Preliminary Analysis of European Small Mammal Faunas of the Eemian Interglacial: Species Composition and Species Diversity at a Regional Scale

Abstract

Small mammal remains obtained from the European localities dated to the Eemian (Mikulino) age have been analyzed for the first time at a regional scale based on the present biogeographical regionalization of Europe. The regional faunas dated to the warm interval in the first part of the Late Pleistocene display notable differences in fauna composition, species richness, and diversity indices. The classification of regional faunal assemblages revealed distinctive features of small mammal faunas in Eastern and Western Europe during the Eemian (=Mikulino, =Ipswichian) Interglacial. Faunas of the Iberian Peninsula, Apennine Peninsula, and Sardinia Island appear to deviate from the other regions. In the Eemian Interglacial, the maximum species richness of small mammals (≥40 species) with a relatively high proportion of typical forest species was recorded in Western and Central Europe and in the western part of Eastern Europe. The lowest species richness (5-14 species) was typical of island faunas and of those in the north of Eastern Europe. The data obtained make it possible to reconstruct the distribution of forest biotopes and open habitats (forest-steppe and steppe) in various regions of Europe. Noteworthy is a limited area of forests in the south and in the northeastern part of Europe. In these regions, it seems likely that under conditions of relatively high temperatures characteristic of the Last Interglacial and an insufficient moisture supply there could exist open forest stands or forest-steppe landscapes, as suggested by the presence of species indicative of forest-steppe and steppe north of the forest zone. The results obtained are useful in modeling changes in the mammal faunas as well as environmental changes in entire Europe due to global climatic changes (including the global warming recorded at present).

Ancient DNA of narrow-headed vole reveal common features of the Late Pleistocene population dynamics in cold-adapted small mammals

“…Narrow-headed voles can theoretically survive unfavourable interglacial conditions in mountain/upland areas or in the far north, where open and relatively humid environments persisted. However, the fossil record does not provide evidence for the species in Europe at this time, despite the examination of over 90 sites of Eemian age in Europe [ 57 ]. S .…”

Substantial light woodland and open vegetation characterized the temperate forest biome before Homo sapiens

“…27 Faculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Toruń, Poland. 28 Maria Curie-Sklodowska University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Al. Krasnicka 2 d, 20-718 Lublin, Poland.…”

Late Pleistocene Expansion of Small Murid Rodents across the Palearctic in Relation to the Past Environmental Changes

“…Additionally, small mammals constitute a suitable model group for reconstructing the history of ecosystems and biota affected by glacial and interglacial cycles [ 21 , 22 , 23 ]. Western Palearctic wood mice of the genus Apodemus were used for assessing demographic and environmental factors that affected their populations during the Plio-Pleistocene [ 24 ], and these results were used as a proxy in analyses of the history of European forests.…”