黑龙江青冈地区晚更新世猛犸象-披毛犀动物群生存的环境背景

更新世晚期大型哺乳动物消亡一直是科学界关注的热点科学问题,其消亡的环境背景和影响机制仍没有形成一致观点。我国东北地区晚更新世地层中保存有丰富的猛犸象-披毛犀动物群(Mammuthus-Coelodonta Fauna)化石记录,是研究更新世晚期大型哺乳动物生存环境及消亡过程的理想区域。黑龙江省青冈地区出土有典型的晚更新世哺乳动物化石种类,如真猛犸象(Mammuthus primigenius)、披毛犀(Coelodonta antiquitatis)等。本文以青冈县英贤村化石出土剖面为研究对象,通过孢粉分析,重建猛犸象-披毛犀动物群的生存环境背景。青冈地区猛犸象-披毛犀动物群出土于湖沼相沉积中,研究发现其生存环境的主要植被成分是蒿属、菊科、禾本科、莎草科和云杉属,指示草甸草原为主,局地生长有针叶林的植被景观。欧亚大陆晚更新世高纬度地区广泛分布的猛犸象草原植被曾延伸到我国东北地区。     

乌尔吉晚更新世动物群和古生态环境

乌尔吉地区晚更新世地层出露广泛,哺乳动物化石常有发现.乌尔吉动物群属于猛犸象—披毛犀动物群,其时代为晚更新世晚期.动物群的生态性质明显反映了当时应为寒温带湿冷草原为主间有疏林和少量灌丛的自然景观.     

A review of the calibration methods for measuring the carbon and oxygen isotopes in CO2 based on isotope ratio infrared spectroscopy

稳定同位素红外光谱(IRIS)技术克服了传统的大气CO₂气瓶采样-同位素质谱(IRMS)技术时间分辨率低且耗时费力的缺点, 可以实现高时间分辨率和高精度的大气CO₂碳同位素组成(δ ¹³C)和氧同位素组成(δ ¹⁸O)的原位连续测定。基于IRIS技术测量CO₂ δ ¹³C和δ ¹⁸O的误差来源主要包括δ ¹³C和δ ¹⁸O测量值对CO₂浓度变化的非线性响应(浓度依赖性)以及对环境条件变化的敏感性导致的漂移(时间漂移)。如何有效地校正浓度依赖性和时间漂移导致的误差是IRIS仪器应用的前提。该综述阐述了δ ¹³C和δ ¹⁸O测量值的浓度依赖性产生的理论基础, 回顾了浓度依赖性的理论校正和经验方程校正方法和应用; 回顾了时间漂移的校正原理、方法和应用; 概述了数据溯源至国际标准的原理、方法与应用现状。结合实际情况推荐利用3个或3个以上已知CO₂浓度和δ ¹³C、δ ¹⁸O真值的CO₂标准气体涵盖待测气体CO₂浓度的浓度依赖性校正, 设置适当的校正频率校正时间漂移并进行数据溯源。指出应该加强不同仪器和校正方法的比对研究; 采用IRIS技术测定CH₄、N₂O和H₂O同位素组成也可以采取类似的校正方法。     

中国晚更新世猛犸象(Mammuthus)扩散事件的探讨

大型哺乳动物真猛犸象在晚更新世时曾广泛分布北半球辽阔的地区。据最近的研究表明,在我国它曾覆盖了从北纬55°到北纬35°的广大区域。已发现的众多猛犸象化石地点中,有不少已作过详细的同位素年代测定。从生物地层学和同位素年代学的角度,纵观真猛犸象从极地侵入我国境内及其繁盛衰亡的演变史,不难看出真猛犸象在我国北方晚更新世晚期曾有过两次比较集中的活动高潮,并每次都伴随有明显的向南迁徙。它的第一次南迁大致发生在距今3．4－2．6万年前（或可能略早）,策二次南迁大致发生在距今2．3－1．2万年前。真猛犸象的这两次南迁活动与本次冰期两次较明显的冷暖交替的小气候波动在时间上大体吻合。     

