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A Holocene molluscan succession from floodplain sediments of the upper Lena River (Lake Baikal region), Siberia

A Holocene molluscan succession from floodplain sediments of the upper Lena River (Lake Baikal region), Siberia
A Holocene molluscan succession from floodplain sediments of the upper Lena River (Lake Baikal region), Siberia
Floodplainsediments of the upperLenaRiver near Basovo in south-central Siberia have yielded the most detailed Holocenemolluscansuccession yet reported from the entire eastern Palaearctic. Over 72,500 shells from at least 28 species of terrestrial and 23 species of freshwater mollusc have been recovered, an abundance and diversity far higher than previously reported from the region. The molluscan assemblages are dominated by land snails, especially members of the genus Vallonia, represented by five species including Vallonia tenuilabris and two poorly known species Vallonia kamtschatica and Vallonia cf. chinensis. Other noteworthy species recovered include Gastrocopta theeli, Carychium pessimum, Vertigo extima (southernmost record), Vertigo microsphaera and the first Asian records of three other taxa (Vertigo geyeri, Vertigo genesii and Vertigo parcedentata). Illustrations are provided for the critical species, since opinions differ about the status of various taxa and the correct names that should be used. The molluscan assemblages show clear successional trends during the early to mid-Holocene, reflecting episodes of dryness/wetness on the floodplain. Drier conditions at ca 6350 14C yr BP coincide with major changes in the archaeological record seen at other sites in the region but it remains unclear whether the two are linked. A prominent charcoal-rich horizon dated to ca 2800 14C yr BP marks a burning event in the catchment, which resulted in a two-fold increase in sediment accumulation rate. Remains of small mammals occurred throughout the sequence including a tooth of Microtus cf. maximowiczii, possibly the first occurrence of Ungar vole west of LakeBaikal. The faunal analyses have been integrated with a detailed pedological study of the sedimentary profile and a chronology was obtained by means of 12 AMS radiocarbon dates. This study provides the first detailed palaeoecological information relating to Holocenemolluscan assemblages from the Cis-Baikalregion and lays the foundation for future work in the eastern Palaearctic
0277-3791
962-987
White, Dustin
5c77fb12-78b8-4a94-b25a-8697ccf5480b
Preece, Richard C.
114f5bd0-9610-4b97-a721-79709f0cf536
Shchetnikov, Alexander A.
79f94416-6aad-4409-813f-64175b5f1891
Parfitt, Simon A.
71faaa1d-617f-4461-9ce6-26d39b2c1289
Dlussky, Konstantin G.
578e5c13-7f08-419c-9a25-05c25047cbb0
White, Dustin
5c77fb12-78b8-4a94-b25a-8697ccf5480b
Preece, Richard C.
114f5bd0-9610-4b97-a721-79709f0cf536
Shchetnikov, Alexander A.
79f94416-6aad-4409-813f-64175b5f1891
Parfitt, Simon A.
71faaa1d-617f-4461-9ce6-26d39b2c1289
Dlussky, Konstantin G.
578e5c13-7f08-419c-9a25-05c25047cbb0

White, Dustin, Preece, Richard C., Shchetnikov, Alexander A., Parfitt, Simon A. and Dlussky, Konstantin G. (2008) A Holocene molluscan succession from floodplain sediments of the upper Lena River (Lake Baikal region), Siberia. Quaternary Science Reviews, 27 (9-10), 962-987. (doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.01.010).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Floodplainsediments of the upperLenaRiver near Basovo in south-central Siberia have yielded the most detailed Holocenemolluscansuccession yet reported from the entire eastern Palaearctic. Over 72,500 shells from at least 28 species of terrestrial and 23 species of freshwater mollusc have been recovered, an abundance and diversity far higher than previously reported from the region. The molluscan assemblages are dominated by land snails, especially members of the genus Vallonia, represented by five species including Vallonia tenuilabris and two poorly known species Vallonia kamtschatica and Vallonia cf. chinensis. Other noteworthy species recovered include Gastrocopta theeli, Carychium pessimum, Vertigo extima (southernmost record), Vertigo microsphaera and the first Asian records of three other taxa (Vertigo geyeri, Vertigo genesii and Vertigo parcedentata). Illustrations are provided for the critical species, since opinions differ about the status of various taxa and the correct names that should be used. The molluscan assemblages show clear successional trends during the early to mid-Holocene, reflecting episodes of dryness/wetness on the floodplain. Drier conditions at ca 6350 14C yr BP coincide with major changes in the archaeological record seen at other sites in the region but it remains unclear whether the two are linked. A prominent charcoal-rich horizon dated to ca 2800 14C yr BP marks a burning event in the catchment, which resulted in a two-fold increase in sediment accumulation rate. Remains of small mammals occurred throughout the sequence including a tooth of Microtus cf. maximowiczii, possibly the first occurrence of Ungar vole west of LakeBaikal. The faunal analyses have been integrated with a detailed pedological study of the sedimentary profile and a chronology was obtained by means of 12 AMS radiocarbon dates. This study provides the first detailed palaeoecological information relating to Holocenemolluscan assemblages from the Cis-Baikalregion and lays the foundation for future work in the eastern Palaearctic

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Published date: May 2008
Organisations: Archaeology

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Local EPrints ID: 345477
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/345477
ISSN: 0277-3791
PURE UUID: 75d04f82-32cb-493f-b129-fd50e4fea72b

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Date deposited: 22 Nov 2012 15:16
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 12:25

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Contributors

Author: Dustin White
Author: Richard C. Preece
Author: Alexander A. Shchetnikov
Author: Simon A. Parfitt
Author: Konstantin G. Dlussky

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