Jean M Self-Trail, Ph.D.
Jean M Self-Trail is a Research Geologist, USGS Florence Bascom Geoscience Center.
I conduct basic research on calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, paleoclimate, lithostratigraphy, and sequence stratigraphy. This work is focused primarily on the U.S. Atlantic Coastal Plain, for the purpose of understanding the geologic framework, the effect that changing climate had on shallow marine systems and coastal regions, and for characterizing strata that are major aquifers for water resources.
Employment
- 2001-Present: Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eastern Geology & Paleoclimate Science Center, Reston, Virginia.
- Project Chief (2021-present), Atlantic Subsurface Stratigraphic Initiative
- Staff Geologist (2018-present), Gulf Coast Project
- Staff Geologist (2017-2018) Eastern Coastal Plain Geologic Mapping Project
- Staff Geologist (2017-2018) Eocene Hyperthermals Project
- Staff Geologist (2015-2017), Eastern Coastal Plain Studies Project.
- Co-Project Chief (2008-2015), Atlantic Watersheds Project.
- Co-Project Chief (1999-2008), Carolina Conitnental Margin Project.
- Staff Geologist (1999-2008), Chesapeake Bay Impact Crater Project.
- 2007-2016: Adjunct Professor, Northern Virginia Community College, Sterling, VA, (Historical Geology, Physical Geology, Microfossil Laboratory Techniques).
- 2007-2013: Graduate Faculty Appointment, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC.
- 1994-2001: Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Eastern Earth Surface Processes Team, Reston, Virginia.
- Staff Geologist (1995-2000), Southeastern Coastal Plain Project.
- 1997: Research Assistant, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
- 1991-1993: Teaching Assistant, University of Delaware, Newark, DE (Physical Geology, Historical Geology, Paleontology).
- 1988-1995: Physical Science Technician, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Branch of Paleontology and Stratigraphy, Reston, Virginia.
Other Activities
- 2017-Present: Board of Directors, Micropaleontology Press (journals Stratigraphy and Micropaleontology).
- 2016-Present: Editor for the journal Stratigraphy.
- 2014-Present: Board of Trustees, Katharina von Salis Endowment, International Nannoplankton Association Foundation. We provide a yearly grant to one graduate student for research on any subject pertaining to fossil calcareous nannoplankton.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. (2001) – Geology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE.
M.S. (1994) – Geology, University of Delaware, Newark, DE.
B.S. (1988) – Geology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America (GSA)
International Nannoplankton Association (INA)
Paleontological Society of Washington (PSW)
Honors and Awards
2014 Superior Service Award (for work on PETM and Eocene hyperthermals), USGS.
2012 Adjunct Faculty of the Year (nominated), Northern Virginia Community College.
1993 Best Teaching Assistant, Department of Geology, University of Delaware.
1991 Department Scholarship, Department of Geology, University of Delaware.
1991 Women in Sciences Award, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware.
Science and Products
Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum prolonged by fossil carbon oxidation
Cross section of the North Carolina coastal plain from Enfield through Cape Hatteras
Evidence for shelf acidification during the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
Ecological changes in the nannoplankton community across a shelf transect during the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
Biostratigraphic and morphometric analyses of specimens from the calcareous nannofossil genus Tribrachiatus
Shallow marine response to global climate change during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Salisbury Embayment, USA
Nannoplankton malformation during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and its paleoecological and paleoceanographic significance
Quantification of a pretreatment procedure for organic-rich calcareous nannofossil samples
Late Paleocene glyptosaur (Reptilia: Anguidae) osteoderms from South Carolina, USA
Stratigraphic revision of the Cooper Group and the Chandler and Edisto Formations in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina
Comparison of three preservation techniques for slowing dissolution of calcareous nannofossils in organic rich sediments
The Sunny Point Formation: a new Upper Cretaceous subsurface unit in the Carolina Coastal Plain
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 41
Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum prolonged by fossil carbon oxidation
A hallmark of the rapid and massive release of carbon during the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum is the global negative carbon isotope excursion. The delayed recovery of the carbon isotope excursion, however, indicates that CO2 inputs continued well after the initial rapid onset, although there is no consensus about the source of this secondary carbon. Here we suggest this secondary input mightAuthorsShelby L. Lyons, Allison A. Baczynski, Tali L. Babila, Timothy J. Bralower, Elizabeth A. Hajek, Lee R. Kump, Ellen G. Polites, Jean Self-Trail, Sheila M. Trampush, Jamie R. Vornlocher, James C. Zachos, Katherine H. FreemanCross section of the North Carolina coastal plain from Enfield through Cape Hatteras
IntroductionThe Atlantic Coastal Plain, the southeasternmost physiographic province in the United States, is underlain by strata that regionally dip gently eastward and gradually thicken toward the Atlantic Ocean basin. These strata, ranging in age from Middle Jurassic to Holocene, accumulated along the eastern margin of North America after the break-up of the supercontinent Pangaea during the EarAuthorsRobert E. Weems, Jean Self-Trail, Lucy E. EdwardsEvidence for shelf acidification during the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
A transect of paleoshelf cores from Maryland and New Jersey contains a ~0.19 m to 1.61 m thick interval with reduced percentages of carbonate during the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). Outer paleoshelf cores are barren of nannofossils and correspond to two minor disconformities. Middle paleoshelf cores contain a mixture of samples devoid of nannofossils and those with rareAuthorsTimothy J. Bralower, Lee R. Kump, Marci M. Robinson, Jean Self-Trail, Shelby L. Lyons, Tali Babila, Edward Ballaron, Katherine H. Freeman, Elizabeth A. Hajek, William Rush, James C. ZachosEcological changes in the nannoplankton community across a shelf transect during the onset of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum
Warming and other environmental changes during the Paleocene‐Eocene thermal maximum (PETM) led to profound shifts in the composition and structure of nannoplankton assemblages. Here we analyze the nature of these changes in expanded records from the Cambridge‐Dorchester and Mattawoman Creek‐Billingsley Road cores in Maryland. These cores comprise part of a transect of five paleoshelf cores from MaAuthorsIsabel A. León y León, Timothy J. Bralower, Jean Self-TrailBiostratigraphic and morphometric analyses of specimens from the calcareous nannofossil genus Tribrachiatus
Biostratigraphic and morphometric analyses of calcareous nannofossil assemblages from one outcrop and two cored sections of lower Eocene sediments reveal the presence of two new species: Tribrachiatus lunatus sp. nov., and Tribrachiatus absidatus sp. nov. Differences between the new species and Tribrachiatus orthostylus are discussed. The first occurrence of the two new species is just below theAuthorsJean Self-Trail, Ellen Seefelt, Claire L. Shepherd, Victoria A. MartinShallow marine response to global climate change during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, Salisbury Embayment, USA
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) was an interval of extreme warmth that caused disruption of marine and terrestrial ecosystems on a global scale. Here we examine the sediments, flora, and fauna from an expanded section at Mattawoman Creek-Billingsley Road (MCBR) in Maryland and explore the impact of warming at a nearshore shallow marine (30–100 m water depth) site in the Salisbury EmbayAuthorsJean Self-Trail, Marci M. Robinson, Timothy J. Bralower, Jocelyn A. Sessa, Elizabeth A. Hajek, Lee R. Kump, Sheila M. Trampush, Debra A. Willard, Lucy E. Edwards, David S. Powars, Gregory A. WandlessNannoplankton malformation during the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum and its paleoecological and paleoceanographic significance
The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) is characterized by a transient group of nannoplankton, belonging to the genus Discoaster. Our investigation of expanded shelf sections provides unprecedented detail of the morphology and phylogeny of the transient Discoasterduring the PETM and their relationship with environmental change. We observe a much larger range of morphological variation than prAuthorsTimothy J. Bralower, Jean Self-TrailQuantification of a pretreatment procedure for organic-rich calcareous nannofossil samples
No abstract available.AuthorsJamie L. Shamrock, Jean Self-TrailLate Paleocene glyptosaur (Reptilia: Anguidae) osteoderms from South Carolina, USA
Heavily tuberculated glyptosaur osteoderms were collected in an active limestone quarry in northern Berkeley County, South Carolina. The osteoderms are part of a highly diverse late Paleocene vertebrate assemblage that consists of marine, terrestrial, fluvial, and/or brackish water taxa, including chondrichthyan and osteichthyan fish, turtles (chelonioid, trionychid, pelomedusid, emydid), crocodilAuthorsDavid J. Cicimurri, James L. Knight, Jean Self-Trail, Sandy M. EbersoleStratigraphic revision of the Cooper Group and the Chandler and Edisto Formations in the Coastal Plain of South Carolina
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert E. Weems, Barry Albright, Laurel M. Bybell, David J. Cicimurri, Lucy E. Edwards, W. Burleigh Harris, William C. Lewis, Jason E. Osborne, Albert E. Sanders, Jean Self-TrailComparison of three preservation techniques for slowing dissolution of calcareous nannofossils in organic rich sediments
In an attempt to halt or reduce dissolution of calcareous nannofossils in organic and/or pyrite-rich sediments, three different methods of short-term storage preservation were tested for efficacy: vacuum packing, argon gas replacement, and buffered water. Abundance counts of calcareous nannofossil assemblages over a six month period showed that none of the three preservation methods were consistenAuthorsEllen Seefelt, Jean Self-Trail, Arthur P. SchultzThe Sunny Point Formation: a new Upper Cretaceous subsurface unit in the Carolina Coastal Plain
This paper formally defines the Sunny Point Formation, a new Upper Cretaceous subsurface unit confined to the outer Atlantic Coastal Plain of North and South Carolina. Its type section is established in corehole NH-C-1-2001 (Kure Beach) from New Hanover County, North Carolina. The Sunny Point Formation consists of light-olive-gray to greenish-gray, fine to coarse micaceous sands and light-olive-brAuthorsAudra E. Balson, Jean Self-Trail, Dennis O. Terry
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government