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This paper describes analyses of avifauna from Levantine Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene sites at contrasting scales. We present avian osteological data at Shubayqa, in northeast Jordan, illustrating human-bird-environment interactions over 4000 years offering interpretation of environmental change on avifaunal communities and reorientation in the nature of multi-species relationships at a wetland environment. Comparisons to published avifaunal assemblages investigates bird-human relationships across a broader temporal and geographical span. During the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, some of our species gradually transitioned to agriculture. People hunted birds for subsistence but extensive evidence for the symbolic importance of birds suggests complex relationships between species. Avifaunal evidence, therefore, presents insights into two commonly suggested primary causes for the shift from hunter-foragers to agriculturalists – resource pressure and symbolic expression. In this paper, we investigate and try to clarify the relationship between humans and birds at this transitional period in human history, furthering discussions of the shift towards agriculture. We argue humans gradually modified the landscape but this was not a reactionary response to resource stress. Nevertheless, this resulted in the productivity of the landscape increasing and allowed further intensification. Feathers and talons of birds were used for millennia preceding the shift to agriculture and the increase in bird hunting towards the end of the Pleistocene cannot be explained by the increased role of birds in the symbolic realm. The evidence from the avifauna adds weight to the idea of ecological niche construction activities, as people invested in specific locations, increasing productivity of habitats, thus encouraging further investment within some environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laoya Cave is a significant prehistoric human site in Guizhou Province, Southwest China, and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and a Bayesian depositional model were used to update the chronology of the cave. Six OSL samples were dated to 16.7 ± 1.2, 18.0 ± 1.1, 28.8 ± 2.3, 32.1 ± 2.8, 57.7 ± 6.5, and 74.0 ± 5.9 ka, respectively, and the Bayesian deposition model has provided a coherent chronological framework, revealing boundaries with median ages of 18.5, 25.0, 27.5, 28.6, 29.9, and 74.4 ka for Boundaries 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, 4/5, 5/6, and 6/9, respectively. By comparing the new chronological framework with the related records of paleoclimate and human activities, we gain insight into the relationship between the environment and Paleolithic hominins at different times. During relatively warmer periods, humans tend to spread, while in relative colder climates, they tend to rely more heavily on caves and employ hunting strategies with an equal age distribution. These survival strategies help humans prevent the threats of cold weather. Additionally, the analysis of OSL dating results uncovers a discrepancy between OSL and accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon (AMS 14C) dating methods, with AMS 14C dates generally appearing older at later ages (<∼30 ka). This phenomenon may be due to disturbances caused by human activity, and OSL dating may recognize this to some extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we aimed to achieve three objectives: (1) to precisely characterize the body plans of Elephantidae and other large herbivorous mammals; (2) based on this analysis, to determine whether the body plans of the extinct woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and steppe mammoth (M. trogontherii) differ from those of modern‐day Elephantidae: the Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), the African bush (Loxodonta africana), and forest (L. cyclotis) elephants; (3) to analyze how the body plans have changed in extant perissodactyls and proboscideans compared with their Paleogene ancestors. To accomplish this, we studied mammoth skeletons from the collections of Russian museums and compared this data with a large number of skeletons of extant elephantids, odd‐toed, and even‐toed ungulates, as well as their extinct relatives. We showed that three genera of Elephantidae are characterized by a homogeneous body plan, which is markedly different from other large herbivores. Elephantids break the interrelationship, that exists in artiodactyls and perissodactyls, between the total length of the head and neck on one side and the limb's segments on the other. Their limbs are very tall (inferior in this regard among large ungulates only to the giraffe), and, contrary to the other large herbivorous mammals, elongated due to the length of the proximal segments. This allows them to effectively utilize the principle of inverted pendulum (straight‐legged walking) in locomotion. The biggest differences in the body plan of mammoths compared with extant elephants are a markedly larger pelvis, elongated fore‐ and hindlimbs (due to the increased relative length of their proximal segments), and different proportions of the skull. The body plans of plesiomorphic Paleogene proboscideans and perissodactyls differed markedly from their descendants in every body part; these differences are related, on the one hand, to the allometric growth, and on the other hand, to the advancement of the locomotor apparatus in the course of their evolution. The most notable difference in the body plan between Paleogene proboscidean Moeritherium and extant Elephantidae is the ~2‐fold increase in relative limb height. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reveal the characteristics of climate and environmental changes in the Baiyangdian area during the late Pleistocene and their future evolutionary trends, a comprehensive analysis was conducted on the climate dry and wet changes in Baiyangdian since the late Pleistocene (26.9ka B.P.) by analyzing the grain size characteristics of lake sediment in a borehole in the southern part of Baiyangdian, combined with chronological data.The result showed that in the period of 26.9~10.5 ka B.P., the area was mainly tubidity current deposit under deluvial and alluvial function, and the climate was in the recovery process in the post glacial age, but generally dry; in the period of 10.5~8.3 ka B.P., the depositional environment was mainly fluvial facies deposit, and the climate was warmer and moister than in the previous period; since 8.3ka B.P.~ now, the dipositional environment has gradually transitioned from fluvial facies deposit to lake facies deposit, and the climate has become mainly warm and moist glacial climate, reached the period of the warmest and moistest climate since the end of the Late Pleistocene epoch in the mid-Holocene (about 6.6 ka B.P.), and then gone through two times of remarkable cold-arid fluctuation around 3.2 ka B.P. And 1.8 ka B.P.; Baiyangdian started to shrink and disintegrate under the impact of geological structure and rivers’ vicissitude, and finally formed the modern patterns of Baiyangdian Lake, under the interference of human activities.In summary, due to the influence of monsoon evolution, the environment in North China during the last glacial period was cold and dry. It began to turn wet in the early Holocene, was the wettest in the middle Holocene, and became dry in the late Holocene. This lake evolution model is similar to the evolution model of the East Asian summer monsoon, and has important reference value for understanding the future monsoon evolution model under the influence of human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most widely used methods to associate lithic tools and bone assemblage in archaeological sites is the identification of cut-marks. However, the identification of these marks is still problematic in some localities on account of the similarities with the modifications generated by non-human processes, including biostratinomic and post-depositional bone surface modifications. Toll Cave (Barcelona, Spain), with chronologies between 47.310 BP and 69.800 BP, is one of the case studies where the cut-marks could easily be confused with abundant grooves generated by the dragging of sedimentary particles (e.g. trampling), but also with the scores produced by carnivores. In this work, we present the results obtained from applying Deep Learning (DL) models to the taphonomic analysis of the site. This methodological approach has allowed us to distinguish the bone surface modifications with 97.5% reliability. We show the usefulness of this technique to help solve many