Journal article
Neutron tomography of Austrosequoia novae-zeelandiae comb. nov. (Late Cretaceous, Chatham Islands, New Zealand): implications for Sequoioideae phylogeny and biogeography
C Mays, DJ Cantrill, JD Stilwell, JJ Bevitt
Journal of Systematic Palaeontology | TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD | Published : 2018
Abstract
The Tupuangi Flora of the Chatham Islands, New Zealand, reveals a south polar forest ecosystem, and important biogeographical links between eastern and western Gondwana. We employed neutron tomography (NT) to image fossil Cupressaceae seed cones from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) strata of the Tupuangi Formation. This technique facilitated the non-destructive ‘virtual extraction’ of three-dimensional, coalified specimens, whilst they were still embedded within a large volume of supporting silicate sedimentary rock. This study is the first reported application of NT in palaeobotanical taxonomy, and the combination of virtual and manual extraction techniques enabled a more complete treatme..
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Awarded by National Geographic Society
Funding Acknowledgements
The authors would like to dedicate this article to the memory of David Pickering (Museum Victoria) for his field assistance, his advice on sample preparation and his broad contributions to Gondwanan palaeontology. Special thanks go to chief fossil preparator Chava Rodriguez, and palaeobotanical artist Mali Moir. Additional fossil preparation was provided by members of the Monash Palaeontology Undergraduate Volunteer Program, and additional field assistance was provided by Cameron McKenzie, Jesse Vitacca and Pedro Viegas. Terry and Donna Tuanui kindly provided support on Chatham Island before and after fieldwork on Pitt Island. CM would like to thank the residents of Pitt Island for their field assistance and support. Type material was supplied by Anusha Beer & Kane Fleury (University of Otago). Scanning electron microscopy assistance was provided by Adam Costin and Georg Ramm (Advanced Cellular Imaging Laboratory, Monash University). This work was supported by the National Geographic Society [9761-15], the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation[P5524], and the Australian Research Council [DP1412515, LP0989518]. CM would like to acknowledge the Moriori people as the original landowners of Rekohu (the Chatham Islands).