DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS, The Next Generation in Best Practices 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 2017
Academic museums and collections are integrated within their departments or colleges to varying d... more Academic museums and collections are integrated within their departments or colleges to varying degrees. For those that share specimens or management practices with an academic department, the changes to policies regarding samples collected on public or protected lands can present challenges to coordinating sample management among the collection’s contributors. The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) was founded in 1848 as part of The Department of Geology (now Geoscience). The UWGM collection hosts thousands of publicly owned specimens, and Department of Geoscience faculty routinely also collect research specimens from public lands. It was vital to adopt uniform standards for the collection and management of such specimens across both units to better manage available repository space, streamline annual reporting requirements, and preserve essential sample data for the long term. The UWGM, together with the Department of Geoscience Repository Committee, developed department-wide policies for collecting, documenting, and reporting on samples collected from public and protected lands. Together, we have improved the management and oversight of publicly-owned samples, created institutional buy-in for best practices in sample management, and eased the burden of departmental reporting requirements by leveraging the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Such policies could be similarly applied for permanent collections that share resources with a central academic or research institution.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 47, No. 7, p.479
Since 1972 the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been the repos... more Since 1972 the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been the repository for a large collection of geological and paleontological specimens from Guadalupe Mountains National Park (GUMO). These specimens were collected by Dr. Lloyd C. Pray and his graduate students to provide early descriptions of much of the park’s depositional and diagenetic history. Many of these localities lie along the Permian Reef Trail which is now protected from large scale collecting. Although this collection was scientifically significant, faculty collections were not integrated into the UW Geology Museum (UWGM) collections and these specimens were uncataloged and unavailable to the greater scientific community. In 2009 the UWGM began a cooperative partnership with GUMO and the NPS to tackle backlog cataloging and the digitizing of NPS from the Pray/GUMO Collection under the requirements of the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. The aim of this project was to provide scientific identification of specimens, improve accessibility to the collection, and clearly identify specimens as National Park Service (NPS) property. For a small university museum, the financial assistance from the NPS and the expertise of GUMO staff were critical components in ensuring the completion of this project in a reasonable time frame. One successful outcome of this project is that we have assembled a significant research collection of the park’s litho- and biostratigraphic units. Using a small subset of samples which lacked determinable provenance, we created a Permian Reef Teaching Collection for use in undergraduate and graduate student laboratory classes. While this project required an investment of time from UWGM personnel, it has helped to create institutional buy-in through new department-wide policies regarding specimen collection from federal lands as well as ease the burden of departmental reporting requirements using the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Cataloging the specimens also helped GUMO staff identify important localities within the park. This in turn has aided park staff tasked with the protection and preservation of geological and paleontological resources.
In July of 1897 numerous mastodon (Mammut americanum) bones were discovered near the town of Boaz... more In July of 1897 numerous mastodon (Mammut americanum) bones were discovered near the town of Boaz, Wisconsin. Another partial mastodon skeleton was unearthed roughly 50 kilometers to the southwest in the small hamlet of Anderson Mills the following summer, in July of 1898. This find was better preserved and produced more than sixty complete elements. Shortly after being recovered, the remains from both localities were purchased separately by the State of Wisconsin for the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM).
In the fall of 1915 a mastodon skeleton was put on display in the UWGM which for almost a century was attributed to the Boaz mastodon. Many lines of evidence indicate, however, that this skeleton is a composite. Most of the bones are from the Anderson Mills mastodon, while the others are assigned tentatively to the Boaz mastodon.
The left femur, mandible, and several other bones from the mounted skeleton appear in historical photographs of the Anderson Mills site. Newspaper accounts of this find also mention two ribs with healed fractures, both of which are present. The left humerus and left femur from the Anderson Mills mastodon yielded AMS radiocarbon dates of 11,040 ± 50 14C yr BP and 11,050 ± 60 14C yr BP, respectively. The right tibia and left first rib differ greatly from the other bones in preservation, wear, and coloration. They have AMS radiocarbon dates of 10,280 ± 45 14C yr BP and 10,370 ± 45 14C yr BP, respectively, and are most likely from the Boaz mastodon.
Cracking the Collections, SPNHC EPG Blog, Oct 2014
Academic collections can commonly suffer from a lack of institutional support, or from not having... more Academic collections can commonly suffer from a lack of institutional support, or from not having enough publicity, but the upsides of working with a smaller collection can make the job a true joy. This guest post in "Careers in Collections" covers my own personal experience working for such an institution - from managing objects that represent more than a century of collecting to getting to train future museum professionals. One never knows what to expect on the job while working for a small museum and its staff are frequently asked to wear many hats: lifting and moving crew, pest abatement, exhibit fabricator, cleaning crew, carpet repair, scientist, event planner, and sometimes even a curator (my job title!).
American Water Resources Association Wisconsin Chapter Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2008
Throughout the Fox River valley, the Cambrian–Ordovician bedrock aquifer is used extensively for ... more Throughout the Fox River valley, the Cambrian–Ordovician bedrock aquifer is used extensively for residential and municipal water supply. A regional aquitard may control groundwater recharge to this aquifer. The aquitard is composed of silt and clay deposited in glacial Lake Oshkosh, which formed in front of the receding Green Bay Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet approximately 13,000 to 19,000 years ago.
Some of this lake sediment was subsequently eroded and deposited on upland areas by readvances of the ice. As a result, much of the Fox River valley is covered with varying thicknesses of fine-grained sediment. Much like the Maquoketa Formation in southeast Wisconsin, this fine-grained sediment may act as an aquitard, limiting infiltration to the bedrock aquifer.
The ability of the fine-grained sediment to transmit water was determined using consolidometers in the laboratory and slug tests in the field. Intact samples for consolidation testing were collected from several rotosonic boreholes drilled in the
region. Hydraulic conductivity of these samples ranged from 1 x 10-8 ms-1 to 1 x 10-11 ms-1, decreasing with applied load. These results show that hydraulic conductivity could vary several orders of magnitude from the surface to the base of
the sequence.
Multilevel well systems, installed in two of the rotosonic boreholes, support this conclusion. Slug tests conducted in three of the well ports at one location revealed that hydraulic conductivity decreases with depth from 2.7 x 10-8 ms-1 at 20 ft to 3.0 x 10-11 ms-1 at 160 ft. These findings indicate that the hydraulic conductivity of these sediments decreases in relation to depth below land surface as a result of stress caused by overlying sediment.
