Research Article
Palaeoenvironmental interpretation of Middle and Late Wisconsinan fossil coleopteran assemblages from western Olympic Peninsula, Washington, USA
SHAOGUANG CONG,
ALLAN C. ASHWORTH,
Corresponding Author
SHAOGUANG CONG
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USA
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USASearch for more papers by this authorALLAN C. ASHWORTH
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USA
Search for more papers by this authorSHAOGUANG CONG,
ALLAN C. ASHWORTH,
Corresponding Author
SHAOGUANG CONG
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USA
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USASearch for more papers by this authorALLAN C. ASHWORTH
Department of Geosciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND 58105-5517, USA
Search for more papers by this authorFirst published: September/October 1996
Citations: 15
Abstract
Organic sediments exposed in a seacliff near Kalaloch, Washington, contain abundant, well-preserved beetle remains. Fossil assemblages dating from about 48 000 to 40 000 yr BP are dominated by species typical of the lowland and montane forests in the region today. A few species, Micropeplus laticollis, Olophrum consimile, Olophrum boreale, Arpedium cribratum, and Tachinus thruppi are presently not members of the Pacific Northwest fauna. Mean July temperature during this part of the Middle Wisconsinan is estimated to have been about 1°C lower than today. Later Wisconsinan assemblages are dominated by non-arboreal species, indicating a treeless, probably tundra environment. Mean July temperature based mostly on the occurrence of the alpine leaf-beetle species, Asiorestia pallida, is estimated to have been at least 3°C lower than the present day. Palaeoclimatic interpretations based on beetles are in good agreement with those based on pollen.
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