taphonomic equifinality problems in the archaeological assemblages, as well as the need to implement new approaches to eliminate subjectivity in the descriptions of bone damage and make more accurate inferences about the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of seasonal forests groups structural types of vegetation that are related to climatic seasonality in the tropics of South America. Consequently, this determines the physiognomy of the vegetation, from semi‐deciduous to strongly deciduous. The strongest link between seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) is their floristic composition, where Leguminosae and Anacardiaceae dominate the woody flora. The fossil records of the Neogene of northwestern Argentina reveal a list of species found in various locations and formations of the Miocene–Lower Pleistocene obtained from studies of pollen, woods (logs), cuticles, impressions of leaves and fruits. The analysis of sediments and woody structures from the Tapebicuá, Toropí/Yupoí and El Palmar Formations (Upper Pleistocene) of the Mesopotamia region allowed us to identify several pollen taxa and silicified wood fragments (mineralized). The woody and shrubby association whose current relatives characterize the SDTF is composed of the 16 fossil species described here belonging to seven families. In our samples, Anadenanthera colubrina and Myracrodruon balansae are the most significant members of the families Leguminosae and Anacardiaceae, which are dominant in the SDTF. The paleobotanical species described in this study confirm the extension of the SDTF to the province of Corrientes, coinciding with various climatic events (dry subtropical, semi‐desert and warm‐humid climate) that would have favored the development of these forests during the Pleistocene in this region. The absolute dates obtained for the Toropí/Yupoí and Tapebicuá Formations confirm their synchronicity and correlation to Marine Isotope Stage 5. The palynological analysis, the presence of Menendoxylon and the sedimentological data allow us to infer the existence of a seasonally dry humid paleoclimate in northeastern Argentina during the Late Pleistocene favorable to the development of the SDTF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Tip-Tugai Cave (52°59′28.6″ N, 57°00′22.3″ E) is described as a new site with cave hyena Crocuta spelaea fossils. The bone-bearing layer was dated to marine isotope stage (MIS) 3 based on the species composition of the fauna of large and small mammals. Finds of abundant remains of cave hyenas of different ages and bones of large herbivores with hyena gnaw marks indicated that the Tip-Tugai Cave was used as a hyena den in the Late Pleistocene. This is the first cave hyena den described in the Urals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mammals as a rule have seven cervical vertebrae, a number which remains remarkably conserved. Occasional deviations of this number are usually due to the presence of cervical ribs on the seventh vertebra, indicating a homeotic transformation from a cervical rib-less vertebra into a thoracic rib-bearing vertebra. These transformations are often associated with major congenital abnormalities or pediatric cancers (pleiotropic effects) that are, at least in humans, strongly selected against. Based on data from Late Pleistocene mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) and woolly rhinoceroses (Coelodonta antiquitatis) from the North Sea, we hypothesized that high incidences of cervical ribs in declining populations are due to inbreeding and/or adverse conditions impacting early pregnancies. In this study, we investigated the incidence of cervical ribs in an extinct Late Pleistocene megaherbivore, giant deer (Megaloceros giganteus) from Ireland and in the extant highly inbred Père David deer (Elaphurus davidianus) and in twenty other extant species. We show that the incidence of cervical ribs is exceptionally high in both the Irish giant deer and the Père David deer and much higher than in extant outbred deer. Our data support the hypothesis that inbreeding and genetic drift increase the frequencies of maladaptive alleles in populations at risk of extinction. The high incidence of cervical ribs indicates a vulnerable condition, which may have contributed to the extinction of megaherbivore species in the Late Pleistocene. We argue that cervical rib frequency may be a good proxy for extinction risk in inbred populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea, characterized by abundant volcanic glass shards, may provide crucial evidence on the eruption history of volcanoes and tectonic evolution of the western Pacific. A 220-ka sediment core from the Benham Rise in the western Philippine Sea offers new insights into the provenance of four intercalated tephra layers (T1–T4, in chronological order) containing either colorless or brown glass shards. Relative to primitive mantle, all glass shards are enriched in large-ion lithophile elements, such as Rb, Cs, and Pb, and depleted in high field-strength elements, such as Th, Nb, and Ta, indicating a subduction-related origin. The colorless glass shards are characterized by high SiO2 (>78%) and light rare earth element (LREE) contents as well as high La/Sm ratios (>9), low FeO and MgO contents (<1%), low Sr/Y (<15) and high Ba/Th ratios (>100), pointing to a rhyolitic composition and a medium-K calc-alkaline serial affinity. In contrast, the brown glass shards are characterized by lower SiO2 (<63%) and LREE contents, higher FeO, MgO, and CaO contents, lower La/Sm (<6) and Ba/Th (<75), and similar Sr/Y ratios (<15), indicating derivation from medium to high-K calc-alkaline andesite magma. Brown glass shards from layers T3 (152 ka) and T4 (172 ka) were correlated with volcanic deposits from the Taal and Laguna Caldera in the Maccolod Corridor, respectively, while the colorless glass shards from layers T1 (36.5 ka) and T2 (61.2 ka) were likely sourced from the Irosin Caldera in the Bicol Arc. Establishing the provenance of late Pleistocene tephra layers in the western Philippine Sea is helpful to complement a Philippine volcanic history and establish a regional tephrochronostratigraphy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2013 archaeological radiocarbon databases covering 13,000–7000 14C BP for nine countries in South America, including Peru, were published in a special issue of Quaternary International. The past decade has seen new field research and radiocarbon ages contributed to the Peruvian archaeological record, two updates to the southern hemisphere calibration curve, and research papers drawing from South American radiocarbon databases to explore region- and continent-scale patterns of human-environment interaction, settlement dynamics, and paleodemography. This paper provides an update to the Peruvian archaeological radiocarbon database for the Late Pleistocene to early Middle Holocene. The new database (version 2) includes 493 radiocarbon dates spanning 20,000 to 7000 14C BP. No radiocarbon dates >13,000 14C BP meet basic archaeological criteria. First, I review the structure of Peru's early archaeological radiocarbon record and highlight several research and landscape taphonomic biases. Second, I examine distributions of archaeological sites through time, beginning with basic site and date frequencies and progressing to Bayesian analysis of aggregated radiocarbon dates. Third, applying established criteria for well-dated archaeological events, I identify some unresolved problems in early Peruvian radiocarbon chronologies, with the goal of outlining priorities for future archaeological and chronometric research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone pathologies have great potential to provide information on the palaeobiology of fossil organisms. Some were likely related to inter/intraspecific fighting behaviors. Among the iconic and conspicuous Late Pleistocene armored mammals, Panochthus Burmeister, 1866 is notable for being one of the largest, most abundant, and diversified genera. A particular feature of Panochthus species is the presence of a caudal armor including a solid bony structure known as a caudal tube that would have played an important role in intra/interspecific contests. In this contribution, we report and describe a caudal vertebra of Panochthus that shows strong evidence of pathologies that may be related to the performance of strong tail movements that could correspond to offensive/defensive behaviors. The specimen (MFA-G-PV 1740) was recovered from Late Pleistocene deposits (MIS 5–3 cycles) cropping out in the cliffs of Northern Salado River, Santa Fe Province, Argentina. Based on morphological and radiological features, the