新疆阿勒泰地区近440年来大气δ13C变化

化石燃料的大量使用和森林的过度砍伐,引起大气中CO₂浓度的大幅度增加,同时由于Suess效应,大气CO₂中的δ¹³C在不断地下降。植物中δ¹³C的变化是大气CO₂浓度和同位素比值变化的敏感指示器。文中利用树木年轮δ¹³C序列和植物碳同位素分馏模型,尝试恢复了新疆阿勒泰地区近440年来大气δ¹³C的变化。结果表明,1850年之前,从树木年轮δ¹³C序列恢复的大气δ¹³C相对恒定在-6.60‰(R²=0.052),而1850年之后,该大气δ¹³C明显降低(R²=0.65),平均约为-7.04‰,平均年降低0.0084‰。这一结果高于从冰芯气泡所恢复的大气δ¹³C,1850年～1981年冰芯大气δ¹³C平均年降低约0.00657‰这可能与从树木年轮δ¹³C序列恢复的大气δ¹³C有更高的分辨率及树木生长点大气δ¹³C不同于全球大气δ¹³C值有关。     

植物和土壤δ13C的分析误差校正与数据标准化

植物和土壤中稳定碳同位素(δ¹³C)可用于指示、示踪和整合碳循环关键过程与功能。双路和连续流气体稳定同位素比值质谱仪(IRMS)是δ¹³C的两种测试技术,其精度和准确度受分析误差和数据标准化方法影响。分析误差包括记忆效应、时间漂移和信号强度依赖性等。将测定序列按样品δ¹³C从低到高排列或延长气路冲洗时间消除或降低记忆效应;在测样序列中内插标准物质并建立测定时间与分析误差的函数关系校正时间漂移;信号强度依赖性应先校正样品空白效应,再校正仪器非线性响应。数据标准化包括标准物质和数据标准化方法选择。选择的标准物质δ¹³C应涵盖待测样品δ¹³C,且遵循同等处理原则;标准物质数量≥4或每个标准物质重复测定次数≥4;数据标准化体系应长期稳定,并添加监测标准物质。     

记吉林集安仙人洞的鹿类化石,兼述我国斑鹿化石的分类

本文记述了产于吉林省集安县大路乡仙人洞洞穴堆积中的晚更新世鹿超科化石。这些化石可以分别归入麝科Moschidae和鹿科Cervidae,共四个种:Moschus moschiferus, Cervus (Sika) nippon horiulorum, Megaloceros ordosianus和Capreolus manchuricus。它们代表四种大小不同的鹿类动物,同为我国北方猛犸象-披毛犀动物群的成员。本文还指出斑鹿亚属的拉丁学名应为Sika,而不是Pseudaxis。产于我国的斑鹿化石可分为四个种。     

新疆阿勒泰地区近440年来大气δ^13C变化

化石燃料的大量使用和森林的过度砍伐,引起大气中CO₂浓度的大幅度增加,同时由于Suess效应,大气CO₂中的δ¹³C在不断地下降．植物中δ¹³C的变化是大气CO₂浓度和同位素比值变化的敏感指示器．文中利用树木年轮δ¹³C序列和植物碳同位素分馏模型,尝试恢复了新疆阿勒泰地区近440年来大气δ¹³C的变化．结果表明,1850年之前,从树木年轮δ¹³C序列恢复的大气δ¹³C相对恒定在-6．60％0(R²=0．052),而1850年之后,该大气δ¹³C明显降低(R²=0．65)。平均约为-7．04‰,平均年降低0．0084‰．这一结果高于从冰芯气泡所恢复的大气δ¹³C,1850年～1981年冰芯大气δ¹³C平均年降低约0．0065‰．这可能与从树木年轮δ¹³C序列恢复的大气δ¹³C有更高的分辨率及树木生长点大气δ¹³C不同于全球大气δ¹³C值有关．     

中国古脊椎动物学会第15次学术年会暨中国第四纪古人类-旧石器专业委员会第6次年会在黑龙江大庆圆满召开

正1959年,随着松嫩平原上一座名为"松基3井"的油井里喷射出的黑色油流,大庆——这座因油而生、因油而兴的年轻城市,从此叫响全国,传扬世界。同年,中国科学院古脊椎动物与古人类研究所高等脊椎动物组(周明镇等)根据当时收集的顾乡屯及东北其他地点的标本,对东北第四纪哺乳动物化石进行了首次综合性记述,编著了《东北第四纪哺乳动物化石志》,确立了东北地区晚更新世的猛犸象-披毛犀动物群。57年后,为了进一步促进东北第四纪哺乳动物     