Basal water pressure and water flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior ... more Basal water pressure and water flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ice sheet, because they influence ice-sheet thickness, stability and extent. Water
produced by basal melting may infiltrate the subsurface, or occur as sheet or channelized flow at the
ice/bed interface. We examine subglacial groundwater conditions along a flowline of the Scandinavian ice sheet through Nordfjord, in the western fjords region of southern Norway, using a steady-state, two dimensional groundwater-flow model. Meltwater input to the groundwater model is calculated by a two-dimensional, time-dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice-flow model oriented along the
same flowline. Model results show that the subglacial sediments could not have transmitted all the meltwater out of the fjord during times of ice advance and when the ice sheet was at its maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. In order for pore-water pressures to remain below the
overburden pressure of the overlying ice, other paths of subglacial drainage are necessary to remove excess water. During times of retreat, the subglacial aquifer is incapable of transmitting all the meltwater that was probably generated. Pulses of meltwater reaching the bed could explain nonclimatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
American Water Resources Association Wisconsin Chapter Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2007
Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone and dolomite formations make up the primary aquifers in east-centra... more Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone and dolomite formations make up the primary aquifers in east-central Wisconsin, and are frequently confined by overlying dolomite of the Sinnipee Group and the Maquoketa shale. These important aquifers may also be confined by another, more shallow, aquitard—fine-grained glacial sediment originating from a proglacial lake that existed during the most recent glaciation. Regions previously thought to be potential areas of recharge to the deeper aquifers are covered by thick sequences of this low-permeability sediment that limits vertical flow. A total of eighteen boreholes have been drilled to better characterize the extent and thickness of the Pleistocene-age deposits, and samples have been taken from seven of these boreholes to collect sediment pore-water for stable isotope analyses. Multi-level well systems have been installed across the aquitard in two deep boreholes to measure head distributions and to collect water samples for stable isotopes and major ions. Preliminary results of oxygen-isotope analyses from sediment pore-water where the aquitard is 275 feet thick show a bow-shaped curve typical of modern oxygen isotope values (-9 δ18O) diffusing downward from the surface and upward from a lower
aquifer into the clay aquitard, with a decrease in oxygen isotope values (-15 δ18O) toward the middle of the sequence. This curve is typical of chemical diffusion with limited advection. In areas where the aquitard is thinner, results show predominantly modern oxygen isotope values across the aquitard’s thickness. This suggests that recharge to the bedrock aquifer is limited where the sediment is thicker. Water may move through the aquitard where it is thinner or contains more conductive sediment. Recharge to the bedrock aquifers may
simply be a function of the conductivity and thickness of the Pleistocene deposits present in this region.
Results from experiments with a two-dimensional ice-flow model, applied along a west-east transec... more Results from experiments with a two-dimensional ice-flow model, applied along a west-east transect in western Norway, provide new constraints on the thickness evolution of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet throughout the Late Weichselian glaciation and deglaciation. Investigations took place along an E-W flowline of the former ice sheet at c. 62N, from the modern glacier Jostedalsbreen, through the Nordfjord, and across the continental shelf. A paleoclimate record from Kråkenes, which is located directly at the flowline, provides temperature and precipitation information for the time between 13 800 and 9200 cal. yr BP. LGM climate conditions for the study area are estimated from various GCM studies. The GISP2 δ18O record has been tuned to the local data in order to provide a continuous temperature record as input for time-transgressive model runs. The results of all experiments suggest that the ice did not cover the highest mountain peaks in this area, and that nunataks persisted throughout the Late Weichselian glaciation. These findings are in contrast to results from many previous model studies and other ice-sheet reconstructions, but agree well with minimum thickness estimates from cosmogenic dating and with vertical ice limits inferred from lower block field boundaries and trimlines.
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, 36, 5, 249 , 2004
Basal water pressure and flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ... more Basal water pressure and flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ice sheet, because they influence ice sheet thickness, stability, and extent. Water, if produced by basal melting, travels toward the ice margin through the groundwater system, and if present in sufficient quantities, as sheet or channelized flow. The flow of subglacial groundwater along a flow line of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet is examined using a two-dimensional MODFLOW-based profile model, assuming that groundwater flow is parallel to the ice flow line. The amount of basal meltwater being added to the system is derived from a two-dimensional, time dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice flow model along the same flow line. The meltwater component from the ice-flow model is used as recharge input for the groundwater model, and evolving ice-sheet topography is used to compare resulting porewater pressures to the ice overburden pressures. The groundwater model allows us to test the flow capacity of the aquifer along this flow line, the importance of a drainage system, and the effects of changing ice margin positions on subglacial hydrology. Results show that the sediment layer underlying the ice would not have been capable of transmitting all of the meltwater out of the fjord during times of advance, as well as at the maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. The model simulations for glacial retreat indicate that the sediments could have easily handled all of the basal meltwater, but once an addition of surface melt is included in the simulation, groundwater flow through the sediment layer is no longer a sufficient means of meltwater evacuation. This suggests that other forms of basal drainage must have been present during these stages of glaciation. Episodes of high basal water pressure may explain non-climatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
European Geophysical Union, Geophysical Research Abstracts, 2003
The behavior of the subglacial groundwater system is one of several aspects of the Scandinavian I... more The behavior of the subglacial groundwater system is one of several aspects of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet that are still poorly understood, yet is also a critical glaciological constraint. It influences the stability of the ice sheet, ice sheet thickness, and extent, and is therefore an important component for the reconstruction of climate during the last glacial period. We examine the subglacial hydrology of a flow line of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet using a two-dimensional MODFLOW-based profile model assuming that groundwater flow is parallel to the ice flow line. A two-dimensional, time dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice flow model provides the meltwater input from basal melting along the flow line. This is used to simulate recharge to the subglacial groundwater system. The model results indicate that the bed sediments alone would not have been capable of transmitting all of the basal meltwater out of the fjord during times of advance and retreat, as well as at the maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. Surface meltwater contributes additional recharge and would also greatly impact the underlying aquifer. Such conditions could explain non-climatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase. Additionally, a drainage network would aid in keeping basal water pressures at reasonable levels, and serve to evacuate excess meltwater from the system.
Museums Evolving 2.0, Joint Meeting of the Association of Midwest Museums and Wisconsin Federation of Museums Program, 2021
Small museums and collections often face operational challenges like limited staff, a lack of fun... more Small museums and collections often face operational challenges like limited staff, a lack of funding, or even space restrictions. Regardless of these limitations, smaller institutions may need to tackle large projects and leverage finite resources in order to make transformative changes. During 2020 and 2021, three small natural history collections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus independently undertook major collections rehousing and facility renewal projects. With funding from an Institute of Museum and Library services grant as well as a UW-Madison Instructional Laboratory Modernization (ILM) grant, The UW Geology Museum (UWGM) renovated what was formerly a multi-purpose storage space and outfitted it as a new collections storage facility. By implementing both mobile and fixed shelving custom designed to meet the museum’s varied needs, the UWGM converted a makeshift repository into a professional one, better suited for the stewardship of collections as well as the training of the next generation of museum specialists. During 2020 and 2021, the UW Anthropology Collections (UWAC) received two ILM grants to renovate research and teaching facilities to more effectively serve the department’s active hands-on pedagogy practices, as well as facilitate numerous small seminars for a large introductory-level college course. Equipment and room layouts were carefully chosen to allow for visible and non-visible storage, access to relevant collections, and mobility of room design to accommodate flexibility in room use. In 2021, the Wisconsin Insect Research Collection (WIRC) replaced all of its substandard natural history cabinets and significantly increased its capacity for future collection growth with a combination of ILM and Research Core Revitalization Program (RCRP) grant support. Modern, archival natural history cabinets can greatly mitigate the threat of pests, particularly under less than optimal physical and environmental conditions. For understaffed collections like the WIRC, this frees up time for other curatorial responsibilities. The WIRC also expanded its instructional laboratory capacity with the purchase of new computers and dissecting microscopes for student use.What these three projects have in common is that they were accomplished by one or two staff persons, heavily subsidized by external funding sources, and managed during a global pandemic. This session aims to provide attendees with a case-study perspective on how smaller units can tackle large projects with limited resources. By necessity, we each employed various project management tools, approaches to project development and design, strategies for obtaining supplementary funding, and ways to work within unexpected limitations that can (and did) shape the scope of the respective projects. The presenters of this session will share these tools and lessons learned with the aim of helping everyone from emerging to late-career museum professionals avoid potential pitfalls and capitalize on their strengths.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections Program and Abstracts, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 2019
The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) is home to one of Wisconsin’s most famous foss... more The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) is home to one of Wisconsin’s most famous fossils, a historic mastodon skeleton containing bones from two sites roughly 50 kilometers apart. These bones were discovered in the late 1890's by children and were put on display at the UWGM in 1915. This specimen is beloved by museum visitors, featured in Wisconsin history textbooks, and is commemorated by a roadside historical marker in the southwestern part of the state. Prior to 2015, this skeleton was known as the “Boaz Mastodon” named after the small Wisconsin town near where it was found. However, in preparation for celebrating our mastodon’s 100th year on display, UWGM staff discovered that the skeleton was composed of bones from not one, but two historic mastodon finds. This changed the narrative of our museum’s most iconic specimen which then required new interpretative signage, retraining our tour guides, and communicating the new story to the broader public. As a small museum with limited staff, dedicating time towards conducting evaluations can be challenging. However, with the increased interest generated by local news stories, a pending anniversary celebration, and a vibrant outreach program – the UWGM was presented with varying audiences to participate in formative and summative evaluations for programming and exhibit development. Using mixed methods over the course of a year, UWGM staff conducted evaluation at library programs, museum special events containing future exhibit-mock-ups, and local science festivals. The results of these efforts have helped UWGM staff hone in on potentially problematic interpretive language, better tailor programming to specific audiences, and enhance the development of a new exhibit containing Wisconsin’s best collection of ice age megafauna.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections Program and Abstracts, 2019
At small museums affiliated with academic institutions, it is critical to regularly explain the ... more At small museums affiliated with academic institutions, it is critical to regularly explain the importance of the museum collection for purposes of staff support, operational funding, and donor development. While it is also essential to track more standard metrics of collections use, these values do not always demonstrate the scientific significance of specimens, their historic or cultural importance, or the broader impact that is generated through their use. At many higher education institutions, high impact teaching and learning practices are exceedingly valued by administrators and academic units are being asked to quantify their use of these methods. At the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM), staff have been tracking not only the more typical metrics for a university museum but also attempt to measure and express the museum’s high impact practices and how they further the mission of the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Idea. Over the last five years, these methods have facilitated improved funding for staff support, greater recognition from college administrators, and increased institutional buy-in from the museum’s parent department, the Department of Geoscience. In addition to the metrics related to the UWGM’s public outreach, non-conventional and high-impact uses of the collection are also documented in an effort to engender curiosity and interest among museum and university stakeholders. While the scientific contributions from a small university collection may not seem as significant when compared to larger institutions, the far-reaching benefits of their high impact practices may be a better expression of their importance to the communities in which they contribute.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections Program & Abstracts, 2019
Perhaps one of the more pressing issues in the curation of paleontological specimens is the stan... more Perhaps one of the more pressing issues in the curation of paleontological specimens is the standardization of data collection methods. A 2018 excavation of Triassic fauna in Wyoming served as a case study for the collection of field data with the aim of to maximizing efficiency, as well as minimizing the loss of information. The methods themselves are two-fold: an on-site grid system, and a subordinate in-jacket mapping system . The first bone bed—a mass-death assemblage of metoposaurids—involved traditional excavation techniques. The on-site system utilized a six meter by three meter grid to assign jackets and individual elements field identification numbers. These numbers were entered physically into a journal and digitally into a database using a standardized note-taking method. Each grid square at the site is partitioned into smaller, subordinate grid squares within each jacket. As elements are removed in the preparation lab, they are assigned identification numbers according to their position in the grid. This system allows jacket elements to be returned to the larger context of the site, and minimizes data loss during preparation. The second bone bed—a time-averaged assemblage of a fossorial stereospondyl—involved surface collection of preserved burrow infills. A majority of these burrow casts were found to contain fossilized remains. Physical preparation of these specimens is complicated by small size and specimen stability. To advance the study of these animals, micro- CT scans are processed through Dragonfly 3D Software and segmented, producing a digitally prepared specimen. This process of digitally preparing specimens will be ambitiously extended to over three dozen burrows. These digital files become born digital specimens themselves, introducing new challenges in curation. Each physical specimen is associated with micro-CT files, digitally segmented files, and 3D object files, all of which must be tied to each burrow’s specimen record. Conserving these files and maintaining their association with the physical specimen presents potential complications in the preservation of data. These methods will be refined and field tested in future excavations.
Association of Midwest Museums Annual Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2013
The state, local, and international guidelines that govern protected objects and lands can seem l... more The state, local, and international guidelines that govern protected objects and lands can seem like great challenges to a museum with a small staff and limited funding. While accepting specimens under state and federal mandates can require a high commitment of staff time and curatorial funding, these laws can actually help the savvy curator to promote collections advocacy and bolster financial support. These collections can also serve as a valuable resource to smaller museums that lack the requirements to store protected objects. This panel will discuss the different strategies used in three different small museums to implement good management of protected collections while finding ways to promote them for use in education, research, training future museum professionals, and providing supplementary funding to curatorial work.
The natural history collections of the University of Wisconsin were started 164 years ago thanks to the contributions of local residents and university faculty. The three panelists have experience managing these long-standing, state-owned collections under NAGPRA, the Omnibus Public Land Management and Paleontological Resources Preservation Acts, the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty, the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts – as well as maintaining permanent State and Federal Repository status. They will highlight how these collections have actually helped to fund collections support, promote collaboration with small local museums, obtain physical upgrades to collections storage, train undergraduate students interested in field and museum based research, raise awareness for preservation, as well as encourage the continued study of endangered, threatened, and protected species and specimens.
DENVER MUSEUM OF NATURE & SCIENCE REPORTS, The Next Generation in Best Practices 32nd Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 2017
Academic museums and collections are integrated within their departments or colleges to varying d... more Academic museums and collections are integrated within their departments or colleges to varying degrees. For those that share specimens or management practices with an academic department, the changes to policies regarding samples collected on public or protected lands can present challenges to coordinating sample management among the collection’s contributors. The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) was founded in 1848 as part of The Department of Geology (now Geoscience). The UWGM collection hosts thousands of publicly owned specimens, and Department of Geoscience faculty routinely also collect research specimens from public lands. It was vital to adopt uniform standards for the collection and management of such specimens across both units to better manage available repository space, streamline annual reporting requirements, and preserve essential sample data for the long term. The UWGM, together with the Department of Geoscience Repository Committee, developed department-wide policies for collecting, documenting, and reporting on samples collected from public and protected lands. Together, we have improved the management and oversight of publicly-owned samples, created institutional buy-in for best practices in sample management, and eased the burden of departmental reporting requirements by leveraging the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Such policies could be similarly applied for permanent collections that share resources with a central academic or research institution.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 47, No. 7, p.479
Since 1972 the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been the repos... more Since 1972 the Department of Geoscience at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been the repository for a large collection of geological and paleontological specimens from Guadalupe Mountains National Park (GUMO). These specimens were collected by Dr. Lloyd C. Pray and his graduate students to provide early descriptions of much of the park’s depositional and diagenetic history. Many of these localities lie along the Permian Reef Trail which is now protected from large scale collecting. Although this collection was scientifically significant, faculty collections were not integrated into the UW Geology Museum (UWGM) collections and these specimens were uncataloged and unavailable to the greater scientific community. In 2009 the UWGM began a cooperative partnership with GUMO and the NPS to tackle backlog cataloging and the digitizing of NPS from the Pray/GUMO Collection under the requirements of the Paleontological Resources Preservation Act. The aim of this project was to provide scientific identification of specimens, improve accessibility to the collection, and clearly identify specimens as National Park Service (NPS) property. For a small university museum, the financial assistance from the NPS and the expertise of GUMO staff were critical components in ensuring the completion of this project in a reasonable time frame. One successful outcome of this project is that we have assembled a significant research collection of the park’s litho- and biostratigraphic units. Using a small subset of samples which lacked determinable provenance, we created a Permian Reef Teaching Collection for use in undergraduate and graduate student laboratory classes. While this project required an investment of time from UWGM personnel, it has helped to create institutional buy-in through new department-wide policies regarding specimen collection from federal lands as well as ease the burden of departmental reporting requirements using the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Cataloging the specimens also helped GUMO staff identify important localities within the park. This in turn has aided park staff tasked with the protection and preservation of geological and paleontological resources.
In July of 1897 numerous mastodon (Mammut americanum) bones were discovered near the town of Boaz... more In July of 1897 numerous mastodon (Mammut americanum) bones were discovered near the town of Boaz, Wisconsin. Another partial mastodon skeleton was unearthed roughly 50 kilometers to the southwest in the small hamlet of Anderson Mills the following summer, in July of 1898. This find was better preserved and produced more than sixty complete elements. Shortly after being recovered, the remains from both localities were purchased separately by the State of Wisconsin for the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM).
In the fall of 1915 a mastodon skeleton was put on display in the UWGM which for almost a century was attributed to the Boaz mastodon. Many lines of evidence indicate, however, that this skeleton is a composite. Most of the bones are from the Anderson Mills mastodon, while the others are assigned tentatively to the Boaz mastodon.
The left femur, mandible, and several other bones from the mounted skeleton appear in historical photographs of the Anderson Mills site. Newspaper accounts of this find also mention two ribs with healed fractures, both of which are present. The left humerus and left femur from the Anderson Mills mastodon yielded AMS radiocarbon dates of 11,040 ± 50 14C yr BP and 11,050 ± 60 14C yr BP, respectively. The right tibia and left first rib differ greatly from the other bones in preservation, wear, and coloration. They have AMS radiocarbon dates of 10,280 ± 45 14C yr BP and 10,370 ± 45 14C yr BP, respectively, and are most likely from the Boaz mastodon.
Cracking the Collections, SPNHC EPG Blog, Oct 2014
Academic collections can commonly suffer from a lack of institutional support, or from not having... more Academic collections can commonly suffer from a lack of institutional support, or from not having enough publicity, but the upsides of working with a smaller collection can make the job a true joy. This guest post in "Careers in Collections" covers my own personal experience working for such an institution - from managing objects that represent more than a century of collecting to getting to train future museum professionals. One never knows what to expect on the job while working for a small museum and its staff are frequently asked to wear many hats: lifting and moving crew, pest abatement, exhibit fabricator, cleaning crew, carpet repair, scientist, event planner, and sometimes even a curator (my job title!).
American Water Resources Association Wisconsin Chapter Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2008
Throughout the Fox River valley, the Cambrian–Ordovician bedrock aquifer is used extensively for ... more Throughout the Fox River valley, the Cambrian–Ordovician bedrock aquifer is used extensively for residential and municipal water supply. A regional aquitard may control groundwater recharge to this aquifer. The aquitard is composed of silt and clay deposited in glacial Lake Oshkosh, which formed in front of the receding Green Bay Lobe of the Laurentide Ice Sheet approximately 13,000 to 19,000 years ago.
Some of this lake sediment was subsequently eroded and deposited on upland areas by readvances of the ice. As a result, much of the Fox River valley is covered with varying thicknesses of fine-grained sediment. Much like the Maquoketa Formation in southeast Wisconsin, this fine-grained sediment may act as an aquitard, limiting infiltration to the bedrock aquifer.