lesions observed are related to a traumatic lesion that would have affected the ligamentum flavum and probably the articular capsule of the postzygapophysis, generating a severe enthesopathy and related septic arthritis. The involvement of this ligament in particular is crucial because it connects adjacent vertebral laminae and restricts mobility, offering resistance to extreme vertebral flexion and protecting the remaining vertebral structures when confronted with large forces. Although it is challenging to determine the exact way in which this species performed fighting tail movements, the joints with the greatest range of movement correspond to the most anterior caudal vertebrae. This also implies that any strong impact would have directly affected these vertebrae and associated soft tissues, including ligaments. Based on this evidence, we consider that the pathology described here represents strong evidence to support the idea of an active use of the caudal tube in Panochthus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Arqueologia is the property of Revista de Arqueologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The results of studying the quantitative, material, and morphometric composition of rock debris in sediments sampled by a box-corer on Lomonosov Ridge (83° N), Arctic Ocean, during the Severnyi Polyus 41 expedition of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute are presented. Clasts ≥ 1 cm in size were sampled from each distinguished layer according to the lithological description. The age model was created by the lithostratigraphic correlation with previously dated cores. The content of clasts on the eastern slope and summit is significantly higher than on the western slope, which is explained by the higher sedimentation rate on the western slope after the deglaciation peak. The change in the rock composition from carbonate to igneous and the increase in roundness with time indicate a higher input of Eurasian material in MIS 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleolandscapes of the first half of MIS 2 or the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) were reconstructed based on the study of the first mammoth fauna locality found in the Abakan River valley and a comparison with other localities of the South Minusinsk Basin. Sediments of the Uytag geological section under study included silt interlayers underlain and overlain by sandstone rock slack fragments and were interpreted as weakly eroded diluvium. Studies of the Uytag locality made it possible to clarify the time and range of distribution in southern Siberia for several mammals (Ovis ammon, Equus ferus, Marmota baibacina, Sicista subtilis, Lagurus lagurus, and Microtus gregalis) and the Pleistocene bird Aquila chrysaetos. The age of the locality was confirmed by radiocarbon dating. The species composition of the Uytag fauna was similar to that of other localities of the same age and region. All known localities and single finds of faunal remains indicate that open steppe landscapes were widely developed in the South Minusinsk Basin during the LGM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Southeastern Patagonia's (49° S) post‐glacial history inferred from high Andean lake sediments provides new insights regarding Late Pleistocene and Holocene vegetation dynamics at the eastern margin of the Southern Patagonian Icefield. The fossil records of pollen, charcoal and geochemical data from tephra layers from Laguna Chiquita and Laguna Gemelas Este were analysed to reveal past landscape dynamics related to vegetation changes, fire and volcanic events from ca. 15 200 cal a bp to the present. Nothofagus forest expanded over shrubland communities sometime between 15 200 and 4600 cal a bp, along with at least three disturbance sources related to the volcanic eruptions of Lautaro, Aguilera and Hudson, important local fire episodes, and neoglacial advances. Major charcoal deposition reveals moderate fire activity during the Late Pleistocene related to an open landscape characterised by a grass/shrub steppe. Local glacier advances may have affected the Laguna Gemelas Este sedimentation. Tephra deposition events do not correlate to vegetation changes inferred from the Laguna Gemelas Este and Laguna Chiquita pollen records. Late Holocene eastern Andean forest changes and fire activity at 49° S match other southern palaeoenvironmental records (50–52° S) suggesting that changes in the Southern Westerly Wind latitudinal position and intensity drove major palaeovegetation and fire dynamics before the European settlement. In the last centuries, fire and vegetation changes have been closely related to an increase in local ignition sources and the introduction of alien species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental proxy data are presented for the Late Quaternary based on mineralogical, geochemical and palynological analysis of a palaeosoil-sediment section in the lower Kürtün Valley (Samsun region, Northern Türkiye). The geochronology along the section is established based on OSL and radiocarbon dating. The base of the palaeosoil-sediment section consists of a palaeo-terrace fill of the Kürtün Creek dated to 108 ± 9 ka, corresponding to the last interglacial period (MIS5c). After this warm and humid period, the last ice age began. Sea level dropped and the Kürtün Stream deepened its bed. Fluvial terrace deposits were covered with colluvial materials and a palaeosoil sequence formed. The bottommost part of the palaeosoil formation carries the fingerprints of a dry climate of 68 ± 9 ka ago (MIS4). The middle part of the section coincides with MIS2 (28,959 cal BP) and is characterized by humid conditions with arid pulses accompanied by the occurrences of calcrete nodules. The palaeosoil-sediment section ends with the records of MIS1 (8381 cal BP), corresponding to warmer and more humid conditions. This study emphasizes the importance of palaeosoil-calcrete formation in the lower Kürtün Valley for explaining climate changes from MIS5c to MIS1. The results are compatible with studies conducted in the Eastern Mediterranean. High-resolution multi-proxy studies are recommended to better understand the connection between local climates and global climate phenomena in the Late Quaternary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uncovering the mechanisms driving the genetic divergence of environmentally heterogeneous species is one of the biggest challenges in phylogeography. In the present study, the genetic variation and genetic structure of the Coilia nasus were examined by analyzing thirteen mitochondrial protein-coding genes (PCGs) among 60 individuals collected from 8 populations in affiliated waters of Yangtze River and their adjacent waters. Contrasted to the recently recognized multiple subdivision, our reconstructed phylogenetic tree, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), FST and haplotype networks refined only two previously recognized clades, with one clade arising from the Dongting and Poyang lakes affiliated to the upper reach of Yangtze River, and the other mainly from the remaining populations. Historical demography analysis revealed that the divergence time between the two clades could be recovered to 60.05 ka, indicating a possible role of late Pleistocene glaciers in their differentiation, possibly via isolation of diverged glaciers' refugia. Subsequent positive selection test revealed no diverged selective pressures acting on the two clades within all 13 PCGs, suggests that the observed mitochondrial lineage divergence of C. nasus in the Yangtze River and its adjacent waters was primarily driven by neutral evolution. Our results provided new insights into the spatial patterns of genetic variation in population of C. nasus and would provide valuable implications for sustainable management and utilization of this fishery resource in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in Earth Science (1001-8166) is the property of Advances in Earth Science Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The southeastern United States Coastal Plain ecosystem contains baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps and grass‐dominated marshes. These ecosystems also occurred on the exposed continental shelf during lower sea levels but are rarely preserved due to the mechanically erosive nature of transgression and regression. Two presently marine sites on the northeastern Gulf of Mexico's continental shelf contain well‐preserved woody terrestrial sediments that were the subject of previous studies. This study continues the investigation using geochemical (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) and palynological characteristics