Paleo-Ecology of the Yedoma Ice Complex on Sobo-Sise Island (EasternLena Delta, Siberian Arctic)

• DOI: 10.3389/feart.2021.681511
• Publication Date: 2021-06-18T04:17:19Z
• Authors: S. Wetterich; N. Rudaya; L. Nazarova; L. Syrykh; M. Pavlova; O. Palagushkina; A. Kizyakov; J. Wolter; T. Kuznetsova; A. Aksenov; K. R. Stoof-Leich...; L. Schirrmeister; M. Fritz
• Keywords: Beringia; Steppe

Late Pleistocene permafrost of the Yedoma type constitutes a valuable paleo-environmental archive due to presence numerous and well-preserved floral faunal fossils. The study fossil inventory allows for qualitative quantitative reconstructions past ecosystem climate conditions variations over time. Here, we present results combined paleo-proxy studies including pollen, chironomid, diatom mammal analyses from prominent cliff on Sobo-Sise Island in eastern Lena Delta, NE Siberia complement previous ongoing paleo-ecological research western Beringia. Ice Complex (IC) (up 28 m high, 1.7 km long) was continuously sampled at 0.5 resolution. entire sequence covers last about 52 cal kyr BP, but is not continuous as it shows substantial hiatuses 36–29 20–17 BP 15–7 BP. Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 IC (52–28 BP) pollen spectra show typical features tundra–steppe vegetation. Green algae remains indicate freshwater conditions. chironomid assemblages vary considerably abundance diversity. Chironomid-based T July during MIS reveal warmer-than-today 51 46-44 41 2 (28–15 represent tundra-steppe vegetation 3, higher Artemisia lower abundances drier summer records are poor. 1 (7–0 shrub-tundra fauna sparse diverse. chironomid-based reconstruction supports similar-as-today temperatures 6.4–4.4 Diatoms were recorded only after 6.4 record preserves traces West Beringian that maintained Mammoth rare evidence woolly rhinoceros’ presence. plant-macrofossil based regional records. Our Delta fits into extends characterize paleo-environments Laptev Sea coastal region.