Overview
- The research, published in Current Biology, documents a drone-based method that flags fossil-bearing sites at Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada.
- Two species—Rusavskia elegans and Xanthomendoza trachyphylla—cover up to about 50% of exposed bone yet less than 1% of nearby rock, providing a reliable visual cue.
- Specialized sensors detected a distinct signature from 30 meters up at 2.5‑centimeter resolution, characterized by lower blue reflectance and higher infrared reflectance.
- The organisms favor bone because it offers alkaline, calcareous, porous surfaces, which helps explain the strong colonization compared with surrounding substrates.
- The team reports potential to map larger areas from aircraft or satellites and says performance so far is strongest in the semi‑arid Canadian Badlands, with broader testing planned.