The ability of the fine-grained sediment to transmit water was determined using consolidometers in the laboratory and slug tests in the field. Intact samples for consolidation testing were collected from several rotosonic boreholes drilled in the
region. Hydraulic conductivity of these samples ranged from 1 x 10-8 ms-1 to 1 x 10-11 ms-1, decreasing with applied load. These results show that hydraulic conductivity could vary several orders of magnitude from the surface to the base of
the sequence.
Multilevel well systems, installed in two of the rotosonic boreholes, support this conclusion. Slug tests conducted in three of the well ports at one location revealed that hydraulic conductivity decreases with depth from 2.7 x 10-8 ms-1 at 20 ft to 3.0 x 10-11 ms-1 at 160 ft. These findings indicate that the hydraulic conductivity of these sediments decreases in relation to depth below land surface as a result of stress caused by overlying sediment.
Basal water pressure and water flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior ... more Basal water pressure and water flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ice sheet, because they influence ice-sheet thickness, stability and extent. Water
produced by basal melting may infiltrate the subsurface, or occur as sheet or channelized flow at the
ice/bed interface. We examine subglacial groundwater conditions along a flowline of the Scandinavian ice sheet through Nordfjord, in the western fjords region of southern Norway, using a steady-state, two dimensional groundwater-flow model. Meltwater input to the groundwater model is calculated by a two-dimensional, time-dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice-flow model oriented along the
same flowline. Model results show that the subglacial sediments could not have transmitted all the meltwater out of the fjord during times of ice advance and when the ice sheet was at its maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. In order for pore-water pressures to remain below the
overburden pressure of the overlying ice, other paths of subglacial drainage are necessary to remove excess water. During times of retreat, the subglacial aquifer is incapable of transmitting all the meltwater that was probably generated. Pulses of meltwater reaching the bed could explain nonclimatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
American Water Resources Association Wisconsin Chapter Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2007
Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone and dolomite formations make up the primary aquifers in east-centra... more Cambrian-Ordovician sandstone and dolomite formations make up the primary aquifers in east-central Wisconsin, and are frequently confined by overlying dolomite of the Sinnipee Group and the Maquoketa shale. These important aquifers may also be confined by another, more shallow, aquitard—fine-grained glacial sediment originating from a proglacial lake that existed during the most recent glaciation. Regions previously thought to be potential areas of recharge to the deeper aquifers are covered by thick sequences of this low-permeability sediment that limits vertical flow. A total of eighteen boreholes have been drilled to better characterize the extent and thickness of the Pleistocene-age deposits, and samples have been taken from seven of these boreholes to collect sediment pore-water for stable isotope analyses. Multi-level well systems have been installed across the aquitard in two deep boreholes to measure head distributions and to collect water samples for stable isotopes and major ions. Preliminary results of oxygen-isotope analyses from sediment pore-water where the aquitard is 275 feet thick show a bow-shaped curve typical of modern oxygen isotope values (-9 δ18O) diffusing downward from the surface and upward from a lower
aquifer into the clay aquitard, with a decrease in oxygen isotope values (-15 δ18O) toward the middle of the sequence. This curve is typical of chemical diffusion with limited advection. In areas where the aquitard is thinner, results show predominantly modern oxygen isotope values across the aquitard’s thickness. This suggests that recharge to the bedrock aquifer is limited where the sediment is thicker. Water may move through the aquitard where it is thinner or contains more conductive sediment. Recharge to the bedrock aquifers may
simply be a function of the conductivity and thickness of the Pleistocene deposits present in this region.
Results from experiments with a two-dimensional ice-flow model, applied along a west-east transec... more Results from experiments with a two-dimensional ice-flow model, applied along a west-east transect in western Norway, provide new constraints on the thickness evolution of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet throughout the Late Weichselian glaciation and deglaciation. Investigations took place along an E-W flowline of the former ice sheet at c. 62N, from the modern glacier Jostedalsbreen, through the Nordfjord, and across the continental shelf. A paleoclimate record from Kråkenes, which is located directly at the flowline, provides temperature and precipitation information for the time between 13 800 and 9200 cal. yr BP. LGM climate conditions for the study area are estimated from various GCM studies. The GISP2 δ18O record has been tuned to the local data in order to provide a continuous temperature record as input for time-transgressive model runs. The results of all experiments suggest that the ice did not cover the highest mountain peaks in this area, and that nunataks persisted throughout the Late Weichselian glaciation. These findings are in contrast to results from many previous model studies and other ice-sheet reconstructions, but agree well with minimum thickness estimates from cosmogenic dating and with vertical ice limits inferred from lower block field boundaries and trimlines.
Geological Society of America, Abstracts with Programs, 36, 5, 249 , 2004
Basal water pressure and flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ... more Basal water pressure and flow patterns are significant factors in controlling the behavior of an ice sheet, because they influence ice sheet thickness, stability, and extent. Water, if produced by basal melting, travels toward the ice margin through the groundwater system, and if present in sufficient quantities, as sheet or channelized flow. The flow of subglacial groundwater along a flow line of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet is examined using a two-dimensional MODFLOW-based profile model, assuming that groundwater flow is parallel to the ice flow line. The amount of basal meltwater being added to the system is derived from a two-dimensional, time dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice flow model along the same flow line. The meltwater component from the ice-flow model is used as recharge input for the groundwater model, and evolving ice-sheet topography is used to compare resulting porewater pressures to the ice overburden pressures. The groundwater model allows us to test the flow capacity of the aquifer along this flow line, the importance of a drainage system, and the effects of changing ice margin positions on subglacial hydrology. Results show that the sediment layer underlying the ice would not have been capable of transmitting all of the meltwater out of the fjord during times of advance, as well as at the maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. The model simulations for glacial retreat indicate that the sediments could have easily handled all of the basal meltwater, but once an addition of surface melt is included in the simulation, groundwater flow through the sediment layer is no longer a sufficient means of meltwater evacuation. This suggests that other forms of basal drainage must have been present during these stages of glaciation. Episodes of high basal water pressure may explain non-climatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
European Geophysical Union, Geophysical Research Abstracts, 2003
The behavior of the subglacial groundwater system is one of several aspects of the Scandinavian I... more The behavior of the subglacial groundwater system is one of several aspects of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet that are still poorly understood, yet is also a critical glaciological constraint. It influences the stability of the ice sheet, ice sheet thickness, and extent, and is therefore an important component for the reconstruction of climate during the last glacial period. We examine the subglacial hydrology of a flow line of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet using a two-dimensional MODFLOW-based profile model assuming that groundwater flow is parallel to the ice flow line. A two-dimensional, time dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice flow model provides the meltwater input from basal melting along the flow line. This is used to simulate recharge to the subglacial groundwater system. The model results indicate that the bed sediments alone would not have been capable of transmitting all of the basal meltwater out of the fjord during times of advance and retreat, as well as at the maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. Surface meltwater contributes additional recharge and would also greatly impact the underlying aquifer. Such conditions could explain non-climatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase. Additionally, a drainage network would aid in keeping basal water pressures at reasonable levels, and serve to evacuate excess meltwater from the system.
