Late Quaternary micromammals and the precipitation history of the southern Cape, South Africa: response to comments by F. Thackeray, <i>Quaternary Research</i> 95, 154–156

Faith, J. Tyler; Chase, Brian M.; Avery, D. Margaret

doi:10.1017/qua.2020.11

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…No pollen was preserved in the sediments dating to ∼12-7.8 cal ka BP in the Pearly Beach core. It could be speculated that the limited preservation of pollen within the Pearly Beach core during the early Holocene was a response to increased aridity, as inferred from micromammalian data from Byneskranskop, an archaeological site 8 km northwest of Pearly Beach (Faith et al, 2018(Faith et al, , 2020Thackeray, 2020). Indications of relatively low moisture availability are also evident from further east within the Wilderness embayment (Martin, 1968;Quick et al, 2018), and the summer-rainfall zone (e.g., Holmgren et al, 2003), related, in part, to increased drought stress under warmer Holocene temperatures (Chevalier and Chase, 2016).…”

Section: The Lgm ( 253-19 Cal Ka Bp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A 25,000 year record of climate and vegetation change from the southwestern Cape coast, South Africa

et al. 2021

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The southwestern Cape of South Africa is a particularly dynamic region in terms of long-term climate change. We analysed fossil pollen from a 25,000 year sediment core taken from a near-coastal wetland at Pearly Beach that revealed that distinct changes in vegetation composition occurred along the southwestern Cape coast. From these changes, considerable variability in temperature and moisture availability are inferred. Consistent with indications from elsewhere in southwestern Africa, variability in Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) was identified as a strong determinant of regional climate change. At Pearly Beach, this resulted in phases of relatively drier conditions (~24–22.5 cal ka BP and ~22–18 cal ka BP) demarcated by brief phases of increased humidity from ~24.5–24 cal ka BP and 22.5–22 cal ka BP. During glacial Termination I (~19–11.7 ka), a marked increase in coastal thicket pollen from ~18.5 to 15.0 cal ka BP indicates a substantial increase in moisture availability, coincident, and likely associated with, a slowing AMOC and a buildup of heat in the southern Atlantic. With clear links to glacial and deglacial Earth system dynamics and perturbations, the Pearly Beach record represents an important new contribution to a growing body of data, providing insights into the patterns and mechanisms of southwestern African climate change.

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Section: The Lgm ( 253-19 Cal Ka Bp)mentioning

confidence: 99%

A 25,000 year record of climate and vegetation change from the southwestern Cape coast, South Africa

et al. 2021

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The 100,000–77,000-Year Old Middle Stone Age Micromammal Sequence from Blombos Cave, South Africa: Local Climatic Stability or a Tale of Predator Bias?

Nel

Henshilwood

2021

Afr Archaeol Rev

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In this paper, we present a case study of the micromammal sequence from Marine Isotope Stage 5 (130,000–71,000 YBP) at Blombos Cave on the southern Cape coast of South Africa. Our analyses of the micromammal assemblage from 100,000 to 76,000 YBP shed light on micromammal taxonomic distributions, local palaeoenvironments, and site formation processes at this renowned Middle Stone Age site. Taphonomic analyses indicate that spotted eagle owls (Bubo africanus) were the main predator species responsible for accumulating the micromammals, but with contributions from barn owls (Tyto alba). In addition, the micromammal bones have been subjected to a range of post-depositional processes, some of which are associated with microbial actions likely resulting from human or animal activities in the cave. We have recorded three species in the archaeological assemblage that do not occur in the Blombos area today. These are the Hottentot golden mole (Amblysomus hottentotus), Duthie’s golden mole (Chlorotalpa duthieae), and Laminate vlei rat (Otomys laminatus). The biodiversity indices based on micromammal species suggest that local vegetation consisted of different habitats that could sustain a diverse small mammal population. During MIS 5c/5b, the diversity of species declined, but there was still a mosaic of vegetation habitats present in the local area. On a larger temporal scale, climate conditions were slightly more humid than at present, and winter rainfall was seemingly greater. The amount of winter rainfall would have been similar to locations currently c. 50–150 km further west of Blombos Cave. However, based on micromammal proxies, there were seemingly no major fluctuations visible in climate or vegetation composition during the entire 24,000-year period. We suggest that the explanation could be multifaceted, two potential factors being predator bias derived from the owls’ preference for generalist micromammal species or an actual reflection of local stable climatic and environmental conditions in the Blombos area.

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The Last Glacial Maximum climate at Boomplaas Cave, South Africa

Faith,

Chase,

Pargeter

2024

Quaternary Science Reviews

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Late Quaternary micromammals and the precipitation history of the southern Cape, South Africa: response to comments by F. Thackeray, Quaternary Research 95, 154–156

Cited by 3 publications

References 15 publications

A 25,000 year record of climate and vegetation change from the southwestern Cape coast, South Africa

A 25,000 year record of climate and vegetation change from the southwestern Cape coast, South Africa

The 100,000–77,000-Year Old Middle Stone Age Micromammal Sequence from Blombos Cave, South Africa: Local Climatic Stability or a Tale of Predator Bias?

The Last Glacial Maximum climate at Boomplaas Cave, South Africa

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