of these formerly terrestrial sediments to determine if swamps and/or marshes existed at the time of deposition. The first site is located ∼20 km southeast of Horn Island, Mississippi (MS) and the core has terrestrial sediments radiocarbon dated to 11,066–10,228 (2σ) calibrated years BP (early Holocene). The second site is the "Alabama Underwater Forest" located ∼13 km south of Gulf Shores, Alabama (AL) and the cores have terrestrial sediments optically stimulated luminescence dated to 63 ka (±10 ka, 2σ) to 72 ka (±16 ka, 2σ) (late Pleistocene). Geochemical results for the MS sediments indicate a swamp‐to‐freshwater marsh transitional series, whereas the AL sediments indicate a swamp‐to‐saltwater marsh transitional series, both supported by palynological results. Further exploration of the geochemical results using linear discriminant analysis, trained with published geochemical data, supports the swamp and marsh interpretations. We conclude that the near‐pristine preservation of these woody deposits is not solely due to physical mechanisms, such as rapid burial, but is also coupled with anoxia‐ and euxinia‐driven biogeochemical reactions promoting wood and woody debris preservation in swamp and marsh environments. Plain Language Summary: Scientists have studied unique sites offshore of Alabama and Mississippi that contain soils, peat, wood, and tree stumps. Scientists have determined that the trees from the Alabama site are between 42,000 and 72,000 years old and were alive during the last ice age when sea levels were much lower than today. The Mississippi site contains woody peat sediments about 11,000 years old and occurred when sea levels were rapidly rising globally. These types of formally land‐based sediments are eroded as the sea level rises at the end of the glacial periods. Furthermore, wood and plant matter decay after the plant dies and become part of the soil. We investigated the chemistry of the preserved soils to understand the conditions that lead to their preservation. Chemical and pollen analyses found that these deposits are past swamp and marsh ecosystems that occurred on land similar to those occurring along the United States Gulf Coast today. Swamps and marshes have still waters with little oxygen that stop decay leading to the preservation of the wood and tree stumps. Swamps occur in depressions where water can collect and over time they fill with sediments. These preserved swamp deposits are time capsules from the past. Key Points: Multiple paleo‐terrestrial deposits containing wood and peat are preserved offshore in the northeastern Gulf of MexicoGeochemical and microfossil analyses find that these deposits are past swamp and marsh ecosystemsSwamps and marshes that are anoxic and/or euxinic promote the biogeochemical preservation of woody and organic matter [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relict frost wedges are widespread and valuable indicators of past environmental conditions that have been extensively dated across central and western European lowlands over the past few decades, but their timing in the Czech Republic is poorly known. Here, we present optically‐stimulated‐luminescence (OSL) ages for seven relict frost wedges situated at four study sites in north–central Bohemia, Czech Republic (49.9992–50.4956°N, 13.3736–16.0011°E, 230–350 m above sea level). The OSL ages indicate that the frost wedges developed during two phases in marine isotope stage 2: an older phase that peaked at 23.6 ± 2.9 ka and a younger phase that peaked at 16.1 ± 1.3 ka. Both phases probably experienced cold, dry and windy conditions that were mostly associated with <0°C mean annual air and ground temperatures and the presence of at least discontinuous permafrost, which is in line with similar central and western European records and other paleo‐environmental archives. The new OSL ages constitute the first extended dataset on the timing of frost wedges in this undersampled area between the Fennoscandian and Alpine ice sheets, which is essential for reconstructing past permafrost extents and climate conditions, as well as for validating models of past permafrost dynamics in central Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quarry of the Sverdlov (Etalon) Factory stands out as a unique site in the northwest of the East European Plain since it exposes an almost complete Upper Pleistocene stratigraphic succession. Previous investigations have revealed a sequence of marine sediments deposited during the whole Mikulino Interglacial [Eemian, Marine Isotope Stage (MIS)5e], but the chronology of the Late Pleistocene deposits remains incomplete and requires further update. We present a study of the Middle–Upper Pleistocene units exposed in the Sverdlov Factory quarry by using geological methods, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating and pollen analysis. The lower part of the Sverdlov Factory section comprises glaciomarine/glaciolacustrine varves, which accumulated during degradation of the Late Moscow (Late Saalian, Late MIS6) glaciation and correspond to pollen zone M1 (lower peak of Picea). They are covered by interglacial marine clayey silt that includes all Mikulino regional pollen zones M2–M8. According to a Bayesian model based on K‐rich feldspar luminescence ages, the interglacial marine deposition started 133 ± 8 ka ago and ended 109 ± 7 ka ago. The marine sediments are overlain by lacustrine silt with a K‐rich feldspar age of 119 ± 7 ka, lacustrine/alluvial sand with plant detritus formed 47–41 ka ago, and lacustrine sand and silt without organic matter accumulated ~39 ka ago. The upper part of the section is composed of subglacial till formed during the Late Valdai (Late Weichselian, MIS2) under the Scandinavian Ice Sheet and glaciolacustrine varved deposits of the Baltic Ice Lake. Two ages were acquired using quartz OSL from these varves, 16.9 ± 1.6 and 15.7 ± 1.0 ka, which are assumed to slightly overestimate the true age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conditions for the formation of biodiversity and their comparative analysis at individual stages of development of the Ponto-Caspian basins in the MIS 5 era have been identified. This work was carried out based on the results of studying materials from many years of field research in the Caspian Sea and Sea of Azov–Black Sea regions and the Manych Depression. The biodiversity of malacofauna in the Caspian–Manych–Pont system under the climatic conditions of the MIS 5 era is inextricably linked with the history of the development of the basins. In the Caspian Sea, two transgressive basins have been reconstructed: the Late Khazarian and Hyrcanian. The Late Khazarian malacofauna of the northern part of the paleo-Caspian Sea is represented by 26 species, the main part of which are Caspian endemics belonging to the Cardiidae family. The index species is Didacna surachanica Andrusov, 1910. The Hyrcanian malacofauna includes 22 species, the main part of which are also Caspian endemics. Characteristic types are Didacna subcatillus Andrusov, 1910 and Didacna cristata Bogachev, 1932. The composition of the malacofauna was determined by the main factors: the degree of inheritance from the previous basin, the salinity and temperature of the aquatic environment, and the introduction of freshwater fauna with river runoff. The influence of "random" catastrophic factors, such as the breakthrough of a periglacial lake and the flow of its waters into the Caspian Sea, which sharply changed the biodiversity of the Hyrcanian basin compared to the Late Khazarian basin, is significant. In the Pontian basin, the Karangatian transgression developed in three stages. The malacofaunal composition in the northeastern part of the Pontian basin is represented by 37 species, the main part of which are marine Mediterranean species, both euryhaline and stenohaline. Each stage is characterized by its own complex of malacofauna with varying degrees of development of euryhaline or stenohaline elements in them. The second complex, corresponding to the maximum stage of transgression, was characterized by the greatest diversity and the presence of the most halophilic elements. An important feature of the third complex is the presence of Caspian species characteristic of the Hyrcanian transgression of the Caspian Sea. In the Manych Depression, events closely related to the development of the Caspian and Pontian basins were reconstructed: the ingression gulf of the Karangatian transgression of the Pontian basin in the second stage of its development; reduction in the length of the bay, with the simultaneous advance of waters of the Hyrcanian transgression and their discharge into the bay; complete release of the depression from the