Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Middle and Late Wisconsinan fossil coleopteran assemblages from western Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA

Cong, Shaoguang; Ashworth, Allan

doi:10.1002/(sici)1099-1417(199609/10)11:5<345::aid-jqs259>3.0.co;2-a

Cited by 17 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…One ground beetle fossil was found, but it was incomplete and the genus and species could not be identified. Ground beetles regularly dominate fossil assemblages in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., Cong and Ashworth, 1996) and are important species for paleoclimatic interpretation. The modern New Zealand beetle fauna is dominated by weevils (1,542 known species), but there are 391 known native ground beetle species (Larochelle and Lariviere, 2001).…”

Section: Analysis Of Fossil Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The strength of this approach comes from the insects themselves in that they respond quickly to environmental change by migrating, and they appear to evolve slowly (Ashworth, 2001). Research in Europe and North America show Late Quaternary beetle populations dispersed many hundreds of kilometers in a few decades, in response to climate change (e.g., Coope, 1973;Atkinson et al, 1987;Cong and Ashworth, 1996;Schwert et al, 1997). In South America, beetle communities rapidly shifted their altitudinal ranges in response to the postglacial warming (e.g., Hoganson and Ashworth, 1992;Ashworth and Hoganson, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Last interglacial beetle fauna from New Zealand

Marra

2003

Quat. res.

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Fossil beetles from two last interglacial lake deposits from southern Wairarapa, central New Zealand are provisionally ascribed to marine oxygen isotope stages (MIS) 5a–e. Both assemblages represent ecological successions from lake margins to forest. The lower sample (MIS 5e) is characterized by species found today in northern New Zealand. These species, including Lorelus crassicornis, ‘Dasytes’ laticeps, Cryptobius nitidius, ‘Stenomalium’ sulcithorax, Psilocnaeia nana, and Microbrontes lineatus, represent a southward displacement from modern distributions by up to 700 km. Climate reconstruction indicates that temperatures at the time of deposition were 1.6–2.5°C warmer in the summer (January) and 2.3–3.2°C warmer in the winter (July) than at present. These results match local and regional pollen and phytolith findings of warmer, wetter conditions at the thermal maximum of the last interglaciation. In contrast, the upper sample is characterized by species that have widespread modern-day distributions. This indicates that modern conditions were attained later in MIS5, after the MIS 5e thermal maximum.

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Section: Analysis Of Fossil Assemblagesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Last interglacial beetle fauna from New Zealand

Marra

2003

Quat. res.

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“…Coope et al. , 1961; Bocher, 1989; Ashworth & Hoganson, 1993; Cong & Ashworth, 1996). Many taxonomic groups are used in paleoecology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Quaternary paleoecology from fossil beetle communities in the Awatere Valley, South Island, New Zealand

Marra

Leschen

2004

Journal of Biogeography

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Aim The research aim is to reconstruct last glacial maximum (LGM) and Holocene vegetation history and ecology from fossil beetle assemblages. Location The LGM and Holocene sites are located in the Awatere Valley, which lies in the tectonically active Marlborough Region in the north east of the South Island of New Zealand. Methods Beetle fossils were extracted from silty organic sediment using the standard kerosene flotation method. Fossils were identified by comparisons made to modern species based on morphology and surface features. The ecology and distribution of modern analogues are extrapolated to reconstruct the fossil environment. Results One hundred and forty‐five beetle species belonging to 33 families were identified. The LGM fossil fauna showed the local vegetation was characterized by a forest patch surrounded by an open tussock/grassland landscape. This Nothofagus (southern beech) forest persisted at the site until mid‐Holocene when it was replaced by a podocarp forest that contained high beetle diversity. Herbivores dominate in the early stage of this zone, indicating a relatively new forest environment. Later in the Holocene, the fauna is dominated by detritivores indicating an older more established forest. The late Holocene is characterized by low diversity and the absence of forest species. This fauna indicates that by 500 years ago, the forest was absent and is associated with an almost compete loss of beetle biodiversity. Main conclusions The fossil beetles provide a unique perspective into the past environment in the Awatere Valley on a local scale. The reconstruction supports regional pollen interpretations of Holocene vegetation by identifying a specific forest patch. Fossil beetles are thus a valuable local proxy for vegetation reconstructions.

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“…All of these species are common today in boreal forests and at higher elevations in the Rocky Mountains (Campbell, 1984;Ashworth et al, 2021). Olophrum boreale, O. consimile, and E. clairvillei were found in Late Pleistocene beds at Kalaloch on Olympic Peninsula and in Seattle (Cong and Ashworth, 1996;Ashworth and Nelson, 2014;Ashworth et al, 2021).…”

Section: Lgm Paleoecologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of climate and ecology of Skagit Valley, Washington, from 27.7 to 19.8 ka based on plant and beetle macrofossils

Riedel

Telka²,

Bunn

et al. 2021

Quat. res.

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Glacial lake sediments exposed at two sites in Skagit Valley, Washington, encase abundant macrofossils dating from 27.7 to 19.8 cal ka BP. At the last glacial maximum (LGM) most of the valley floor was part of a regionally extensive arid boreal (subalpine) forest that periodically included montane and temperate trees and open boreal species such as dwarf birch, northern spikemoss, and heath. We used the modern distribution and climate of 14 species in 12 macrofossil assemblages and a probability density function approach to reconstruct the LGM climate. Median annual precipitation (MAP) at glacial Lake Concrete (GLC) was ~50% lower than today. In comparison, MAP at glacial Lake Skymo (GLS) was only ~10% lower, which eliminated the steep climate gradient observed today. Median January air temperature at GLC was up to 10.8°C lower than today at 23.5 cal ka BP and 8.7°C lower at GLS at 25.1 cal ka BP. Median July air temperature declines were smaller at GLC (3.4°C–5.0°C) and GLS (4.2°C–6.3°C). Warmer winters (+2°C to +4°C) and increases in MAP (+200 mm) occurred at 27.7, 25.9, 24.4, and 21.2–20.7 cal ka BP. These changes accord with other regional proxies and Dansgaard–Oeschger interstades in the North Atlantic.

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Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Middle and Late Wisconsinan fossil coleopteran assemblages from western Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA

Cited by 17 publications

References 36 publications

Last interglacial beetle fauna from New Zealand

Last interglacial beetle fauna from New Zealand

Late Quaternary paleoecology from fossil beetle communities in the Awatere Valley, South Island, New Zealand

Reconstruction of climate and ecology of Skagit Valley, Washington, from 27.7 to 19.8 ka based on plant and beetle macrofossils

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