A groundbreaking advance in paleontology and remote sensing has emerged from Canada, where vibrant orange lichens are revolutionizing the way dinosaur fossils are discovered. At the heart of this discovery is the identification of two particular lichen species—Rusavskia elegans and Xanthomendoza trachyphylla—that preferentially colonize exposed dinosaur bones, leaving behind distinctive spectral signatures. This ecological phenomenon has been harnessed by scientists via drone technology, providing an unprecedented method to locate fossils from above, even from altitudes of 30 meters.
The study, recently published in the prestigious journal Current Biology, details how these lichens thrive not on the surrounding rocks but on fossilized dinosaur bones themselves. This selective colonization occurs because dinosaur bones offer an alkaline, calcareous, and porous substrate—conditions highly favorable for these lichen species. Remarkably, analyses revealed that lichens cover up to half of the exposed fossil surfaces, yet less than one percent of adjacent rock fragments. This differential affinity creates clear spectral contrasts detectable with advanced imaging tools.
Remote sensing scientists and paleontologists from an international collaboration focused their efforts within Dinosaur Provincial Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in Alberta’s Canadian Badlands. The remote terrain, known for its rich fossil deposits, posed traditional survey challenges that could now be surmounted using this novel drone-based technique. With drones equipped with specialized sensors capable of capturing high-resolution aerial images with 2.5-centimeter pixel accuracy, the team detected the lichens’ unique spectral profiles, which manifest as reduced reflectance in the blue wavelengths coupled with heightened infrared reflectance.
This spectral fingerprint stems from the lichens’ biological composition and pigmentation, particularly their carotenoid-rich orange pigments, which absorb blue light and reflect infrared wavelengths distinctively. As these lichens colonize fossil bones over extended periods, they effectively highlight those bones against the geological backdrop, turning these microscopic organisms into bioindicators for fossil prospecting. This method marks a significant departure from conventional ground-based paleontological surveys, which are often labor-intensive, time-consuming, and limited in spatial scope.
Dr. Brian Pickles of the University of Reading, who led the research, emphasized the profound ecological and historical connection revealed by their findings. He remarked, “It’s astonishing to think that miniature ecosystems composed of lichens are essentially growing on the remains of dinosaurs that perished more than 75 million years ago. Leveraging remote sensing to detect their spectral signatures could greatly enhance our capability to locate fossils systematically.” His insight echoes broader themes in paleobiology regarding how present-day life forms can illuminate the ancient past.
The idea that lichens might serve as natural markers for fossils is not entirely new. Paleontologist Darren H. Tanke first speculated in 1980 that the orange pigmentation seen on Centrosaurus bones could be mapped via satellite imagery. However, only now, with the advent of sophisticated drone-mounted sensors and multispectral imaging techniques, has this hypothesis been rigorously tested and validated. This contemporary approach bridges decades of anecdotal observations and modern technological innovation.
Another key contributor, Dr. Caleb Brown from the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology, highlighted the importance of quantifying the lichen-bone association. “While the presence of these lichens on fossil bones has been noted by paleontologists for many years, no one had previously measured how extensive or selective this colonization really is,” he explained. The team’s findings provide the first quantitative evidence that these lichens preferentially inhabit fossil material, a revelation that reshapes how researchers might prioritize survey areas in the future.
From a technical standpoint, the successful identification of lichen-covered fossil remains remotely depends on precise sensor calibration and data processing algorithms. The drones employed carry hyperspectral cameras capable of measuring reflectance across multiple bands beyond visible light. The data collected undergo complex spectral unmixing analyses to distinguish lichens from the mineralogical background rigorously. This computational approach ensures that the remotely sensed signals correspond accurately to biological presence rather than confounding environmental variables.
The implications of this research transcend mere fossil discovery convenience. Traditional excavation and prospecting in remote, rugged terrains like the Canadian Badlands pose environmental risks and high operational costs. Utilizing drones reduces the footprint of fieldwork, allowing extensive landscape surveying without physical disturbance. Additionally, the method’s potential scalability can accelerate the inventory of paleontological resources worldwide, fostering conservation-friendly approaches to studying Earth’s prehistoric heritage.
Moreover, Dr. Derek Peddle, an expert in remote sensing at the University of Lethbridge, underscored the broader vision behind the study. He suggested that the groundwork laid by this project opens doors to deploying airborne platforms and even satellite-based sensors for large-scale fossil mapping. The distinct spectral signatures of these lichen bioindicators could be adapted to diverse environments where similar ecological interactions occur, thus enabling a global application of the technique.
Despite the promise, the researchers caution that the approach currently works best under semi-arid climatic conditions—in regions where lichens can proliferate on exposed fossils and remain intact long enough to confer spectral distinctiveness. The Canadian Badlands represent an ideal natural laboratory for such studies, but further research is necessary to ascertain the feasibility of detecting lichen-fossil associations in wetter or heavily vegetated biomes.
This pioneering integration of ecology, paleontology, and remote sensing demonstrates the power of interdisciplinary research in uncovering hidden scientific treasures. By interpreting the signals of tiny lichens, scientists are unveiling ancient bones buried in plain sight, fundamentally transforming fossil prospecting methods. The fusion of drone technology with spectral biology heralds a new era in the hunt for dinosaurs, amplifying the scale and efficiency of paleontological exploration.
As the team continues to refine their methodology and extend field trials, there is optimism that this strategy will uncover yet more secrets of prehistoric life concealed beneath the surface. Beyond advancing scientific knowledge, the work exemplifies how modern technology can align with natural phenomena to push the boundaries of discovery and deepen our connection with Earth’s distant past.
Subject of Research: Detection of dinosaur fossils using remote sensing of lichens with drones
Article Title: Remote sensing of lichens with drones for detecting dinosaur bones
News Publication Date: 3-Nov-2025
Web References:
10.1016/j.cub.2025.09.036
Keywords: dinosaur fossils, lichens, remote sensing, drone technology, spectral signatures, paleontology, Dinosaur Provincial Park, hyperspectral imaging, paleoecology, Canadian Badlands