Museums Evolving 2.0, Joint Meeting of the Association of Midwest Museums and Wisconsin Federation of Museums Program, 2021
Small museums and collections often face operational challenges like limited staff, a lack of fun... more Small museums and collections often face operational challenges like limited staff, a lack of funding, or even space restrictions. Regardless of these limitations, smaller institutions may need to tackle large projects and leverage finite resources in order to make transformative changes. During 2020 and 2021, three small natural history collections at the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus independently undertook major collections rehousing and facility renewal projects. With funding from an Institute of Museum and Library services grant as well as a UW-Madison Instructional Laboratory Modernization (ILM) grant, The UW Geology Museum (UWGM) renovated what was formerly a multi-purpose storage space and outfitted it as a new collections storage facility. By implementing both mobile and fixed shelving custom designed to meet the museum’s varied needs, the UWGM converted a makeshift repository into a professional one, better suited for the stewardship of collections as well as the training of the next generation of museum specialists. During 2020 and 2021, the UW Anthropology Collections (UWAC) received two ILM grants to renovate research and teaching facilities to more effectively serve the department’s active hands-on pedagogy practices, as well as facilitate numerous small seminars for a large introductory-level college course. Equipment and room layouts were carefully chosen to allow for visible and non-visible storage, access to relevant collections, and mobility of room design to accommodate flexibility in room use. In 2021, the Wisconsin Insect Research Collection (WIRC) replaced all of its substandard natural history cabinets and significantly increased its capacity for future collection growth with a combination of ILM and Research Core Revitalization Program (RCRP) grant support. Modern, archival natural history cabinets can greatly mitigate the threat of pests, particularly under less than optimal physical and environmental conditions. For understaffed collections like the WIRC, this frees up time for other curatorial responsibilities. The WIRC also expanded its instructional laboratory capacity with the purchase of new computers and dissecting microscopes for student use.What these three projects have in common is that they were accomplished by one or two staff persons, heavily subsidized by external funding sources, and managed during a global pandemic. This session aims to provide attendees with a case-study perspective on how smaller units can tackle large projects with limited resources. By necessity, we each employed various project management tools, approaches to project development and design, strategies for obtaining supplementary funding, and ways to work within unexpected limitations that can (and did) shape the scope of the respective projects. The presenters of this session will share these tools and lessons learned with the aim of helping everyone from emerging to late-career museum professionals avoid potential pitfalls and capitalize on their strengths.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections Program and Abstracts, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections, 2019
The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) is home to one of Wisconsin’s most famous foss... more The University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM) is home to one of Wisconsin’s most famous fossils, a historic mastodon skeleton containing bones from two sites roughly 50 kilometers apart. These bones were discovered in the late 1890's by children and were put on display at the UWGM in 1915. This specimen is beloved by museum visitors, featured in Wisconsin history textbooks, and is commemorated by a roadside historical marker in the southwestern part of the state. Prior to 2015, this skeleton was known as the “Boaz Mastodon” named after the small Wisconsin town near where it was found. However, in preparation for celebrating our mastodon’s 100th year on display, UWGM staff discovered that the skeleton was composed of bones from not one, but two historic mastodon finds. This changed the narrative of our museum’s most iconic specimen which then required new interpretative signage, retraining our tour guides, and communicating the new story to the broader public. As a small museum with limited staff, dedicating time towards conducting evaluations can be challenging. However, with the increased interest generated by local news stories, a pending anniversary celebration, and a vibrant outreach program – the UWGM was presented with varying audiences to participate in formative and summative evaluations for programming and exhibit development. Using mixed methods over the course of a year, UWGM staff conducted evaluation at library programs, museum special events containing future exhibit-mock-ups, and local science festivals. The results of these efforts have helped UWGM staff hone in on potentially problematic interpretive language, better tailor programming to specific audiences, and enhance the development of a new exhibit containing Wisconsin’s best collection of ice age megafauna.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections Program and Abstracts, 2019
At small museums affiliated with academic institutions, it is critical to regularly explain the ... more At small museums affiliated with academic institutions, it is critical to regularly explain the importance of the museum collection for purposes of staff support, operational funding, and donor development. While it is also essential to track more standard metrics of collections use, these values do not always demonstrate the scientific significance of specimens, their historic or cultural importance, or the broader impact that is generated through their use. At many higher education institutions, high impact teaching and learning practices are exceedingly valued by administrators and academic units are being asked to quantify their use of these methods. At the University of Wisconsin Geology Museum (UWGM), staff have been tracking not only the more typical metrics for a university museum but also attempt to measure and express the museum’s high impact practices and how they further the mission of the University of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Idea. Over the last five years, these methods have facilitated improved funding for staff support, greater recognition from college administrators, and increased institutional buy-in from the museum’s parent department, the Department of Geoscience. In addition to the metrics related to the UWGM’s public outreach, non-conventional and high-impact uses of the collection are also documented in an effort to engender curiosity and interest among museum and university stakeholders. While the scientific contributions from a small university collection may not seem as significant when compared to larger institutions, the far-reaching benefits of their high impact practices may be a better expression of their importance to the communities in which they contribute.
Making the Case for Natural History Collections, 34th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections Program & Abstracts, 2019
Perhaps one of the more pressing issues in the curation of paleontological specimens is the stan... more Perhaps one of the more pressing issues in the curation of paleontological specimens is the standardization of data collection methods. A 2018 excavation of Triassic fauna in Wyoming served as a case study for the collection of field data with the aim of to maximizing efficiency, as well as minimizing the loss of information. The methods themselves are two-fold: an on-site grid system, and a subordinate in-jacket mapping system . The first bone bed—a mass-death assemblage of metoposaurids—involved traditional excavation techniques. The on-site system utilized a six meter by three meter grid to assign jackets and individual elements field identification numbers. These numbers were entered physically into a journal and digitally into a database using a standardized note-taking method. Each grid square at the site is partitioned into smaller, subordinate grid squares within each jacket. As elements are removed in the preparation lab, they are assigned identification numbers according to their position in the grid. This system allows jacket elements to be returned to the larger context of the site, and minimizes data loss during preparation. The second bone bed—a time-averaged assemblage of a fossorial stereospondyl—involved surface collection of preserved burrow infills. A majority of these burrow casts were found to contain fossilized remains. Physical preparation of these specimens is complicated by small size and specimen stability. To advance the study of these animals, micro- CT scans are processed through Dragonfly 3D Software and segmented, producing a digitally prepared specimen. This process of digitally preparing specimens will be ambitiously extended to over three dozen burrows. These digital files become born digital specimens themselves, introducing new challenges in curation. Each physical specimen is associated with micro-CT files, digitally segmented files, and 3D object files, all of which must be tied to each burrow’s specimen record. Conserving these files and maintaining their association with the physical specimen presents potential complications in the preservation of data. These methods will be refined and field tested in future excavations.