Karangatian waters and the discharge of the waters of the Hyrcanian transgression into the Karangatian basin in the third stage of development. In the Pontian basin, species diversity was determined by the composition of the malacofauna that migrated to it from the Mediterranean Sea. At the final stages of the development of the Karangatian transgression, its faunal composition was influenced by Caspian invasive species that penetrated into the Pontian basin with the waters of the Hyrcanian transgression through the Manych Strait. In the Caspian Sea, the formation of the malacofauna composition was predominantly evolutionary in nature. There was no evolutionary component in the development of the Black Sea malacofauna; its formation was of a migration nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 4 and 3 were significant periods encompassing some 50,000 years, including at least two techno-cultural entities: the Howiesons Poort (HP) and post-HP. Exploring subsistence and environmental changes during these periods may help us understand broader aspects of behavioural and occupational patterns over MIS 4 and 3. In this paper, we report on taphonomic analyses of a sample of early HP, late HP and post-HP fauna from Klasies River main site cave 1A. We use these and other faunal data to examine the links between subsistence behaviour and the environment during the HP and post-HP. The results of our analyses indicate that percussion marks are abundant in the HP, with percussion mark frequencies more prevalent in the later HP than the early HP indicating that humans were the primary accumulators of fauna in the HP. Other taphonomic data such as fracture patterns, burning and trampling marks also suggests that human activity was more prevalent in the HP than the post-HP. In contrast, in the post-HP, the prevalence of zoogenic marks on small mammal remains, and comparisons to actualistic assemblages indicate that carnivores probably contributed significantly to the post-HP assemblage. In all the samples investigated, crania dominate skeletal-part profiles. This could be a result of taphonomic bias, or it could indicate that foraging likely occurred relatively close to the site. Analyses of carcass-part utility show that marrow-extraction may have been a key subsistence strategy in the HP. In the post-HP, bone density-mediated attrition had a significant effect on fauna making it challenging to ascertain subsistence patterns, but preliminary analysis may also suggest marrow extraction in combination with other strategies.Post-depositional taphonomic marks such as manganese staining suggest that post-HP and late HP deposits were significantly more affected by moisture than the early HP deposits. Previous investigations of large mammal data point to more closed environments in the early HP, while our data indicate that the environment in the late HP and post-HP was largely similar. In comparing our data to previously analysed micromammal proxy data, we show that major environmental changes at KRM occurred after the shift to post-HP lithic technology. However, the taphonomic data suggests a close relationship between changing subsistence strategies and the MIS4/3 transition.

Glacial-interglacial cycles are characteristic of the large-scale reorganisation of global climate during the Quaternary. Therefore, records of warmer-than-present periods, such as the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, draw particular interest as they may aid scientists to predict how marine ecosystems may change in the future. However, fish fossil records during such warming periods are less clear. Here, we aim to reconstruct local fish fauna during the MIS 5e by describing fossil otoliths from two localities in central Japan belonging to the Otsu Sand and Mud Member of the Yokosuka Formation. A total of 544 otoliths were analysed, revealing the presence of at least 35 taxa. The fish assemblages reflect a mixture of coastal to oceanic epi-mesopelagic species. In addition, the remarkable occurrences of two present-day tropical species and its species composition demonstrate a possible complex tropical to subtropical-like fish fauna in the higher latitude Palaeo-Tokyo Bay during the warmer-than-present last interglacial period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sediment core (YJK19-02) collected from the southern outlet of Hangzhou Bay near the Yongjiang River estuary in East China was analyzed for grain size, lignin, bulk elemental composition, stable carbon isotope, and rare earth elements (REEs) to determine the sources and diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter (OM) of the estuary and adjacent areas since the Late Pleistocene. δ13C values (−24.80‰–−23.60‰), total organic carbon/total nitrogen (TOC/TN) molar ratios (8.00–12.14), and light rare earth element/heavy rare earth element ratios (LREE/HREE=8.34–8.91) revealed the predominance of terrestrial sources of OM, mainly from the Changjiang (Yangtze) River. The lignin parameters of syringyl/vanillyl (S/V=0.20–0.73) and cinnamyl/vanillyl (C/V=0.03–0.19) ratios indicate the predominance of nonwoody angiosperms, and the vanillic acid/vanillin ratios [(Ad/Al)v=0.32–1.57] indicate medium to high degrees of lignin degradation. An increasing trend of Λ (total lignin in mg/100-mg OC) values from ca. 14 500 a BP to ca. 11 000 a BP reflected the increase in temperature during the Late Pleistocene. However, a time lag effect of temperature on vegetation abundance was also revealed. The relatively higher and stable Λ values correspond to the higher temperature during the mid-Holocene from ca. 8 500 a BP to ca. 4 500 a BP. Λ values decreased from ca. 4 000 a BP to the present, corresponding to historical temperature fluctuations during this time. Our results show that the vegetation abundance in the Yongjiang River Basin since the Late Pleistocene was related to the temperature fluctuation duo to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining operations in the Enmynveem valley, northeastern Siberia, exposed a well-preserved right hind leg of Mammuthus primigenius (woolly mammoth), dated to ca. 37,500 cal yr BP. The leg had a fracture that crosscut the midsections of the tibia and fibula. Additional skeletal and soft tissue remains, including two mummified adults (Berezovka, ca. 47,200 cal yr BP; Bolshoi Lyakhovsky, ca. 37,000 cal yr BP), document the presence of mammoths in interior mountain valleys and across both northern and southern coasts of far northeastern Siberia during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. A mosaic of herb-dominated tundra communities characterized the vegetation of the Enmynveem site during late to middle MIS 3 and MIS 2 (ca. 37,000–17,000 cal yr BP). Shrubs were limited to Salix during the late Pleistocene, whereas Betula also may have been present in sheltered sites during MIS 3. Herb communities remained dominant during the late Pleistocene–Early Holocene transition, although shrub Betula increased during this interval. By ca. 10,200 cal yr BP, the vegetation was Betula–Alnus shrub tundra. Larix and Pinus pumila were established in the valley by ca. 8700 cal yr BP and ca. 5700 cal yr BP, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ancient hair and remnant plant DNA are important environmental proxies that preserve for millennia in specific archaeological contexts. However, recovery has been rare from late Pleistocene sites and more may be found if deliberately sought. Once discovered, singular hair fragments are not easily identified to taxa through comparative analyses and environmental DNA (eDNA) extraction can be difficult depending on preservation or contamination. In this paper, we present our methods for the combined recovery of ancient hair specimens and eDNA from sediments to improve our understanding of late Pleistocene environments from the Holzman site along Shaw Creek in interior Alaska. The approach serves as a useful case study for learning more about local environmental changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Discovery of a late Pleistocene (∼13,300 cal BP) reef-building coral species (Pocillopora damicornis) at the prehistoric Huaca Prieta settlement in Peru raises the question of its origin. Did it arrive in northern Peru from tropical Ecuador via larval dispersal in south-flowing El Niño currents or over land by human trading? The Holocene distribution of Pocillopora in the eastern Pacific extends as far south as southern Ecuador and possibly northern Peru. The marine climate during the late Pleistocene was cooler and likely limited the occurrence of corals at today's latitudinal range. This suggests that overland or onshore transport was the most likely means