Article
Geography, Physical
Karlyn S. Westover, Jeffery R. Stone, Chad L. Yost, Jennifer J. Scott, Andrew S. Cohen, Nathan M. Rabideaux, Mona Stockhecke, John D. Kingston
Summary: The sediment cores obtained from the Baringo Basin in Kenya show significant changes in lake hydrology during the late Pliocene, resulting in the deposition of various sediments, which can be identified by diatom assemblages.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Lydia Olaka, Cynthia J. Ebinger
Summary: As dynamic processes in the Earth's mantle stretch and thin the African plate, broad plateaus interrupted by deep valleys and flanking mountains have formed. These movements occur concurrent with global climate changes. Together, they modulate eastern Africa's habitats for early humans and other organisms. The uplift of the plateau in Ethiopia, which initiated around 30 million years ago, played a role in the evolution of humans. The sedimentary sequences in rift basins record the history of human evolution and the complex interplay between climate change, uplift, volcanism, and faulting in equatorial Africa. The lake shorelines and hydrothermal systems provided oases for early hunter-gatherers, and the topography of the faulted landscape may have served as refugia.
Article
Geography, Physical
Rachel L. Lupien, James M. Russell, Chad L. Yost, John D. Kingston, Alan L. Deino, Jon Logan, Anna Schuh, Andrew S. Cohen
Summary: This study presents a new record of basin-scale vegetation change in the late Pliocene in the Baringo Basin of Kenya, showing a shift from C-3 forests to C-4 grasslands. This transition may have been driven by changes in basin geomorphology and a larger-scale drying and expansion of C-4 vegetation in East Africa. Variations in precipitation and lake level oscillations during the late Pliocene are found to be correlated with significant changes in vegetation resources in the Baringo Basin.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Huelya Alcicek, Martin Gross, Johannes M. Bouchal, Frank P. Wesselingh, Thomas A. Neubauer, Tom Meijer, Lars W. van den Hoek Ostende, Alexey Tesakov, Alison M. Murray, Serdar Mayda, Mehmet Cihat Alcicek
Summary: The Lower-Upper Pleistocene sedimentary record of the Baklan Basin in SW Turkey reveals shallow lacustrine and palustrine deposits. The paleoenvironmental changes recorded in the basin allow for a multiproxy approach in reconstructing the paleoclimatic, paleoecological, and paleobiogeographical evolution of southwestern Anatolia during the Early-Late Pleistocene. The findings have significant implications for understanding the impact of tectonics, climate changes, and Caspian Sea transgressions on lacustrine and palustrine sedimentation.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Di Chen, Fu-Jie Jiang, Xiong-Qi Pang, Ling-Jian Meng, Zheng-Jun Wang, Zhi Xu, Xue Zhang, Li-Na Huo, Jia-Hao Wen, Ren-Jie Zhao, Yuan Li
Summary: This study analyzed the shale sediments in the Bohai Bay Basin to understand the paleoclimatic evolution during the middle Eocene climatic optimum (MECO) epoch. The results showed that the sediments experienced weak-moderate paleoweathering and had a mixed provenance. Wavelet analysis revealed periodicity in the paleoclimate and weathering during the MECO epoch. This study provides more terrestrial records of MECO for the midlatitude region and improves our understanding of the paleoenvironment during the formation of the shale sediments.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Shangkun Li, Xueyun Ma, Shaohua Jiang, Gen Wang, Ting Zhang, Wei He, Xiaoli Yu, He Ma, Pengyuan Zhang, Jingyi Wei, Yongli Wang, Zhifu Wei
Summary: The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau plays a significant role in global climate change and is an ideal laboratory for studying long-term scale climate change. The Nangqian Basin, located in the central-eastern part of the plateau, has a long continuous sedimentary sequence that provides valuable information for researching climate evolution.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Licheng Wang, Qin Yuan, Lijian Shen, Lin Ding
Summary: The early uplift of the Tibetan Plateau had a significant impact on the paleoenvironment and paleoclimate. This study examines the Eocene fluvial-lacustrine sequences in the Gonjo Basin and reconstructs the paleoclimate and paleovegetation based on sporomorphs assemblages, sedimentology, and geochemistry. The findings reveal a shift from warm and humid deciduous broad-leaved forests to cool and arid temperate forests, and finally to arid and cool steppe-desert vegetation.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geology
Cuiyu Song, Dawei Lv, Jie Chang, John I. Ejembi, Lulu Tang, Munira Raji, Wentao Chen, Zhihui Zhang
