Pub Date : 2024-02-17DOI: 10.1177/09596836241231437
Diego D Rindel, Bruno F Moscardi, Virginia A Cobos, Florencia Gordón
In this paper we study the relationships between plants and extinct megafauna by examining the characteristics of the vegetation in the central region of Argentina (i.e. Espinal, Monte, and Chaco phytogeographic regions). First, we study the size, shape, quantity, and characteristics of fruits and seeds. We also evaluate the presence of mechanical (spinescence and wood density) and chemical (secondary metabolic compounds) defenses against high rates of herbivory. Complementarily, we assess the importance these plants had for human populations, using archeological, ethnographic, and current data. A high percentage of the analyzed plants met the criteria proposed for fruits and seeds dispersed by megafauna, together with a high frequency of spinescence, high density woods, and secondary metabolites. We propose that these traits cannot be explained by the herbivory pressure of extant fauna in the area, but rather developed in interaction with currently extinct fauna. We suggest that Pleistocene megafaunal extinction had important consequences in the region due to their role as ecosystem engineers and to vegetation’s characteristics, which were probably strongly shaped by megafauna activities. Among these consequences, we discuss the loss of certain interactions between these animals and vegetation, such as loss of seed dispersal mechanisms, shrub invasion, and increased susceptibility of vegetation to fire. Other effects for hunter-gatherer groups were the generation of highly regulated mobility patterns and the formation of barriers for the dispersal of prey. Finally, we also discuss the importance of these plants for human populations as food, construction material, medicines and firewood. Likewise, the role of humans as “heirs” of the megafauna in the propagation of tree and shrub species is highlighted.
{"title":"Central Argentina vegetation characteristics linked to extinct megafauna and some implications on human populations","authors":"Diego D Rindel, Bruno F Moscardi, Virginia A Cobos, Florencia Gordón","doi":"10.1177/09596836241231437","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836241231437","url":null,"abstract":"In this paper we study the relationships between plants and extinct megafauna by examining the characteristics of the vegetation in the central region of Argentina (i.e. Espinal, Monte, and Chaco phytogeographic regions). First, we study the size, shape, quantity, and characteristics of fruits and seeds. We also evaluate the presence of mechanical (spinescence and wood density) and chemical (secondary metabolic compounds) defenses against high rates of herbivory. Complementarily, we assess the importance these plants had for human populations, using archeological, ethnographic, and current data. A high percentage of the analyzed plants met the criteria proposed for fruits and seeds dispersed by megafauna, together with a high frequency of spinescence, high density woods, and secondary metabolites. We propose that these traits cannot be explained by the herbivory pressure of extant fauna in the area, but rather developed in interaction with currently extinct fauna. We suggest that Pleistocene megafaunal extinction had important consequences in the region due to their role as ecosystem engineers and to vegetation’s characteristics, which were probably strongly shaped by megafauna activities. Among these consequences, we discuss the loss of certain interactions between these animals and vegetation, such as loss of seed dispersal mechanisms, shrub invasion, and increased susceptibility of vegetation to fire. Other effects for hunter-gatherer groups were the generation of highly regulated mobility patterns and the formation of barriers for the dispersal of prey. Finally, we also discuss the importance of these plants for human populations as food, construction material, medicines and firewood. Likewise, the role of humans as “heirs” of the megafauna in the propagation of tree and shrub species is highlighted.","PeriodicalId":517388,"journal":{"name":"The Holocene","volume":"41 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139957112","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-30DOI: 10.1177/09596836231225720
R Scott Anderson, Nathalie Dubois, Erik T Brown, Mona Stockhecke, Ronald Johnson
An array of lake sediment proxies including paleobotanic, geochemical, and historical records has been used to determine former environments of Bugbee Pond, a small, mesotrophic pond in northeastern Minnesota. Much research has been produced on the history of climate and vegetation change of the region, yet we have little information on the impact of human settlement. This well-dated, high resolution, multi-proxy record is important for its length and concentration on the historic period. The lake itself became established by ~7000 years ago. Pollen evidence suggests a transition between the regional Prairie Period to the Great Lakes mixed conifer – hardwood forest was established in the region at this time. XRF data suggest dry basin accumulation early in the record after ~7000 cal yr BP, but lake levels substantially increased by ~5600 cal yr BP, during a regionwide climatic transition to more humid conditions. Birch and boreal conifers increased after about 3800 cal yr BP; further increases in boreal conifers occurred by ~2000 cal yr BP. Anthropogenic vegetation changes during the Historic period, beginning in the late 19th century, is well represented by forest clearance of white pine ( Pinus strobus), followed by increases in early successional species and an increased sediment accumulation rate due to land clearance. Establishment of farming communities locally are shown by occurrence of corn ( Zea mays) and oat ( Avena sativa) pollen, and pasturing and grazing are documented by Rumex, Fabaceae and Poaceae pollen, as well as coprophilous fungi, such as Sordaria. The increase and subsequent decline in Pb and S concentrations in the uppermost sediments are mirrored by historically documented, nearby industrial activities.