箱式通量观测技术和方法的理论假设及其应用进展

碳(CO₂、CH₄)、氮(N₂O)和水汽(H₂O)等温室气体的交换通量是生态系统物质循环的核心, 是地圈-生物圈-大气圈相互作用的纽带。稳定同位素光谱和质谱技术和方法的进步使碳稳定同位素比值(δ ¹³C)和氧稳定同位素比值(δ ¹⁸O)(CO₂)、δ ¹³C (CH₄)、氮稳定同位素比值(δ ¹⁵N)和δ ¹⁸O (N₂O)、氢稳定同位素比值(δD)和δ ¹⁸O (H₂O)的观测成为可能, 与箱式通量观测技术和方法结合可以实现土壤、植物乃至生态系统尺度温室气体及其同位素通量观测研究。该综述以CO₂及其δ ¹³C通量的箱式观测技术和方法为例, 概述了箱式通量观测系统的基本原理及分类, 阐述了系统设计的理论要求和假设, 综述了从野外到室内土壤、植物叶-茎-根以及生态系统尺度箱式通量观测研究的应用进展及问题, 展望了气体分析精度和准确度、观测数据精度和准确度以及观测数据的代表性评价在箱式通量观测研究中的重要性。     

Successful genotyping of microsatellites in the woolly mammoth

Genetic analyses using ancient DNA from Pleistocene and early Holocene fossils have largely relied on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences. Among woolly mammoths, Mammuthus primigenius, mtDNA analyses have identified 2 distinct clades (I and II) that diverged 1-2 Ma. Here, we establish that microsatellite markers can be effective on Pleistocene samples, successfully genotyping woolly mammoth specimens at 2 loci. Although significant differentiation at the 2 microsatellite loci was not detected between 16 clade I and 4 clade II woolly mammoths, our results demonstrate that the nuclear population structure of Pleistocene species can be examined using fast-evolving nuclear microsatellite markers.     

哈尔滨阎家岗遗址的地质背景

通过对阎家岗遗址地区野外调查和遗址发掘资料整理,初步探讨阎家岗遗址地质背景, 获得如下认识: 阎家岗遗址早期人类生活于末次盛冰期来临前的暖期, 相当于深海沉积MIS3后期并开始向MIS2转变, 气候由温湿转向干冷, 植被以温带疏林草原为主, 适于成群的食草类动物在此生活。阎家岗遗址地处松花江曲流带, 多沙洲、河汊、河曲, 人类在沙洲或河曲凸岸构筑狩猎用的设施, 舍弃后被洪水带来的细沙掩埋, 成为今天所见的动物骨骼围圈遗迹。动物骨骼围圈的堆积体与掩埋它的细砂层为不整合关系, 骨骼多层叠置, 有的直立, 骨骼之间大多并不相互接触, 说明它们不是流水作用产物, 而是人工堆砌的狩猎设施。     

中更新世晚期中国古人类化石的形态多样性及其演化意义

近年对许家窑、许昌、华龙洞、澎湖、夏河、哈尔滨等人类化石开展的系统研究,引发了学界对中更新世晚期人类演化及分类的不同认识。基于对相关中国人类化石形态特征的分析,作者提出这一时期中国人类化石形态特征表现为四种类型：1）以中更新世晚期人类共有特征为主;2）以原始特征为主;3）以现代特征为主;4）独特形态组合。多数化石形态特征表现为前三种类型,而许昌和许家窑这种以硕大的头骨和巨大颅容量构成的独特形态组合在其他同时期化石还没有发现。化石形态的多样性提示,不同类型的中更新世晚期中国古人类对现代人的形成贡献不同。作者认为在该时期的人类化石形态多样性规律还未阐明的情况下,将具有混合或镶嵌特征的相关人类化石归入分类地位不确定的人群较为合适。     

Out of America: ancient DNA evidence for a new world origin of late quaternary woolly mammoths

Although the iconic mammoth of the Late Pleistocene, the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius), has traditionally been regarded as the end point of a single anagenetically evolving lineage, recent paleontological and molecular studies have shown that successive allopatric speciation events must have occurred within Pleistocene Mammuthus in Asia, with subsequent expansion and hybridization between nominal taxa [1, 2]. However, the role of North American mammoth populations in these events has not been adequately explored from an ancient-DNA standpoint. To undertake this task, we analyzed mtDNA from a large data set consisting of mammoth samples from across Holarctica (n = 160) and representing most of radiocarbon time. Our evidence shows that, during the terminal Pleistocene, haplotypes originating in and characteristic of New World populations replaced or succeeded those endemic to Asia and western Beringia. Also, during the Last Glacial Maximum, mammoth populations do not appear to have suffered an overall decline in diversity, despite differing responses on either side of the Bering land bridge. In summary, the "Out-of-America" hypothesis holds that the dispersal of North American woolly mammoths into other parts of Holarctica created major phylogeographic structuring within Mammuthus primigenius populations, shaping the last phase of their evolutionary history before their demise.     

