Paleontology

We provide context specific, cost-effective paleontological studies for public and private sector clients including cities and counties, energy and utility companies, water districts, transportation agencies, environmental and architecture/engineering firms.

Services

  • Agency-specific technical reports 

  • Paleo record searches

  • Field survey

  • Fossil locality documentation

  • Geological characterization

  • Matrix/microfossil sampling

  • Fossil preparation for curation

  • Microscopy

  • Pollen and spore identification

  • Magnetic susceptibility and XRF

  • Sediment/soils physical properties

Founder, MariaElena Conserva Ph.D. has over 12 years of experience in paleontology research, consulting, and project management. She has completed dozens of studies for large- and small-scale infrastructure projects. She meets Society of Vertebrate Paleontology guidelines as a qualified lead paleontologist and has been approved as Paleontological Resource Specialist by the California Energy Commission, California Public Utilities Commission, and Caltrans. Dr. Conserva holds master's and Ph.D. degrees from U.C. Berkeley. Her research focus is paleoecology, micropaleontology, sediment chemistry, and palynology and is published in paleontological journals such as Quaternary Research and Quaternary Science Reviews. She is a member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology.