Serial population extinctions in a small mammal indicate Late Pleistocene ecosystem instability

in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (2012), 109(50), 20532-20536

The Late Pleistocene global extinction of many terrestrial mammal species has been a subject of intensive scientific study for over a century, yet the relative contributions of environmental changes and ... [more ▼]

The Late Pleistocene global extinction of many terrestrial mammal species has been a subject of intensive scientific study for over a century, yet the relative contributions of environmental changes and the global expansion of humans remain unresolved. A defining component of these extinctions is a bias toward large species, with the majority of small-mammal taxa apparently surviving into the present. Here, we investigate the population-level history of a key tundra-specialist small mammal, the collared lemming (Dicrostonyx torquatus), to explore whether events during the Late Pleistocene had a discernible effect beyond the large mammal fauna. Using ancient DNA techniques to sample across three sites in North-West Europe, we observe a dramatic reduction in genetic diversity in this species over the last 50,000 y. We further identify a series of extinction-recolonization events, indicating a previously unrecognized instability in Late Pleistocene small-mammal populations, which we link with climatic fluctuations. Our results reveal climate-associated, repeated regional extinctions in a keystone prey species across the Late Pleistocene, a pattern likely to have had an impact on the wider steppe-tundra community, and one that is concordant with environmental change as a major force in structuring Late Pleistocene biodiversity. [less ▲]

Couvin/Couvin : fouilles 2010 au Trou de l’Abîme

in Chronique de l'Archéologie Wallonne (2012), 19

Chronostratigraphic context of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition. Recent data from Belgium

in Quaternary International (2012), 259

Le Trou Al'Wesse du Moustérien au Néolithique dans la vallée du Hoyoux

in Toussaint, Michel; Di Modica, Kevin; Pirson, Stéphane (Eds.) Le Paléolithique moyen en Belgique : Mélanges Marguerite Ulrix-Closset (2011)

Biotically constrained palaeoenvironmental conditions of a mid-Holocene intertidal lagoon on the southern shore of the Arabian Gulf: evidence associated with a whale skeleton at Musaffah, Abu Dhabi, UAE

in Quaternary Science Reviews (2011), 30

Whale remains (a left and right mandible, scapula, humerus and fragmentary radius and ulna as well as parts of the cranium and rostrum) belonging to a probable humpback whale (Megaptera cf. novaeangliae ... [more ▼]

Whale remains (a left and right mandible, scapula, humerus and fragmentary radius and ulna as well as parts of the cranium and rostrum) belonging to a probable humpback whale (Megaptera cf. novaeangliae) were found in the well-described sabkha sequence exposed in the Musaffah Industrial Channel, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. More precisely, the whale remains were found in a series of sediments representing a range of lagoonal facies. The sediments surrounding the whale bones were age-dated at approximately 5200 14C yrs BP and are herefore interpreted to correspond to the previously documented late Flandrian sea-level peak, receding a fall in sea-level which culminated in the supratidal sabkha overprint of the carbonates. associated with the whale remains is an assemblage of molluscs, foraminifera and ostracods. together with the inferred presence of sea grass and algae, these facies are interpreted to indicate a very shallow subtidal to intertidal lagoonal environment. Cirripede remains found associated with the skeleton were identified as those of the whale barnacle Coronula diadema and hence had their origins with the whale. Significantly, the low species diversity of microfossils suggests that higher salinities existed in the mid-Holocene lagoon than are present in modern counterparts. This is here inferred to be related to the onset of continental aridity in Arabia during the mid-Holocene. [less ▲]

Le Magdalénien dans le Nord-Ouest de l'Europe

Poster (2011)

The Mesolithic of Trou Al'Wesse Cave (Belgium) in Regional Context

in Oosterbeek, Luis; Fidalgo, Claudia (Eds.) Miscellania, Volume 47 of the Proceedings of the 15th UISPP Congress (2011)

Recent excavations at the cave site of Trou al'Wesse (Modave, Belgium) have yielded significant new data concerning the Mesolithic occupations at the site that contribute to the understanding of the ... [more ▼]

Recent excavations at the cave site of Trou al'Wesse (Modave, Belgium) have yielded significant new data concerning the Mesolithic occupations at the site that contribute to the understanding of the chronology and environmental context of the Belgian Mesolithic. We present the results of the analyses of lithic and faunal assemblages, site taphonomy and spatial distribution, and discuss the relationship of the site with other Mesolithic sites in Belgium. [less ▲]

Recent results for the Belgian Magdalenian

in Street, Martin; Barton, Nick; Terberger, Thomas (Eds.) Humans, environment and chronology of the late glacial of the North European Plain (2009)

This paper presents the Belgian Magdalenian from the perspective of recent results from the cave site of Trou Da Somme, placing it in relation to the other known Belgian Magdalenian sites, including caves ... [more ▼]

This paper presents the Belgian Magdalenian from the perspective of recent results from the cave site of Trou Da Somme, placing it in relation to the other known Belgian Magdalenian sites, including caves in Middle Belgium (Chaleux, Bois Laiterie, Goyet, etc.) and open-air sites in Flanders (Orp, Kanne). Emphasis is placed on site function, chronology and lithic raw material procurement. Additionally, an engraved plaquette found at Trou Da Somme will be discussed. [less ▲]

Résultats préliminaires de l'étude de la séquence paléolithique au Trou Al'Wesse (comm. de Modave)

in Notae Praehistoricae (2007), 27

Nous présentons les résultats préliminaires de l'étude de la séquence pléistocène du Trou Al'Wesse. Il s'agit de données archéologiques et paléontologiques, ainsi que de nouvelles datations, précisant la ... [more ▼]

Nous présentons les résultats préliminaires de l'étude de la séquence pléistocène du Trou Al'Wesse. Il s'agit de données archéologiques et paléontologiques, ainsi que de nouvelles datations, précisant la position stratigraphique des occupations aurignaciennes et moustériennes. Two significant discoveries are presented: the first bone tools discovered in stratigraphic context (a point dating to the EUP) and two ungulate bone fragments with cutmarks (Mousterian). [less ▲]

Les « burins » de l’atelier de débitage aurignacien de Maisières-Canal (Province du Hainaut, Belgique)

in de Araujo Igreja, Marina; Bracco, Jean-Pierre; Le Brun-Ricalens, Foni (Eds.) Burins préhistoriques : formes, fonctionnements, fonctions (2006)