Summary: This study examines the record of salt deposits in the Huanggang Basin, Eastern China, and finds abundant halite formations during the Middle-Late Eocene to Early Oligocene. The study indicates that the formation of halite is related to the minima of the orbital eccentricity cycle, suggesting the influence of seasonal changes on halite formation. This research provides essential context for understanding halite deposits at the sedimentary basin scale from the perspective of climate cycles.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Alan L. Deino, Mark J. Sier, Dominique Garello, C. Brenhin Keller, John D. Kingston, Jennifer J. Scott, Guillaume Dupont-Nivet, Andrew S. Cohen
Summary: The study established a stratigraphic age model for the Baringo-Tugen Hills-Barsemoi 2013 drillcore using methods such as 40Ar/39Ar dating and magnetostratigraphy, revealing changes in sediment accumulation rates and climate influences on sedimentation rates during the 3.29-2.56 million year interval of the Chemeron Formation.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Helena P. Baird, Seunggwan Shin, Rolf G. Oberprieler, Maurice Hulle, Philippe Vernon, Katherine L. Moon, Richard H. Adams, Duane D. McKenna, Steven L. Chown
Summary: Global cooling since the Miocene has driven the diversification of herbivorous beetles, known as Ectemnorhinini weevils, along the Antarctic Polar Front. Colonizing subAntarctic islands from Africa at least 50 million years ago, these weevils underwent accelerated diversification as the climate cooled. This diversification coincided with major environmental changes and occurred similarly for Antarctic marine and terrestrial organisms, potentially representing a general biodiversity paradigm for the region.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Daniel Balanzategui, Henry Nordhauss, Ingo Heinrich, Franco Biondi, Nicholas Miley, Alexander G. Hurley, Emanuele Ziaco
Summary: By analyzing wood anatomical parameters of Douglas-firs in the western United States, it was found that cell lumen diameter is sensitive to temperature and precipitation, serving as a reliable proxy for past climatic variability. However, the lack of synchronous patterns in cell wall thickness hindered its use as a paleoclimate proxy. Time series analysis revealed an anti-phase relationship between lumen diameter and the Southern Oscillation Index, indicating the potential of wood anatomical parameters in capturing multidecadal variability of regional climatic modes.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Fei Hu, Qingtao Meng, Zhaojun Liu
Summary: This study investigates the characteristics and formation mechanism of symbiotic coal and oil shale by conducting various tests on samples. High-quality oil shale primarily comes from bacteria and algae, while low-quality oil shale mainly originates from algae and terrestrial vitrinite. These findings contribute to the improvement of the symbiotic metallogenic theory of coal and oil shale, as well as the exploration and development of coal and oil shale in the Huangxian Basin and similar basins.
GEOMECHANICS AND GEOPHYSICS FOR GEO-ENERGY AND GEO-RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Rupam Ghosh
Summary: The Singhbhum Craton in Eastern India is an economically important region containing various mineral deposits such as iron, manganese, chromium, platinum group elements, titanium, gold, uranium, copper, phosphorus, rare earth elements, and tungsten. These deposits are primarily found in the greenstone terrains of the mid-Archean and Proterozoic mobile belts. The diverse nature of ore mineralization in this area provides valuable information about the early Earth's dynamics.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geology
Yuanji Li, Pingchang Sun, Qiang Zhang, Zhaojun Liu, Baoyong Zhang, Chuanhai Liu, Zhisheng Luan, Junxian Wang
Summary: The dating of continuous Eocene sediments in the Fushun Basin, NE China, provides insights into the evolution of land paleoclimate during extreme high-temperature events in mid-latitude regions. The study conducted various analyses to determine the paleoclimate changes during the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) period. The results showed phases during the MECO period, with the lakes in transition between open and closed and the presence of carbon fixation and enrichment of organic matter during the main MECO stage. Climate comparison revealed similarities in climatic types between eastern and western regions of China during the Eocene, potentially influenced by the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau and the retreat of the inland proto Paratethys Sea.
