Article
Plant Sciences
Louis Scott, Graciela Gil-Romera, Eugene Marais, George A. Brook
Summary: Fossil pollen and geochemical sequences from hyrax dung deposits in rock shelters along the eastern margin of the central Namib Desert provide insights into the Holocene environmental history of Namibia. The study reveals relatively humid conditions during the early Holocene, followed by stepwise changes and the development of a different climatic regime later on. The transition from even seasonal rainfall to a late Holocene summer rainfall regime may be attributed to variations in austral summer and winter solar insolation. These climate changes could have been influenced by total solar irradiance and their impact on sea surface temperatures in the Southeast Atlantic and Southwest Indian Ocean, affecting rainfall patterns in southern Africa.
REVIEW OF PALAEOBOTANY AND PALYNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sarah J. Ivory, Kenneth L. Cole, R. Scott Anderson, Andrew Anderson, Joy McCorriston
Summary: The study used fossil pollen and stable isotopes of rock hyrax middens from Wadi Sana, Yemen to investigate changes in ecosystem structure and function in southern Arabia from 6 ka to present. Results showed a landscape with abundant tropical trees during the mid-Holocene, with species like Terminalia and Boswellia sacra playing key roles in local hydrology and economy. Increased charcoal abundances suggest periodic wildfires, and a transition to desert conditions after 1 ka was indicated by increased sedge abundances.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yael Goll, Camille Bordes, Yishai A. Weissman, Inbar Shnitzer, Rosanne Beukeboom, Amiyaal Ilany, Lee Koren, Eli Geffen
Summary: Males and females in the rock hyrax population exhibit different patterns of leadership. In moderate risk situations, younger resident males are more likely to take leadership roles, while males with lower centrality status are more likely to lead during acute predation scenarios. In contrast, leadership among group females is more evenly distributed.
Article
Geography, Physical
Kaitlyn E. Horisk, Sarah J. Ivory, Joy Mccorriston, Molly Mchale, Ali Al Mehri, Andrew Anderson, R. Scott Anderson, Ali Ahmad Al Kathiri
Summary: Arid regions are highly susceptible to climate change and land use, and paleoecological and archaeological records provide valuable insights into vegetation responses and human impact. A study conducted in Dhofar, Oman, using rock hyrax middens as a proxy for environmental indicators revealed changes in vegetation, moisture levels, and fire over the past 4000 years. The research also suggested that human activity intensified after the transition to a drier environment.
QUATERNARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ny Riavo G. Voarintsoa, Antsa Lal'Aina J. Ratovonanahary, Avotriniaina Z. M. Rakotovao, Steven Bouillon
Summary: This study monitored Anjohibe Cave in NW Madagascar to understand the link between regional climatological changes and cave responses. The results show fast air-to-air transfer, delayed signal transfer from rainfall to drip water, and CaCO3 precipitation during winter-summer transition. The findings suggest that drip waters in Anjohibe Cave are capable of registering changes in the surrounding environment, which is important for reconstructing paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental changes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Computer Science, Theory & Methods
Saurabh Singhal, Ashish Sharma
Summary: The paper proposes a reliable and comprehensive scheduling approach based on meta-heuristic to address the issues of job scheduling in cloud computing. The algorithm imitates the behavior of Rock Hyrax optimization for job scheduling in dynamic and heterogeneous cloud environments, considering quality of service parameters. Results show that the proposed algorithm can lower makespan time by 5-15% and reduce energy consumption by 4-12%.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Niklas Merz, Alexander Hubig, Thomas Kleinen, Steffen Therre, Georg Kaufmann, Norbert Frank
Summary: This study presents a shape modeling approach to simulate stalagmite growth by combining three existing models. The model accurately captures the growth trend and basic phenomena of stalagmites. The coupling of input parameters with climate models contributes to a better understanding of important climate archives.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zoltan Kern, Aurel Persoiu
Summary: Over 141 million meters of ice cores have been extracted from 20 cave ice deposits worldwide, with most drilling projects focusing on caves in Central Europe. However, the publication of non-European cave ice cores in 2020 suggests that there will be an increasing number of drilling projects in other geographical areas with ice caves. The most commonly encountered technical challenge in ice-core drilling in cave environments is the presence of rocky/woody debris. To address the complex stratigraphy of cave ice deposits, we propose the Cave Ice Sedimentary Architecture and Deposition (CISAD) approach, which takes into consideration the peculiarities of the investigated cave ice deposit and additional crucial meta-data to determine the best-suited drilling site for obtaining high-quality paleoenvironmental data.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Charlotte K. Hemelrijk, Lauren Seex, Matteo Pederboni, Amiyaal Ilany, Eli Geffen, Lee Koren
Summary: Competition among group-living animals often leads to a dominance hierarchy, with larger individuals dominating smaller ones. However, in some species, despite being smaller, females dominate several males. This study investigated the association between female dominance and the percentage of males in a group using data from rock hyrax groups. The results support the hypothesis that the winner-loser effect contributes to female dominance over males, and that the association between male percentage and female dominance requires multiple males in the group.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Geology
Christine Perrin, Charlotte Honiat, Laurent Prestimonaco
Summary: The stalagmite from Moulis Cave in France provides insights into the paleohydrological history and climate changes in the region from the last interglacial to the Holocene. The study reveals variations in growth rate and water saturation, indicating different climatic conditions and infiltration events during different periods.
