiversity in the Canadian Arctic. Recently, the group completed work supported by Polar Continental Shelf Project in the Brackett Basin in the westcentral Northwest Territories and the Bonnet Plume Basin in northeastern the Yukon Territory, during which the research team recovered both new vertebrate (dinosaur) foss...

Principal Investigator: Patterson, R. Tim
Licensed Year(s): 2012 2011 2010
Summary: Through analysis of sediment/water interface samples, freeze cores, and dendrochronology, the researchers intend to: i) develop a comprehensive sub-decadal to centennial-scale late Holocene climatic history along a 2° latitudinal gradient in the central NT, variously based on microfossils (pollen, diatoms, thecamoebians, chironomids), sedimentologic, cyclostratigraphic, stable isotopic, ...

Principal Investigator: Pratt, Brian R.
Licensed Year(s): 2012 2002 2000 1998
Summary: We will study rocks in the Backbone Ranges of the Mackenzie Mountains, chartering a helicopter from Watson Lake to install and move light-weight camps and bring back samples. The strata of interest are exposed on mountainsides and brick-sized samples will be collected at measured intervals, labelled and placed in plastic sample bags. Enclosed fossils are recovered after preparation in the laborat...

Principal Investigator: Dyke, Arthur S.
Licensed Year(s): 1998
Summary: The objective of the work in western Victoria Island is to start establishing a postglacial history for the Beaufort Sea bowhead whale. We have done this very successfully for the Baffin Bay bowhead whale. This is a study of geological fossils, not of living whales, nor of bones at archaeological sites. This information will be used to find out how much sea ice cover has changed through time. A 2 ...

Principal Investigator: Cumbaa, S.L.
Licensed Year(s): 2010 2008 1997 1995
Summary: We plan to conduct geological and paleontological exploration and research, checking Devonian-age rocks exposed along a 1-2 km stretch of the Anderson River to look for bones and scales of fossil fish contained within the rocks. These rocks, and the fossils within them, are approximately 400 million years old. In 1995, we discovered bones of a primitive lungfish (an ancient, lobe-finned, air-bre...

Principal Investigator: Durham, J. Wyatt
Licensed Year(s): 1995 1990
Summary: The researchers will collect specimens of fossil molluscs exposed in critical areas. This involves simply breaking rocks loose from their location. No excavation deeper than 1 foot is contemplated. Localities will be marked on topographic maps and measurements of sections exposed in river banks will be made. Analysis will be completed in California. Significant specimens will be returned to t...

Principal Investigator: Pratt, Brian R.
Licensed Year(s): 1995 1993
Summary: The researcher will study trilobite fossil communities that exsisted in the Cambrian Period. Study of these fossils will help in more precisely dating the rocks laid down by this sea. The researcher will also prepare a biostratigraphic zonation....

Principal Investigator: Johnston, Paul A.
Licensed Year(s): 1994 1991
Summary: The research team will search parts of Cornwallis and Ellesmere Islands for fossils of ancient sea and land creatures that lived more than 400 million years ago. Of special interest are remains of eurypterids (sea scorpions), giant armoured fishes, jawless fishes, molluscs and early land animals. The fossils will be used for new exhibits and educational programs at the Royal Tyrrell Museum and t...

Principal Investigator: Gardner, James D.
Licensed Year(s): 1994
Summary: The researcher will examine the following geological localities and units: Sabine Bay (Permian) and Heiberg (Triassic) formations, northern Axel Heiberg Island and Blind Fiord, Blaa Mountain, and Heiberg and Sabine Bay and Svartevaeg formations, east- central Ellesmere Island. At each fossil site the researcher will record relevant stratigraphic and sedimentological information and collect repres...

Principal Investigator: Marino, Bruno D.
Licensed Year(s): 1992
Summary: The researcher will sample plants and shells containing records of the stable isotopic composition of the constituents in the environment that are used for growth. The natural abundance of the stable isotopes of carbon in atmospheric CO2 and in dissolved groundwater as well as the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in water can be related to climatic factors. Thus, these isotope ratios in shells and p...