Climate change, humans, and the extinction of the woolly mammoth

Woolly mammoths inhabited Eurasia and North America from late Middle Pleistocene (300 ky BP [300,000 years before present]), surviving through different climatic cycles until they vanished in the Holocene (3.6 ky BP). The debate about why the Late Quaternary extinctions occurred has centred upon environmental and human-induced effects, or a combination of both. However, testing these two hypotheses—climatic and anthropogenic—has been hampered by the difficulty of generating quantitative estimates of the relationship between the contraction of the mammoth's geographical range and each of the two hypotheses. We combined climate envelope models and a population model with explicit treatment of woolly mammoth–human interactions to measure the extent to which a combination of climate changes and increased human pressures might have led to the extinction of the species in Eurasia. Climate conditions for woolly mammoths were measured across different time periods: 126 ky BP, 42 ky BP, 30 ky BP, 21 ky BP, and 6 ky BP. We show that suitable climate conditions for the mammoth reduced drastically between the Late Pleistocene and the Holocene, and 90% of its geographical range disappeared between 42 ky BP and 6 ky BP, with the remaining suitable areas in the mid-Holocene being mainly restricted to Arctic Siberia, which is where the latest records of woolly mammoths in continental Asia have been found. Results of the population models also show that the collapse of the climatic niche of the mammoth caused a significant drop in their population size, making woolly mammoths more vulnerable to the increasing hunting pressure from human populations. The coincidence of the disappearance of climatically suitable areas for woolly mammoths and the increase in anthropogenic impacts in the Holocene, the coup de grâce, likely set the place and time for the extinction of the woolly mammoth.     

Neandertals paleoenvironment in Western Provence: The contribution of Les Auzières 2 (Méthamis,Vaucluse, France)

The site of Les Auzières 2 (Méthamis, Vaucluse) was excavated from 2001 to 2005. It yielded an original and diverse fauna, unique in southeastern France (Provence). The spectrum of large mammals comprises 14 species including hyena, horse, ibex, woolly rhinoceros, giant deer and mammoth. Lithic artifacts are rare but testify to the presence of a Mousterian industry. All of these remains derive from layers that have been dated to 60 ± 10 ka by ESR/U-series method. Les Auzières 2 is of special importance for examining the issue of human/carnivore interaction in the Pleistocene since it has yielded a large assemblage of carnivore remains, and probably represents a hyena den. The diverse fauna offers a more comprehensive picture of Upper Pleistocene biodiversity in southeastern France than that usually provided by sites with a stronger anthropogenic signal.     

Complete Columbian mammoth mitogenome suggests interbreeding with woolly mammoths

Background  

Late Pleistocene North America hosted at least two divergent and ecologically distinct species of mammoth: the periglacial woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) and the subglacial Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi). To date, mammoth genetic research has been entirely restricted to woolly mammoths, rendering their genetic evolution difficult to contextualize within broader Pleistocene paleoecology and biogeography. Here, we take an interspecific approach to clarifying mammoth phylogeny by targeting Columbian mammoth remains for mitogenomic sequencing.     

Process-explicit models reveal pathway to extinction for woolly mammoth using pattern-oriented validation

Pathways to extinction start long before the death of the last individual. However, causes of early stage population declines and the susceptibility of small residual populations to extirpation are typically studied in isolation. Using validated process-explicit models, we disentangle the ecological mechanisms and threats that were integral in the initial decline and later extinction of the woolly mammoth. We show that reconciling ancient DNA data on woolly mammoth population decline with fossil evidence of location and timing of extinction requires process-explicit models with specific demographic and niche constraints, and a constrained synergy of climatic change and human impacts. Validated models needed humans to hasten climate-driven population declines by many millennia, and to allow woolly mammoths to persist in mainland Arctic refugia until the mid-Holocene. Our results show that the role of humans in the extinction dynamics of woolly mammoth began well before the Holocene, exerting lasting effects on the spatial pattern and timing of its range-wide extinction.     

Late Quaternary woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius Blum) remains from southern Transdanubia,Hungary

Six samples of subfossil tusk, bone and tooth remains from the woolly mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius Blum) were discovered in south-western Hungary. The remains are relatively well preserved in a Late Pleistocene loess deposit. The samples have been radiocarbon dated (AMS) and are of Late Weichselian (MIS 2) age (21.8–24.1 ka cal BP). The skull fragments, the tusks and maxillary teeth are in close proximity to associated postcranial remains, indicating that the mammoth died where it was found. The size and characteristics of skeletal elements have allowed us to determine that this was a mature male of about 38 years of age.