Scientists have discovered a surprising new method for finding dinosaur fossils in Canada – and it involves an unlikely duo: lichens and drones.
According to a new study published in Current Biology, certain lichen species colonise exposed dinosaur bones. These lichens can be detected from high above the ground using drones, allowing researchers to pinpoint exactly where undiscovered dinosaur remains are hiding.
Lead author of the study Dr Brian Pickles from the University of Reading says the new method could “revolutionise how palaeontologists search for fossils."
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Dinosaur hunting: using lichens and drones
The study, conducted at three different bonebeds in Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta, revealed that two lichen species in particular – Rusavskia elegans and Xanthomendoza trachyphylla – are attracted to exposed dinosaur bones, colonising up to half of the fossil specimens analysed. By comparison, these lichens appeared on less than 1% of the surrounding rocks.
The researchers say it is likely the bones provide the alkaline and porous surfaces these vivid orange-coloured lichens prefer.
“This pattern of lichen growing preferentially on fossil bone has been noted for decades, but never quantified until now,” explains Dr Caleb Brown from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology. “When first encountering high concentrations of exposed fossil bone like bonebeds, it is often the ‘meadow’ of orange lichen that is noticed first, not the bones themselves.”
By using drones equipped with specialised sensors, the team was able to identify these lichen-covered fossils from detailed aerial photos. The lichens reflect light differently from surrounding rocks, making them stand out clearly in the images.
“It's remarkable to consider that these lichens, essentially miniature ecosystems, are founded upon the remains of dinosaurs that died over 75 million years ago," says Dr Pickles, who believes the approach could transform fossil hunting in rugged or remote fossil-bearing areas, speeding up discoveries while minimising environmental impact.
“This drone study lays the groundwork for mapping much larger areas using aircraft and satellites,” adds Dr Derek Peddle from the University of Lethbridge. “The new lichen indicators we've developed will help us find fossils across vast landscapes.”
The researchers plan to explore how widely this relationship between lichens and fossils occurs, particularly in dry regions such as the Canadian Badlands, where exposed bones create ideal conditions for these bright orange organisms.
Top image: Drone image of bonebeds in Dinosaur Provincial Park. Credit: Brian J. Pickles et al., Current Biology
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