I spent two months in the Spanish Pyrenees geologically mapping the area south-east of Pamplona. The presentation was created to showcase my findings to peers at the university and present my case for challenging current assumptions about the history of the area.

1. Avian Ichnology in The Jaca
Basin; Liédena, Navarre
Fig 1.0 Avian footprints found in the Liédena Sandstone,
Charadriiformes morphotypes

2. Outline
•Purpose
•Location and context
•Lithological significance?
•Evidence for regression
•Field evidence for minor transgression
•Hypothesis and evidence
•Palaeoenvironment
•Conclusion

3. Purpose
To propose a slight paradigm shift from Payros
et al (2000)- suggests a mixed intertidal flat
developed in a partially protected embayment
or a marginal lagoon

4. Location and context
Fig 2.0 Geographic location (A) national; (B) local; (C) summary lithological
column for Eocene. After Payros et al (2000)
C

5. Lithological significance?
Marine
Continental
Fig 3.0 lithological column for the Jaca sub-basin. After Payros
et al (2000)
Nummulites
Limestone

6. NE
SW
Evidence supporting (overall)
regression
Fig 4.0 photograph illustrating the recessive nature of the Jaca piggyback basin

7. Field evidence for (minor) marine
transgression
Fig 5.0 photograph illustrating the transgressive nature of the Gendulain Formation, Liédena
located behind outlined lithologies. (View is to the East).
B/g M LsRM
2
1
Ls

8. Evidence supporting
hypothesis
•“The present is the key to the past”
•Golden Plovers today are only found in
specific environments

9. Wrinkle
Marks
Interference
Ripples
Halite
pseudomorphs
Algal Mats
Fig 6.0 sedimentary structures found within the Liédena Sandstone- indicative of a marine setting (estuarine/
intertidal mudflat). Other features not displayed include: - HCS; fossilised bedload; load casts and current ripples.
(B)= After Hagadorn & Bottjer (1997, 1999) In: Porada & Bouougri (2007)
B
Paradigm shift- sedimentology (1)

10. Fig 7.0 (A); (B)- Charadriiformes morphotypes
B
A
Paradigm shift- Avian Ichnology (2)

11. Foot morphology
•Small web present
•Found in; Plovers
•Webbing present ONLY on
anterior
•Found in; aquatic birdsFig 8.0 (A) Semipalmate; (B)
Palmate. After Proctor & Lynch
(1993) pp73
A
B

12. Charadriidae (Plovers)
Fig 9.0 (A) 1-5 Lesser Golden Plover; 6-9 Grey
Plover; (B) 1-4 Lesser Golden Plover; 5-6
Grey Plover. After Cramp & Perrins (1994)
plates 18 & 19
B
A • Analogous to Lesser
Golden Plover
• Presence of hind toe
on Grey Plover

13. Proposed palaeoenvironment
Fig 10.0 Hypothetical palaeoenvironmental reconstruction for the deposition of
Liédena Sandstone. After University of Maryland & cnf on thrust tectonics
(1990)
Estuary- intertidal mudflat

14. Conclusion
•Taxa originated in late Eocene ~40Ma
•Coincides with age of Liédena Sandstone
•HCS and Interference ripples ubiquitous with currents
•All features suggest estuary- intertidal mudflat
•Eurasian Golden Plovers derived new interpretation

15. Acknowledgements
Stubbings is grateful for the advice and help offered
by Graham Martin, School of Biosciences, University
of Birmingham

16. References
Conference on thrust tectonics. (1990).Thrusting and foreland basin evolution in the Southern Pyrenees.
Egham, 04-07 April 1990. Chapman & Hall, London: proceedings paper
Cramp, S. Perrins, C, M. 1994. Handbook of the Birds of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa: The
Birds of the Western Palearctic: Buntings and New World Warblers. Vol 9. Oxford University Press
Hayman, P. Marchant, P. Prater, T. 1991. Shorebirds an identification guide to the waders of the world. 4th ed.
London. A & C Black.
Hubertus, P & Bouougri, E, H. 2007. Wrinkle structures—a critical review. Earth Science Reviews, 81, 199-215
Payros, A. Astibia, H. Cearreta, A. et al. 2000. The Upper Eocene South Pyrenean Coastal Deposits (Liedena
Sandstone, Navarre): Sedimentary Facies, Benthic Foraminifera and Avian Ichnology. Facies, 42, 107-132
Proctor, N. S. Lynch, P, J. 1993. Manual of Ornithology Avian Structure & Function. Yale University Press.
New Haven and London
Symbols for diagrams courtesy of the Integration and Application Network, University of Maryland Center for
Environmental Science.