of a southerly introduction, thus supporting interpretative models of early human movement along the Pacific coast of South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eastern Chukotka is considered a unique permafrost region where massive ice bodies are widespread. However, the origin and age of these ice formations are often discussed. The age of the massive ice of Chukotka was established for the first time using AMS 14C dating. It was revealed that three massive ice bodies on the coast of Mechigmen Bay were formed at the end of the Late Pleistocene: a) near the Akkani site, 21,612 to 22,147 cal BP; b) near the Lavrentiya settlement, 27,553 cal BP; and c) near the Lavrentiya settlement, 22,193 cal BP. Stable isotope values in the studied massive ice vary in a rather wide range by about 10‰ for δ18O values (from –14.8‰ to –24.5‰) and about 75‰ for the δ2H values (from –116‰ to –191‰). The studied massive ice bodies are of intrasedimental genesis and formed epigenetically during the final stage of MIS2 (22–27 cal ka BP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fires play a significant role in ecosystems, exerting a profound influence on climate, vegetation, and geochemical cycles, while being reciprocally affected by these factors. The reconstruction of past fire events serves as a valuable window into understanding environmental changes over time. To investigate the history of ancient fires on the Eastern Coast of China, we conducted the first charcoal analysis on a loess profile of Shengshan Island (East China Sea). Along with other biological and geochemical proxies, we successfully reconstructed the ancient fire dynamics and elucidated their driving mechanisms in this region since the Late Pleistocene. Our initial findings revealed a peak in charcoal concentration during the 60-50 ka period, but after calibrating for sedimentation rate, the concentration significantly decreased. Fire activities remained weak during 50- 30 ka, likely due to the scarcity of combustible materials. Between 30-12 ka, fires were frequent in the early period, while gradually diminishing during the later stage. Dry climate and dense vegetation likely attributed to frequent fires in early period, while some extreme events (e.g., sudden change in temperature) may have decreased the fire frequency in later period. The Holocene (began ~12 ka) evidenced the most frequent fire events as a high charcoal concentration was recorded, likely caused by human activities. After comparing our findings with other paleoecological records from surrounding areas, we confirmed the accuracy of our reconstruction of ancient fires. This reconstruction captures not only local shifts but also broader regional changes. Overall, our study highlights the importance of calibrating sedimentation rate in charcoal profiles, while also contributing to an enhanced understanding of environmental changes along the Eastern Coast of China since the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary goals of the palaeosciences is to produce robust understandings of palaeoecologies of extinct ecosystems. The time has arrived where such palaeoecologies can be significantly improved—agent-based models (ABMs) that synthesize our modern understandings of animal ecology with past conditions provide a unique opportunity for this. The Palaeo-Agulhas Plain (PAP), a now submerged landscape off the south coast of South Africa, formed a novel ecosystem during the lower sea levels of the Pleistocene. Here we provide a review of the utility of ABMs for understanding herbivores in prehistoric environments using the Paleoscape Model. The Paleoscape Model is fortunate to have features models of climate, geology and vegetation upon which we can understand how herbivores used the PAP environment. To incorporate aspects of herbivore behaviour and habitat suitability into the model requires analogies from extant systems. In addition to reconstructions of the availability of resources and associated risks, data on herbivore behaviour and physiology are imperative to our understanding of these systems. Behaviour, driven by changes in the environment, is interpreted by species, leading to selection of suitable habitats ultimately driving the herbivore's decisions within ABMs. Finally, we discuss herbivore integration into these models that can be used in numerous other scenarios (past, present and future). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating, the deposits of the crest (ridge) landforms in the Tobol–Ishim interfluve (southwestern part of the West Siberian Plain), foot slope colluvial deposits on the right-bank terrace of the Ishim River valley and the dune sands in the Tobol River valley and its tributaries have been studied for the first time. The OSL ages obtained for the first time indicate older ages of crest deposits, than previously assumed, from 33.5 ± 1.5 to 25.8 ± 1.3 ka. The formation of the foot slope colluvial cover on the right bank of the Ishim River valley began ~22 ± 2.0 ka ago. Dune pine forest sands in the Tobol River valley relate to the later stage of aeolian accumulation and were formed due to secondary wind reworking of the alluvial sediments of the first terrace above the floodplain in the Late Glacial–Holocene. The uniformity of depositional conditions over the entire area of the crest relief in the study territory is revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing interglacial marine environments helps us understand the climate change mechanisms of the past. To contribute to this body of knowledge, we studied a high-resolution 455 cm-thick sediment sequence of the Boreal (Eemian) marine beds directly overlying Moscovian (Saalian) moraine in the Bychye-2 section on the Pyoza River. We analyzed lithological and microfossil (foraminifers, ostracods, pollen, aquatic palynomorphs) variations at the studied site. Stratigraphical zonation is based on the local and well-established regional pollen zones, correlated with the western European pollen zones. The studied marine beds accumulated from the end of the Moscovian glacial (>131 ka) until ca. 119.5 ka. We distinguished three successive phases: a seasonally sea-ice-covered, relatively deep, freshened basin in the initial rapid flooding stage (>131–130.5 ka); a deep basin in the maximum flooding phase with less extensive sea ice cover (130.5–130.25 ka); and a shallow basin with reduced sea ice cover (130.25–119.5 ka). According to a pollen zone comparison with other sites, the regional glacioisostatic rebound started ca. 130 ka. The diverse warm-water assemblages of benthic foraminifers and ostracods containing typical Baltic Sea species occurred during the regression, mainly 128–124 ka, thus giving evidence for a relatively long-lasting connection between the White and Baltic Seas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The southeastern United States Coastal Plain ecosystem contains baldcypress (Taxodium distichum) swamps and grass‐dominated marshes. These ecosystems also occurred on the exposed continental shelf during lower sea levels but are rarely preserved due to the mechanically erosive nature of transgression and regression. Two presently marine sites on the northeastern Gulf of Mexico's continental shelf contain well‐preserved woody terrestrial sediments that were the subject of previous studies. This study continues the investigation using geochemical (δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) and palynological characteristics of these formerly terrestrial sediments to determine if swamps and/or marshes existed at the time of deposition. The first site is located ∼20 km southeast of Horn Island, Mississippi (MS) and the core has terrestrial sediments radiocarbon dated to 11,066–10,228 (2σ) calibrated years BP (early Holocene). The second site is the “Alabama Underwater Forest” located ∼13 km south of Gulf Shores, Alabama (AL) and the cores have terrestrial sediments optically stimulated luminescence dated to 63 ka (±10 ka, 2σ) to 72 ka (±16 ka, 2σ) (late Pleistocene). Geochemical results for the MS sediments indicate a swamp‐to‐freshwater marsh transitional series, whereas the AL sediments indicate a swamp‐to‐saltwater marsh transitional series, both supported by palynological results. Further exploration of the geochemical results using linear discriminant analysis, trained with published geochemical data, supports the swamp and marsh interpretations. We conclude that the near‐pristine preservation of these woody deposits is not solely due to physical mechanisms, such as rapid burial, but is also coupled with anoxia‐ and euxinia‐driven biogeochemical reactions promoting wood and woody debris preservation in swamp and marsh environments.

