Using Therioindicators in Reconstruction of the Late Pleistocene Vegetation of Northern Yakutia
Protopopov A.V.
A new method for reconstruction of the Late Pleistocene vegetation using indicator species of mammals – therioindicators is proposed. Two-level approach in using therioindicators in relation of the size of animals is justified. The first level is represented by rodents, the second level by medium and large size mammals. Reproductive station is proposed as the main in using therioindicators, as it is phylogenetically fixed in the course of evolution of a species. It is stated that the presence of a large number of animals associated with forest communities in mammoth fauna complexes shows wider participation of forest communities in the Late Pleistocene vegetation than it was considered before. The high species diversity of fossil mammals of Northern Yakutia can be explained by the greater mosaic of vegetation in comparison with the present time. It is suggested that in the course of a natural adjustment at the turn of the Pleistocene and Holocene forest communities expanded their area, becoming a zonal type of vegetation while grass communities, former zonal, were preserved in the intrazonal habitats.
Key words: Late Pleistocene, mammoth fauna complex, therioindikators, station, reconstruction of vegetation, plant communities.
Science and Education, 2016, No.3, pp.16-20