ORE GEOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Changying Shi, Chunmei Dong, Chengyan Lin, Lihua Ren, Guoqiang Luan, Yanan Li
Summary: This paper establishes the sedimentary facies distribution model of the deep-lacustrine turbidite system, identifying a series of turbidite fans, with better reservoir properties developed in the middle lobe axis. The paleoclimate was determined to be warm and humid, contributing to the development of the turbidite system.
JOURNAL OF PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2021)
Review
Ecology
Danielle Fraser, Laura C. Soul, Aniko B. Toth, Meghan A. Balk, Jussi T. Eronen, Silvia Pineda-Munoz, Alexandria B. Shupinski, Amelia Villasenor, W. Andrew Barr, Anna K. Behrensmeyer, Andrew Du, J. Tyler Faith, Nicholas J. Gotelli, Gary R. Graves, Advait M. Jukar, Cindy V. Looy, Joshua H. Miller, Richard Potts, S. Kathleen Lyons
Summary: Recent research has brought renewed focus on using fossil data to understand the impact of biotic interactions on the evolution of life, challenging the widely held assumption that long-term climate changes are the primary drivers of biodiversity change. New approaches explicitly model biotic interactions, going beyond traditional richness and co-occurrence studies, and provide evidence for the measurable role of biotic interactions in shaping the evolution of communities and lineages on long timescales.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Elisabeth Hempel, Faysal Bibi, J. Tyler Faith, James S. Brink, Daniela C. Kalthoff, Pepijn Kamminga, Johanna L. A. Paijmans, Michael V. Westbury, Michael Hofreiter, Frank E. Zachos
Summary: The blue antelope, a native species of southern Africa, is the only large African mammal known to have become extinct in historical times, with limited information available due to poor documentation before its extinction. Genetic information retrieved from museum specimens helped to clarify their identification, revealing a lower number of true historical specimens than previously thought. The study also suggests low levels of maternal genetic diversity in the museum population, indicating a small blue antelope population at the time of European colonization of South Africa.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Nick Blegen, J. Tyler Faith, Daniel J. Peppe
Summary: This study investigates modern human evolution in Africa over the last 300,000 years through the use of tephrostratigraphy, expanding the tephrostratigraphic framework in the eastern Lake Victoria Basin. It provides new ages for previously excavated, but undated, archaeological sites, contributing to the overall understanding of human evolution and behavioral changes in equatorial East Africa.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alan Cooper, Chris S. M. Turney, Jonathan Palmer, Alan Hogg, Matt McGlone, Janet Wilmshurst, Andrew M. Lorrey, Timothy J. Heaton, James M. Russell, Ken McCracken, Julien G. Anet, Eugene Rozanov, Marina Friedel, Ivo Suter, Thomas Peter, Raimund Muscheler, Florian Adolphi, Anthony Dosseto, J. Tyler Faith, Pavla Fenwick, Christopher J. Fogwill, Konrad Hughen, Mathew Lipson, Jiabo Liu, Norbert Nowaczyk, Eleanor Rainsley, Christopher Bronk Ramsey, Paolo Sebastianelli, Yassine Souilmi, Janelle Stevenson, Zoe Thomas, Raymond Tobler, Roland Zech
Summary: The study utilized ancient New Zealand kauri trees to investigate the impact of the Laschamps Excursion on atmospheric radiocarbon levels. Through radiocarbon dating and global chemistry-climate modeling, they found that geomagnetic field minima and Grand Solar Minima led to global climate shifts, causing environmental changes and extinction events.
Review
Plant Sciences
A. Carla Staver, Joel O. Abraham, Gareth P. Hempson, Allison T. Karp, J. Tyler Faith
Summary: Herbivore exclusion has significant impacts on savanna vegetation, with the magnitude of these effects scaling with herbivore abundance. However, research is primarily focused in semi-arid savannas and lacks soil data, posing a challenge for future studies.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Ignacio A. Lazagabaster, Thure E. Cerling, J. Tyler Faith
Summary: The study describes a fossilized partial lower third molar of African forest hogs from the Late Pleistocene of Rusinga Island, showing similarities with the extant Hylochoerus. Stable carbon isotope analysis suggests a similar diet between the Rusinga specimen and extant forest hogs, indicating potential heterogeneity in the Late Pleistocene paleoenvironments.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Joel O. Abraham, Gareth P. Hempson, J. Tyler Faith, A. Carla Staver
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution of seasonal dietary shifts and migration in large-bodied mammalian herbivores and found that these behaviors were correlated with diet, body size, and environment. Seasonal diet shifts were most prevalent in mixed feeding herbivores, while migration was more common among grazers and larger herbivores. Extratropical herbivores showed a wider distribution of dietary shifts and migration, as well as exhibiting more intermediate diets and body sizes.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. Andrew Barr, Briana Pobiner, John Rowan, Andrew Du, J. Tyler Faith
Summary: The appearance of Homo erectus is often considered a turning point in human dietary evolution, but the evidence for increased carnivory in this species has not been thoroughly examined. This study analyzes the zooarchaeological record from eastern Africa and finds that the evidence for hominin carnivory is strongly related to sampling effort, with no sustained increase over time. These findings challenge the evolutionary narratives linking anatomical and behavioral traits to increased meat consumption in H. erectus.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Benjamin Davies, Matthew J. Douglass, David R. Braun, John Parkington, Mitchell J. Power, J. Tyler Faith
Summary: In this study, lithic assemblages from Spring Cave on the west coast of South Africa were used to evaluate changes in mobility during the late Holocene. Measures of curvature on cortical pieces were used to estimate original nodule size and calculate the cortex ratio. Results indicated changes in mobility and place use over time, consistent with previous observations on shifts in land use.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Benjamin Davies, Mitchell J. Power, David R. Braun, Matthew J. Douglass, Stella G. Mosher, Lynne J. Quick, Irene Esteban, Judith Sealy, John Parkington, J. Tyler Faith
Summary: This study examines charcoal sequences from the Holocene period in southern Africa and compares them with paleoclimate records and archaeological data to analyze the relationship between human activity and fire. The findings suggest that increased fire activity during the late Holocene coincides with changes in human activity, particularly the introduction and intensification of food production. This indicates that humans used fire as a tool to manage landscapes in a novel way, with outcomes influenced by regional ecosystem characteristics.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jack M. Broughton, Brian F. Codding, J. Tyler Faith, Kathryn A. Mohlenhoff, Ruth Gruhn, Joan Brenner-Coltrain, Isaac A. Hart
Summary: El Nino has significant impacts on ecosystem dynamics, but its influence on vertebrate faunal community composition over centennial time scales is poorly understood. By examining correlations between geological records and bird and fish remains, we found that major El Nino events occurring more than five times per century led to marked restructuring of faunal communities, which has important implications for the past and future ecology of the eastern Pacific coastal environments.
Article
Archaeology
Steven Goldstein, Kaedan O'Brien, Andrew Adum, John Mwangi
Summary: This study reports on archaeological research at the Kapsoo Rockshelter in the Uasin Gishu Plateau of Kenya. By combining data from original fieldwork in 1982 and renewed excavations in 2022, the study reveals the occupation and technological changes in this region from the late Pleistocene to the late Holocene. The research also presents hypotheses for the relationship between Kapsoo and nearby sites, shedding light on broader patterns of economic change in southwestern Kenya.
AZANIA-ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN AFRICA
(2023)
Article
Archaeology
Matthew Douglass, Benjamin Davies, David R. Braun, J. Tyler Faith, Mitchell Power, Jonathan Reeves
Summary: Stone tools are a significant source of information about past human behaviors, with their reduction technology providing valuable insights into artifact production. Understanding the variability in reduction patterns can help support archaeological inferences about land use and mobility. Techniques to estimate the original size of stone nodules and analyze bipolar flaking methods will enhance our understanding of paleolithic tool production.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE-REPORTS
(2021)