The palaeogeographic scheme of the distribution of glaciers and ice-dammed lakes in the Altai during the last global glaciation (MIS-2) was compiled based on a detailed large-scale geomorphological survey. Analysis of geomorphological traces of glaciers of this time indicates that they occupied smaller areas than those of the first Late Pleistocene glaciation. By this means, the ice dams created by them were smaller that resulted in small sizes of ice-dammed lakes. The preserved levels of terraces indicate that during the first Late Pleistocene glaciation in the Kurai-Chuya depression system the ancient lake was the only one with a level of 2250 m and a total volume of 1.70 km3. During the second Late Pleistocene glaciation in the south-east Gorny Altai, another separate lake existed which was the Bartal-Kurai Lake with a level of 1700 m and a volume of 45 km3. This lake was dammed by the Mashey Glacier, which descended from the northern slopes of the North Chuaya Range. In the Chuya Depression, the existence of a landslide-dammed lake with a volume of 0.7 km3 and a level 1.750 m has been found. Its formation was not associated with glaciers of the MIS-2 stage. Direct dating of the last ice-dammed lake in the Chuya Depression with a level of 1950 m and a volume of 140 km3 has not yet been determined. This lake was dammed by the Kuehtanar Glacier, which descended from the southern slope of the Kurai ridge. The volume of ice-dammed waters of the MIS-2 time was an order of magnitude smaller than it was in the first Late Quaternary glaciation. This explains the much lower intensity of erosive and accumulative processes associated with the mega-flood occurred due to the breakthrough of the lakes during MIS-2.

Objective The Changle-Zhao'an fault zone is one of the primary active faults running along the coast of the Fujian Province. This fault zone has induced several destructive earthquakes and is thus a principal seismogenic structure in the Fujian Province. Therefore, tight constraints on the Late Quaternary activity of the Changle-Zhao'an fault zone has significant significance. Methods Based on field survey along the Dongshan segment of the eastern branch of the Changle-Zhao'an fault in the Dongshan County, Fujian Province, the timing for the motion of this fault portion was determined to be between (34.8±8.3) ka and (48.0±3.5) ka by using K-feldspar luminescence dating of the strata above the fault break point and footwall. Results This indicates that the fault remained active since the Late Pleistocene. Furthermore, we estimated the potential maximum seismicity along the fault using the empirical relationship between magnitude (M) and fault dislocation (D). Conclusion Determination of a Late Pleistocene active fault, along with the estimate of the maximum earthquake magnitude, provides precise chronological evidence for understanding the activity of the Changle-Zhao'an fault zone. Our results thus serves as an important basis for conducting urban safety assessments in Dongshan County.

BackgroundGamma source irradiation is the most commonly used way at present for the equivalent dose (DE) determination of fossil samples in electron spin resonance (ESR) dating. However, it is facility-limited and time-consuming in many cases.PurposeThis study aims to establish the standardised growth curves (SGCs) of fossil enamel samples for determining the DE by ESR without gamma irradiation.MethodsFirst of all, we analyzed 20 tooth samples from the Late Pleistocene sites, and they exhibited similar dose response characteristics. Then, based on our preliminary work, we attempted to establish the SGCs of these Late Pleistocene fossil teeth using three different methods: (1) a simple method (fitting the natural dose points of fossil samples from Middle to Upper Pleistocene sites with exponential functions), (2) an average method (fitting the dose points with averaged ESR signal intensities), and (3) a representative sample method (establishing a SGC by using a representative sample). Finally, dose values obtained by each method were compared with those determined by the additive dose method (ADM).ResultsThe results of DE determined by the simple and average methods are close, with a deviation of less than 32% from the ADM results. The dose values obtained by SGC using the representative sample method generally agree with those of the ADM, with a deviation within 26%, which is the smallest among the three methods.ConclusionAlthough the uncertainties of the dose values obtained for the SGCs are not very close to those obtained using the ADM, it indicates the potential to quickly determine a more reasonable Dmax for irradiation, identify the possible intrusion of fossil samples, and analyze small or precious fossil samples.

Simple Summary: One of the main differences between the modern fauna of steppe and desert-steppe insects and the similar fauna of the Last Ice Age is the current leading position of darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae), which are represented in fossil faunas only by singletons. We hypothesize that the reason lies in the insufficient cold resistance of these insects for successful overwintering. We studied the cold resistance of adults from five species of darkling beetles from the Altai Mountains that overwinter in the soil and the larvae from one such species. The ranges of three of these are limited from the north by the desert-steppe margin of Central Asia with extremely low air temperatures. More than 50% of individuals of these species in the experiment did not withstand cooling below −22 °C. Temperatures in the soil of natural habitats at a depth of 10 cm are close to or lower than the above values. Overwintering is therefore possible in places with greater snow thickness (hollows, wind shade of shrubs and large cereals). Since darkling beetles are now on the border of temperature resistance in the Altai, they likely did not exist in the much more severe conditions of the glacial periods in the Altai Mountains, West Siberian Plain, and Northeast Asia. The level of diversity and abundance of darkling beetles (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) is the main difference between the late Pleistocene and modern insect faunas of arid regions. In the Pleistocene assemblages they are extremely rare, whereas in the modern ones they predominate. It is assumed that the reason for their rarity in fossil entomological complexes is their lack of cold resistance. The supercooling points (SCP) and low lethal temperatures (LLT) of adults from five species of Altai darkling beetles that overwinter in the soil and larvae from one such species were measured in the laboratory. All beetles supercooled at negative temperatures but could not survive freezing, with the average SCP of the most cold-resistant species between −25.7 and −21.7 °C (Bioramix picipes, Anatolica dashidorzsi, and Penthicus altaicus). However, 50% of the individuals from different species in the experiment died after exposure during two days at temperatures ranging from −22 to −20 °C. The focal species are distributed in parts of Central Asia with an extreme continental climate, and the temperatures measured in the soil of these natural areas turned out to be lower than or close to the limit of cold resistance of the beetles. Overwintering of darkling beetles is therefore only possible in areas with deep snow: in hollows, under bushes, and under large cereals. Darkling beetles with poor cold resistance could not have existed in the colder climate of the late Pleistocene, which explains their absence from fossil fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 13C and 15N isotope contents in bone collagen were analyzed using bones of the small cave bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) rossicus Borissak, 1930 from localities in the Middle and Southern Urals. The bones date from the last interglacial (MIS 5) and glacial (MIS 3) periods. The bones were from males and females aged 3, 4, and >4 years. Sexual, geographical, and chronological differences in 13C and 15N contents were studied. Notable gender, geographic, and chronological differences were observed between samples. In the Middle Urals, females led a more predatory lifestyle than males during the interglacial period, and the trophic niches of males and females converged due to an increase in herbivory during the transition to the glacial period. In the Southern Urals, males led a more predatory lifestyle than in the Middle Urals during the interglacial period. The extent of changes in δ13C and δ15N values in the Southern Urals during the transition was found to correspond to differences between trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A spore and pollen research was performed for the first time to study the contents of the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) and sediments containing