Association of Midwest Museums Annual Meeting – Abstracts with Programs, 2013
The state, local, and international guidelines that govern protected objects and lands can seem l... more The state, local, and international guidelines that govern protected objects and lands can seem like great challenges to a museum with a small staff and limited funding. While accepting specimens under state and federal mandates can require a high commitment of staff time and curatorial funding, these laws can actually help the savvy curator to promote collections advocacy and bolster financial support. These collections can also serve as a valuable resource to smaller museums that lack the requirements to store protected objects. This panel will discuss the different strategies used in three different small museums to implement good management of protected collections while finding ways to promote them for use in education, research, training future museum professionals, and providing supplementary funding to curatorial work.
The natural history collections of the University of Wisconsin were started 164 years ago thanks to the contributions of local residents and university faculty. The three panelists have experience managing these long-standing, state-owned collections under NAGPRA, the Omnibus Public Land Management and Paleontological Resources Preservation Acts, the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty, the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts – as well as maintaining permanent State and Federal Repository status. They will highlight how these collections have actually helped to fund collections support, promote collaboration with small local museums, obtain physical upgrades to collections storage, train undergraduate students interested in field and museum based research, raise awareness for preservation, as well as encourage the continued study of endangered, threatened, and protected species and specimens.
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Papers by Carrie Eaton
changes to policies regarding samples collected on public or protected lands can present challenges to coordinating sample management among the collection’s contributors. The University of Wisconsin
Geology Museum (UWGM) was founded in 1848 as part of The Department of Geology (now Geoscience). The UWGM collection hosts thousands of publicly owned specimens, and Department of Geoscience
faculty routinely also collect research specimens from public lands. It was vital to adopt uniform standards for the collection and management of such specimens across both units to better manage available
repository space, streamline annual reporting requirements, and preserve essential sample data for the long term. The UWGM, together with the Department of Geoscience Repository Committee, developed
department-wide policies for collecting, documenting, and reporting on samples collected from public and protected lands. Together, we have improved the management and oversight of publicly-owned samples, created institutional buy-in for best practices in sample management, and eased the burden of departmental reporting requirements by leveraging the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Such
policies could be similarly applied for permanent collections
that share resources with a central academic or research institution.
One successful outcome of this project is that we have assembled a significant research collection of the park’s litho- and biostratigraphic units. Using a small subset of samples which lacked determinable provenance, we created a Permian Reef Teaching Collection for use in undergraduate and graduate student laboratory classes. While this project required an investment of time from UWGM personnel, it has helped to create institutional buy-in through new department-wide policies regarding specimen collection from federal lands as well as ease the burden of departmental reporting requirements using the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Cataloging the specimens also helped GUMO staff identify important localities within the park. This in turn has aided park staff tasked with the protection and preservation of geological and paleontological resources.
In the fall of 1915 a mastodon skeleton was put on display in the UWGM which for almost a century was attributed to the Boaz mastodon. Many lines of evidence indicate, however, that this skeleton is a composite. Most of the bones are from the Anderson Mills mastodon, while the others are assigned tentatively to the Boaz mastodon.
The left femur, mandible, and several other bones from the mounted skeleton appear in historical photographs of the Anderson Mills site. Newspaper accounts of this find also mention two ribs with healed fractures, both of which are present. The left humerus and left femur from the Anderson Mills mastodon yielded AMS radiocarbon dates of 11,040 ± 50 14C yr BP and 11,050 ± 60 14C yr BP, respectively. The right tibia and left first rib differ greatly from the other bones in preservation, wear, and coloration. They have AMS radiocarbon dates of 10,280 ± 45 14C yr BP and 10,370 ± 45 14C yr BP, respectively, and are most likely from the Boaz mastodon.
Some of this lake sediment was subsequently eroded and deposited on upland areas by readvances of the ice. As a result, much of the Fox River valley is covered with varying thicknesses of fine-grained sediment. Much like the Maquoketa Formation in southeast Wisconsin, this fine-grained sediment may act as an aquitard, limiting infiltration to the bedrock aquifer.
The ability of the fine-grained sediment to transmit water was determined using consolidometers in the laboratory and slug tests in the field. Intact samples for consolidation testing were collected from several rotosonic boreholes drilled in the
region. Hydraulic conductivity of these samples ranged from 1 x 10-8 ms-1 to 1 x 10-11 ms-1, decreasing with applied load. These results show that hydraulic conductivity could vary several orders of magnitude from the surface to the base of
the sequence.
Multilevel well systems, installed in two of the rotosonic boreholes, support this conclusion. Slug tests conducted in three of the well ports at one location revealed that hydraulic conductivity decreases with depth from 2.7 x 10-8 ms-1 at 20 ft to 3.0 x 10-11 ms-1 at 160 ft. These findings indicate that the hydraulic conductivity of these sediments decreases in relation to depth below land surface as a result of stress caused by overlying sediment.
produced by basal melting may infiltrate the subsurface, or occur as sheet or channelized flow at the
ice/bed interface. We examine subglacial groundwater conditions along a flowline of the Scandinavian ice sheet through Nordfjord, in the western fjords region of southern Norway, using a steady-state, two dimensional groundwater-flow model. Meltwater input to the groundwater model is calculated by a two-dimensional, time-dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice-flow model oriented along the
same flowline. Model results show that the subglacial sediments could not have transmitted all the meltwater out of the fjord during times of ice advance and when the ice sheet was at its maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. In order for pore-water pressures to remain below the
overburden pressure of the overlying ice, other paths of subglacial drainage are necessary to remove excess water. During times of retreat, the subglacial aquifer is incapable of transmitting all the meltwater that was probably generated. Pulses of meltwater reaching the bed could explain nonclimatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
aquifer into the clay aquitard, with a decrease in oxygen isotope values (-15 δ18O) toward the middle of the sequence. This curve is typical of chemical diffusion with limited advection. In areas where the aquitard is thinner, results show predominantly modern oxygen isotope values across the aquitard’s thickness. This suggests that recharge to the bedrock aquifer is limited where the sediment is thicker. Water may move through the aquitard where it is thinner or contains more conductive sediment. Recharge to the bedrock aquifers may
simply be a function of the conductivity and thickness of the Pleistocene deposits present in this region.