SEDIMENTARY GEOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Vicente Bayarri, Alfredo Prada, Francisco Garcia
Summary: By integrating geomatics remote sensing technologies, this study provides a comprehensive 3D mapping of the Altamira Cave in Spain, including cave interior and exterior topography as well as nearby discontinuities and karst features. The use of ground penetrating radar confirms the fluid exchange between the cave's interior and exterior, highlighting its significance for site conservation.
Article
Geography, Physical
Michael R. Waters, Joshua L. Keene, Elton R. Prewitt, Mark E. Everett, Tyler Laughlin, Thomas W. Stafford
Summary: Hall's Cave in Texas contains a sediment record dating from the Last Glacial Maximum through the Holocene, showing correlations with environmental and climatic shifts over the past 20,000 years. The sediments preserve well-documented paleontological and paleoecological records, as well as an archaeological record from approximately 10,500 years ago to the Historic period. Human use of the cave was episodic and linked to environmental factors, with evidence of increasing use throughout the Holocene.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Bharat Kumar Padhi, Sujata Chakravarty, Bighnaraj Naik, Radha Mohan Pattanayak, Himansu Das
Summary: This paper proposes a novel feature selection approach based on a metaheuristic algorithm, which outperforms existing methods in improving credit card fraud transaction identification. The proposed approach is proven to be more efficient through comparative analysis.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhi-Qiang Li, Yiguo Xue, Guangkun Li, Daohong Qiu, Lei Xu, Qiushi Liu, Kang Fu
Summary: This study proposes a method for determining the thickness of water-resistant rock mass, and verifies and discusses its accuracy and applicability through two engineering cases. The results show that the calculation results considering the probability parameters of rock mass are consistent with the actual reserved values. Finally, practical application suggestions are put forward to distinguish water inrush risk levels and effectively guide construction as part of safety management.
PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
F. Salmon, D. Lacanette, H. Lharti, C. Sirieix
Summary: The conservation of prehistorical painted caves is a significant issue for human history. The conventional uni-dimensional homogeneous model used to solve the problem is not precise enough to describe rock masses. This study reveals the importance of considering factors such as radiation, convection, and water evaporation in determining ground temperature and proposes a mathematical assumption to ensure energy conservation. The findings suggest that the heterogeneity of rock masses in the Lascaux Cave needs to be thermally investigated for better preservation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nassima Yahiaoui, Bouhameur Mansour, Christos Katrantsiotis, Jan Risberg, Paula J. Reimer, M'hammed Mahboubi
Summary: This study analyzed fossil diatoms and litho-stratigraphic changes in the Guern El Loulailet depressions in the northern Algerian Sahara. The findings provide evidence for two Holocene lacustrine episodes related to the African Humid Period. The study suggests that the main drivers of the African Humid Period were the northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and expansion of summer monsoonal rains.