frozen mummies of the fossil Don hare from the Upper Pleistocene ice complex of the Verkhoyansk district of Yakutia. Radiocarbon dating (C14) revealed that the hares lived during the Karginian Interstadial of the Late Pleistocene, 32.5 thousand years ago (calibrated date). The results expanded the understanding of the ecology of extinct Lepus tanaiticus. The species was assumed to live in cold steppes dominated by xerophytic communities, as well as in grass-forb and sedge-forb meadows. Herbaceous plants mostly constituted the winter diet of Don hare in contrast to the modern mountain hare L. timidus, which feeds mainly on branches and bark of trees and shrubs in winter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 13C and 15N isotope contents in collagen were determined in bones of the small cave bear Ursus (Spelaearctos) rossicus Borissiak, 1930 from three regions of Western Siberia. The bones dated back to marine isotope stage (MIS) 3 and belonged to mature males and females. Some of the samples differed only in δ15N. Bears of all samples were from the same trophic level. Trophic shifts were observed between females and males in one region and between males of two regions. The small cave bear of Western Siberia differed from the small cave bear of the Southern Urals in leading a much more predatory lifestyle. The extent of differences between the Ural and Siberian bears corresponded to different trophic levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New and generalized published data on the structure, age, and formation stages of deposits of the mantle and alluvial genetic complexes of the first terrace of rivers in the Selenga drainage basin are presented. The sections of the terrace of the Bryanka River in the Bryansk Depression, the Arshan River in the Khilok–Chikoi Depression, and the Shivert-Gol River in the Boro-Gol River basin in Mongolia are described. Information on the terrace structure and on the composition and absolute (radiocarbon) age of deposits is obtained. The first terrace 4–9 (15) m high above low water level is distinguished in the Selenga drainage basin. Large differences in the structure and composition of the terrace deposits depend on the morphology of the river valleys, water discharges, and the structural and tectonic conditions of the river basins. It has been established that the accumulation of sediments of the first river terrace in the Selenga basin began at the end of the Late Pleistocene. The channel, floodplain, and oxbow alluvium facies are distinguished. Channel alluvium was accumulated 30–15 cal kyr BP, and the accumulation of floodplain alluvium occurred during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene (15–8 cal kyr BP). The alluvium is overlain by Holocene sediments of the mantle genetic complex of different composition, genesis, and age reaching 3.5 m in thickness. It has been revealed that the first terrace of rivers in the Selenga drainage basin was formed in the Early Holocene (11.3–8 cal kyr BP) as a result of incising of the rivers during high floods. The chronological stages of sedimentation and soil formation have been identified. There was a long stage of soil formation 7–2 (0) cal kyr BP after the alluvium accumulation stop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ever since the discovery of the first remains of Macrauchenia patachonica by Charles Darwin in 1834, this taxon has puzzled researchers with its peculiar anatomy. Being the best-known member of the family Macraucheniidae and with fossil records in extensive areas of South America between the Middle to Late Pleistocene/earliest Holocene, M. patachonica has been extensively studied over decades, and recently even included in molecular studies. However, there are some elements of its skeleton that have been inadvertently unstudied. One of these elements is the atlas of M. patachonica that due to a misidentification made 159 years ago by the prominent zoologist Hermann Burmeister, was not examined or illustrated by later researchers even with access to excellent specimens. Here, we describe and illustrate the atlas of M. patachonica for the first time, correcting Burmeister’s mistake. Overall, the anatomy of the atlas of M. patachonica is consistent with the anatomy of older macraucheniids. The atlas described by Burmeister as being M. patachonica probably corresponds to that of a bovid. It is noteworthy that most mounted skeletons of M. patachonica present today in museum exhibitions, display a correct atlas derived from a more complete specimen discovered ca. 1904 by the prominent palaeontologist Santiago Roth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of pedogenetic studies conducted on soddy-podzolic soils in Gryazovets district of Vologda oblast are presented. The modern soils of the study area are represented by soddy-podzolic soils (Albic Retisols) developed from loamy parent rocks with paleocryogenic features. The role of paleocryolithogenesis in the formation and evolution of modern soddy-podzolic soils in the northeast of the East European Plain is discussed. The considered set of paleocryolithopedogenic processes and paleofeatures in modern zonal soddy-podzolic soils allows us to reconstruct the conditions of soil formation in the periglacial area of the Valdai glaciation. The results obtained have expanded the understanding of the influence of the Late Pleistocene cryogenesis and lithogenesis on the evolution of modern soddy-podzolic soils. It is discussed that paleocryolithogenic soil combinations resulting from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene cryolithogenesis and pedogenesis can be distinguished in the soil cover patterns in the northern part of the East European Plain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting roughly 50,000 years ago, the Arctic region of East Siberia remained continuously populated by groups of anatomically modern humans including the most uncomfortable episodes in the development of the late Quaternary environment; for some of them, human presence in the area became ephemeral. At present, archaeological fossil records allow for distinguishing three main stages in human occupation of the area: Early (~50 to ~29 ka, MIS 3), middle (~29 to ~11.7 ka, MIS 2), and late (from 11.7 to ~8 ka). For most of the time, they the populated open landscapes of the Mammoth Steppe, which declined at the onset of the Holocene. Human settlement of the Arctic was driven by various abiotic and biotic factors and thus archaeologically visible cardinal cultural and technological changes correspond to the most important paleoclimatic and habitat changes in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. Successful peopling of the Arctic was largely facilitated by the adoption of critically important innovations such as sewing technology based on the use of the eyed bone needle and the manufacture of long shafts and pointed implements made of mammoth tusks. Mammoth exploitation is seen in mass accumulations of mammoths formed by hunting. An obvious connection between archaeological materials and such accumulations is observed in the archaeological record. In the lithic technology, the early stage is presented by archaic-looking flake industries. Starting the LGM, the wedge-core based-microblade technology known as the Beringian microblade tradition spread widely following the shrinkage of the mammoth range. At the late stage, starting at the Holocene boundary, microprismatic blade technology occurs. In all stages, the complex social behavior of the ancient Arctic settlers is revealed. The long-distance transport of products, knowledge, and genes occurs due to the introduction of the land transportation system. Initial human settlement of this region is associated with carriers of the West Eurasian genome who became replaced by the population with East Asian ancestry constantly moving North under the pressure of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on the content of 13C and 15N isotopes in the collagen of bones of the Ural cave bear (Ursus (S.) kanivetz Verestchagin, 1973) from the North and Middle Urals were analyzed. The bones date from the first half of MIS 3. The bones of newborn individuals, individuals aged 1 year, males and females aged 2, 3, and 4 years, and older than 4 years were studied. Differences in δ13С values between age, sex, and geographical samples are not significant. With age, the value of δ15N significantly decreases, which is associated with weaning from milk nutrition to independent nutrition. The proportion of meat food in the diet of adult bears in the Middle Urals was higher than in the diet of adult bears in the North Urals. There are no noticeable differences in isotope signatures between males and females of different ages. The large cave bears of the Urals and Europe had a similar type of diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]