Conference Presentations by Carrie Eaton
The natural history collections of the University of Wisconsin were started 164 years ago thanks to the contributions of local residents and university faculty. The three panelists have experience managing these long-standing, state-owned collections under NAGPRA, the Omnibus Public Land Management and Paleontological Resources Preservation Acts, the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty, the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts – as well as maintaining permanent State and Federal Repository status. They will highlight how these collections have actually helped to fund collections support, promote collaboration with small local museums, obtain physical upgrades to collections storage, train undergraduate students interested in field and museum based research, raise awareness for preservation, as well as encourage the continued study of endangered, threatened, and protected species and specimens.
changes to policies regarding samples collected on public or protected lands can present challenges to coordinating sample management among the collection’s contributors. The University of Wisconsin
Geology Museum (UWGM) was founded in 1848 as part of The Department of Geology (now Geoscience). The UWGM collection hosts thousands of publicly owned specimens, and Department of Geoscience
faculty routinely also collect research specimens from public lands. It was vital to adopt uniform standards for the collection and management of such specimens across both units to better manage available
repository space, streamline annual reporting requirements, and preserve essential sample data for the long term. The UWGM, together with the Department of Geoscience Repository Committee, developed
department-wide policies for collecting, documenting, and reporting on samples collected from public and protected lands. Together, we have improved the management and oversight of publicly-owned samples, created institutional buy-in for best practices in sample management, and eased the burden of departmental reporting requirements by leveraging the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Such
policies could be similarly applied for permanent collections
that share resources with a central academic or research institution.
One successful outcome of this project is that we have assembled a significant research collection of the park’s litho- and biostratigraphic units. Using a small subset of samples which lacked determinable provenance, we created a Permian Reef Teaching Collection for use in undergraduate and graduate student laboratory classes. While this project required an investment of time from UWGM personnel, it has helped to create institutional buy-in through new department-wide policies regarding specimen collection from federal lands as well as ease the burden of departmental reporting requirements using the curatorial expertise of the UWGM staff. Cataloging the specimens also helped GUMO staff identify important localities within the park. This in turn has aided park staff tasked with the protection and preservation of geological and paleontological resources.
In the fall of 1915 a mastodon skeleton was put on display in the UWGM which for almost a century was attributed to the Boaz mastodon. Many lines of evidence indicate, however, that this skeleton is a composite. Most of the bones are from the Anderson Mills mastodon, while the others are assigned tentatively to the Boaz mastodon.
The left femur, mandible, and several other bones from the mounted skeleton appear in historical photographs of the Anderson Mills site. Newspaper accounts of this find also mention two ribs with healed fractures, both of which are present. The left humerus and left femur from the Anderson Mills mastodon yielded AMS radiocarbon dates of 11,040 ± 50 14C yr BP and 11,050 ± 60 14C yr BP, respectively. The right tibia and left first rib differ greatly from the other bones in preservation, wear, and coloration. They have AMS radiocarbon dates of 10,280 ± 45 14C yr BP and 10,370 ± 45 14C yr BP, respectively, and are most likely from the Boaz mastodon.
Some of this lake sediment was subsequently eroded and deposited on upland areas by readvances of the ice. As a result, much of the Fox River valley is covered with varying thicknesses of fine-grained sediment. Much like the Maquoketa Formation in southeast Wisconsin, this fine-grained sediment may act as an aquitard, limiting infiltration to the bedrock aquifer.
The ability of the fine-grained sediment to transmit water was determined using consolidometers in the laboratory and slug tests in the field. Intact samples for consolidation testing were collected from several rotosonic boreholes drilled in the
region. Hydraulic conductivity of these samples ranged from 1 x 10-8 ms-1 to 1 x 10-11 ms-1, decreasing with applied load. These results show that hydraulic conductivity could vary several orders of magnitude from the surface to the base of
the sequence.
Multilevel well systems, installed in two of the rotosonic boreholes, support this conclusion. Slug tests conducted in three of the well ports at one location revealed that hydraulic conductivity decreases with depth from 2.7 x 10-8 ms-1 at 20 ft to 3.0 x 10-11 ms-1 at 160 ft. These findings indicate that the hydraulic conductivity of these sediments decreases in relation to depth below land surface as a result of stress caused by overlying sediment.
produced by basal melting may infiltrate the subsurface, or occur as sheet or channelized flow at the
ice/bed interface. We examine subglacial groundwater conditions along a flowline of the Scandinavian ice sheet through Nordfjord, in the western fjords region of southern Norway, using a steady-state, two dimensional groundwater-flow model. Meltwater input to the groundwater model is calculated by a two-dimensional, time-dependent, thermomechanically coupled ice-flow model oriented along the
same flowline. Model results show that the subglacial sediments could not have transmitted all the meltwater out of the fjord during times of ice advance and when the ice sheet was at its maximum position at the edge of the continental shelf. In order for pore-water pressures to remain below the
overburden pressure of the overlying ice, other paths of subglacial drainage are necessary to remove excess water. During times of retreat, the subglacial aquifer is incapable of transmitting all the meltwater that was probably generated. Pulses of meltwater reaching the bed could explain nonclimatically driven margin readvances during the overall retreat phase.
aquifer into the clay aquitard, with a decrease in oxygen isotope values (-15 δ18O) toward the middle of the sequence. This curve is typical of chemical diffusion with limited advection. In areas where the aquitard is thinner, results show predominantly modern oxygen isotope values across the aquitard’s thickness. This suggests that recharge to the bedrock aquifer is limited where the sediment is thicker. Water may move through the aquitard where it is thinner or contains more conductive sediment. Recharge to the bedrock aquifers may
simply be a function of the conductivity and thickness of the Pleistocene deposits present in this region.
The natural history collections of the University of Wisconsin were started 164 years ago thanks to the contributions of local residents and university faculty. The three panelists have experience managing these long-standing, state-owned collections under NAGPRA, the Omnibus Public Land Management and Paleontological Resources Preservation Acts, the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty, the Marine Mammal Protection and Endangered Species Acts – as well as maintaining permanent State and Federal Repository status. They will highlight how these collections have actually helped to fund collections support, promote collaboration with small local museums, obtain physical upgrades to collections storage, train undergraduate students interested in field and museum based research, raise awareness for preservation, as well as encourage the continued study of endangered, threatened, and protected species and specimens.