JOURNAL OF PALEOLIMNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
T. J. Heaton, E. Bard, C. Bronk Ramsey, M. Butzin, C. Hatte, K. A. Hughen, P. Koehler, P. J. Reimer
Summary: The concentrations of radiocarbon (C-14) in the oceans differ from those in the atmosphere. Understanding these differences is important for dating samples from the marine environment and studying the carbon cycle. The Marine20 radiocarbon age calibration curve provides a global surface ocean record of radiocarbon from 55,000-0 cal yr BP, accounting for oceanic response to atmospheric C-14 variations and known changes in palaeoclimatic variables. Marine20 is an improvement over the previous Marine13 curve and includes guidelines for calibration and estimating regional oceanic C-14 variation.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhengchuang Hui, Jia Liu, Manuel Chevalier, Xiao Wei, Peng Chen, Jun Zhang, Tingjiang Peng, Xuewen Zhou
Summary: Understanding the evolution of the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) at different time scales is important for revealing the interactions between the hydrosphere, land, oceans, and atmosphere. By studying the late Miocene period, researchers have reconstructed the EASM precipitation and found that it is influenced by global climate and the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau. Additionally, on orbital time scales, the eccentricity periodicity plays a dominant role in the EASM precipitation cycles.
Article
Geography, Physical
Saul Manzano, Lynne J. Quick, Brian M. Chase, M. Timm Hoffman, Lindsey Gillson
Summary: Mediterranean environments are biodiversity hotspots where winter rainfall regimes and fire drive ecosystem dynamics. Predicted changes in rainfall patterns may result in major community structure changes. This study provides a 1100-year palaeoecological reconstruction, revealing that long-term vegetation dynamics are influenced by fluctuations in rainfall seasonality.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sabine Prader, Lindsey Gillson, Brian M. Chase, M. Timm Hoffman
Summary: Fynbos and afrotemperate forest coexist as stable states in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa. In recent decades, there has been an expansion of afrotemperate forest in parts of Table Mountain National Park. This study aimed to investigate the drivers of this change and determine whether it is a recovery from previous forest clearance or a result of fire suppression policies. Analysis of sediments from Orange Kloof revealed fluctuations in forest cover over the past 3690 years, influenced by climate and human activities. The expansion of forest in the 20th century is likely due to fire suppression and recovery from past clearance, calling for appropriate fire management to prevent further expansion.
Article
Archaeology
Gerard T. Barrett, Kerry Allen, Paula J. Reimer, Asa Ringbom, Jesper Olsen, Alf Lindroos
Summary: Ramped pyrolysis radiocarbon dating was performed on lime lumps extracted from the oldest remains of Turku Cathedral in Finland. The results revealed an age range in the late 13th century AD, which aligns with historical sources and previous dating work. This study demonstrates the reliability and repeatability of ramped pyrolysis as a technique for dating mortar.
JOURNAL OF CULTURAL HERITAGE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
N. N. Seregin, S. Svyatko, G. T. Barrett, M. A. Demin, S. S. Matrenin, D. Papin, P. J. Reimer
Summary: The study attempts to establish the chronology of the Bulan-Koby culture objects by correlating AMS C-14 data with archaeological dating methods. It demonstrates strong agreement between the indicators obtained by archaeological and radiocarbon methods, suggesting chronological consistency of the necropolis during the Great Migration Period. The combination of these techniques will allow for more precise chronologies for other archaeological complexes in the region.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carmen Esposito, Melania Gigante, Federico Lugli, Pasquale Miranda, Claudio Cavazzuti, Alessandra Sperduti, Marco Pacciarelli, Simon Stoddart, Paula Reimer, Caroline Malone, Luca Bondioli, Wolfgang Mueller
Summary: The Early Iron Age in Italy saw significant changes that influenced the political and cultural landscape of the peninsula. Settlements by people from the eastern Mediterranean had an impact on Italy, Sardinia, and Sicily. The Villanovan culture, particularly in central and southern Italy, played a leading role in interaction with diverse groups. This study examines human mobility in Fermo during the Early Iron Age using archaeological, osteological, and isotope data, shedding light on connectivity dynamics in Italian frontier sites.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Dylan M. Young, Andy J. Baird, Paul J. Morris, Greta C. Dargie, Y. Emmanuel Mampouya Wenina, Mackline Mbemba, Arnoud Boom, Peter Cook, Richard Betts, Eleanor Burke, Yannick E. Bocko, Sarah Chadburn, Dafydd E. Crabtree, Bart Crezee, Corneille E. N. Ewango, Yannick Garcin, Selena Georgiou, Nicholas T. Girkin, Pauline Gulliver, Donna Hawthorne, Suspense A. Ifo, Ian T. Lawson, Susan E. Page, A. Jonay Jovani-Sancho, Enno Schefuss, Matteo Sciumbata, Sofie Sjogersten, Simon L. Lewis