{"title":"Development of a landscape in NE Minnesota, from the Early Holocene to forest-harvesting, agriculture and industry","authors":"R Scott Anderson, Nathalie Dubois, Erik T Brown, Mona Stockhecke, Ronald Johnson","doi":"10.1177/09596836231225720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836231225720","url":null,"abstract":"An array of lake sediment proxies including paleobotanic, geochemical, and historical records has been used to determine former environments of Bugbee Pond, a small, mesotrophic pond in northeastern Minnesota. Much research has been produced on the history of climate and vegetation change of the region, yet we have little information on the impact of human settlement. This well-dated, high resolution, multi-proxy record is important for its length and concentration on the historic period. The lake itself became established by ~7000 years ago. Pollen evidence suggests a transition between the regional Prairie Period to the Great Lakes mixed conifer – hardwood forest was established in the region at this time. XRF data suggest dry basin accumulation early in the record after ~7000 cal yr BP, but lake levels substantially increased by ~5600 cal yr BP, during a regionwide climatic transition to more humid conditions. Birch and boreal conifers increased after about 3800 cal yr BP; further increases in boreal conifers occurred by ~2000 cal yr BP. Anthropogenic vegetation changes during the Historic period, beginning in the late 19th century, is well represented by forest clearance of white pine ( Pinus strobus), followed by increases in early successional species and an increased sediment accumulation rate due to land clearance. Establishment of farming communities locally are shown by occurrence of corn ( Zea mays) and oat ( Avena sativa) pollen, and pasturing and grazing are documented by Rumex, Fabaceae and Poaceae pollen, as well as coprophilous fungi, such as Sordaria. The increase and subsequent decline in Pb and S concentrations in the uppermost sediments are mirrored by historically documented, nearby industrial activities.","PeriodicalId":517388,"journal":{"name":"The Holocene","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139957109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-29DOI: 10.1177/09596836231219474
Ashleigh J Rogers, Marshall I Weisler
Through unfamiliar and at times marginal environments, successful colonisation of the Pacific Islands relied upon the introduction of domesticated flora and fauna as well as widespread burning to reduce forests and lowland vegetation for agricultural production. These transformations led to the extinction of avifauna, the reduction of forests, and extensive slope erosion and sedimentation into valleys and along shorelines. To date, most attention has been paid to human-induced changes to the terrestrial landscape. In this paper we present the archaeomalacological results from the deeply stratified coastal Kawela Mound, one of the oldest habitation sites in the Hawaiian Islands, with occupation beginning during the 12th century AD. We describe how anthropogenic change of the terrestrial landscape caused sediment run-off, increased shoreline turbidity, and progradation of the adjacent shoreline altering marine habitats, which is recorded in the diversity, size, and habitat preference of food shellfish harvested over nearly eight centuries. The construction of ancient stone-walled fishponds along the littoral shore provided an artificial rocky habitat for shellfish otherwise uncommon along the sandy coast. Consequently, AMS dated layers containing these shellfish provide an indirect avenue for determining the chronology of stone-walled fishponds, the construction of which was directed under the aegis of elites and thus one of the hallmarks of increasing social complexity during the last two centuries before Contact in the late 18th century.
{"title":"Terrestrial cultural landscapes changed inshore marine ecosystems: Eight centuries of shellfish harvesting from the Kawela Mound site, Hawaiian Islands","authors":"Ashleigh J Rogers, Marshall I Weisler","doi":"10.1177/09596836231219474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836231219474","url":null,"abstract":"Through unfamiliar and at times marginal environments, successful colonisation of the Pacific Islands relied upon the introduction of domesticated flora and fauna as well as widespread burning to reduce forests and lowland vegetation for agricultural production. These transformations led to the extinction of avifauna, the reduction of forests, and extensive slope erosion and sedimentation into valleys and along shorelines. To date, most attention has been paid to human-induced changes to the terrestrial landscape. In this paper we present the archaeomalacological results from the deeply stratified coastal Kawela Mound, one of the oldest habitation sites in the Hawaiian Islands, with occupation beginning during the 12th century AD. We describe how anthropogenic change of the terrestrial landscape caused sediment run-off, increased shoreline turbidity, and progradation of the adjacent shoreline altering marine habitats, which is recorded in the diversity, size, and habitat preference of food shellfish harvested over nearly eight centuries. The construction of ancient stone-walled fishponds along the littoral shore provided an artificial rocky habitat for shellfish otherwise uncommon along the sandy coast. Consequently, AMS dated layers containing these shellfish provide an indirect avenue for determining the chronology of stone-walled fishponds, the construction of which was directed under the aegis of elites and thus one of the hallmarks of increasing social complexity during the last two centuries before Contact in the late 18th century.","PeriodicalId":517388,"journal":{"name":"The Holocene","volume":"50 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-01-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139957114","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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