Summary: Peatlands in the central Congo Basin have accumulated carbon over millennia. A new model reveals the relationship between the age and depth of peat and identifies two key controls on peat accumulation. The study also highlights the catastrophic loss of peat carbon that can occur due to changes in rainfall.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
T. Laepple, E. Ziegler, N. Weitzel, R. Hebert, B. Ellerhoff, P. Schoch, B. Martrat, O. Bothe, E. Moreno-Chamarro, M. Chevalier, A. Herbert, K. Rehfeld
Summary: Knowledge of natural climate variability is crucial for assessing future climate trajectories. Discrepancies between model simulations and proxy reconstructions exist at both regional and global scales. These discrepancies are primarily due to deficiencies in climate models. Additionally, regional climate variations may persist for longer timescales than currently simulated. Improving the simulation of natural variability in climate models and refining proxy-based inferences are necessary.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Daniel Fuks, Niamh O'Neill-Munro, Paula J. Reimer, Tali Erickson-Gini, Guy Bar-Oz, Roy Galili, Scott Bucking
Summary: Archaeological dung pellets provide valuable information about ancient herbivore diets and gut flora. This study focuses on improving the methods used to analyze these pellets and how to date them while preserving enough material for additional analyses. Through experiments with different pretreatments, the researchers found that certain factors, such as sample preservation and size, affect the success of the pretreatments. They also discovered that shavings from the outer surface of the pellets can be used for radiocarbon dating, which adds to the potential of multi-proxy coprolite analysis.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Florian Adolphi, William Austin, Edouard Bard, Alex Bayliss, Maarten Blaauw, Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards, Michael Friedrich, Timothy Heaton, Alan Hogg, Quan Hua, Konrad Hughen, Bernd Kromer, Sturt Manning, Raimund Muscheler, Jonathan Palmer, Charlotte Pearson, Paula Reimer, Ron Reimer, David Richards, Marian Scott, John Southon, Chris Turney, Lukas Wacker
Summary: The IntCal family of radiocarbon calibration curves, based on over three decades of research, has collated C-14 and calendar age data and made them available through an open-access database since 2010. The aim is to provide transparency in terms of the data used in constructing the calibration curves.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
T. J. Heaton, M. Butzin, E. Bard, C. Bronk Ramsey, K. A. Hughen, P. Koehler, P. J. Reimer
Summary: The Marine20 radiocarbon calibration curve and earlier curves must be used cautiously for calibrating marine C-14 samples from polar regions during glacial periods. We propose an approach that accounts for localized glacial C-14 depletion in polar oceans and provides calibrated age estimates for glacial C-14 samples in high- and low-depletion scenarios.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ulrike Herzschuh, Thomas Boehmer, Chenzhi Li, Manuel Chevalier, Raphael Hebert, Anne Dallmeyer, Xianyong Cao, Nancy H. Bigelow, Larisa Nazarova, Elena Y. Novenko, Jungjae Park, Odile Peyron, Natalia A. Rudaya, Frank Schluetz, Lyudmila S. Shumilovskikh, Pavel E. Tarasov, Yongbo Wang, Ruilin Wen, Qinghai Xu, Zhuo Zheng
Summary: In this study, LegacyClimate 1.0 dataset is described, which reconstructs the mean July temperature (T-July), mean annual temperature (T-ann), and annual precipitation (P-ann) using 2594 fossil pollen records from the Northern Hemisphere throughout the Holocene period. Two reconstruction methods, the modern analog technique (MAT) and weighted averaging partial least squares regression (WA-PLS), show similar spatial and temporal patterns. To improve the accuracy of the reconstructions, customized reconstructions using modern pollen data are provided to reduce the impact of precipitation on temperature reconstruction, and vice versa. The dataset is useful for synthesis studies, evaluating climate models, and improving the models themselves.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Manuel Chevalier, Anne Dallmeyer, Nils Weitzel, Chenzhi Li, Jean-Philippe Baudouin, Ulrike Herzschuh, Xianyong Cao, Andreas Hense
Summary: Comparing temporal and spatial vegetation changes requires carefully selecting an appropriate evaluation metric, such as the Earth mover's distance (EMD), to quantify the mismatch between vegetation distributions. This approach overcomes the limitation of summarizing data into unary estimates and considers the entire range of affinity scores to calculate the distance between compared entities. The EMD and statistical tests introduced in this study provide a more refined interpretation of past vegetation changes.
CLIMATE OF THE PAST
(2023)