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Last glacial vegetation of northern Eurasia

Allen, Judy R. M. ; Hickler, Thomas LU ; Singarayer, Joy S. ; Sykes, Martin LU ; Valdes, Paul J. and Huntley, Brian (2010) In Quaternary Science Reviews 29(19-20). p.2604-2618
Abstract
In order to investigate the potential role of vegetation changes in megafaunal extinctions during the later part of the last glacial stage and early Holocene (42-10 ka BP), the palaeovegetation of northern Eurasia and Alaska was simulated using the LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model. Palaeoclimatic driving data were derived from simulations made for 22 time slices using the Hadley Centre Unified Model. Modelled annual net primary productivity (aNPP) of a series of plant functional types (PFTs) is mapped for selected time slices and summarised for major geographical regions for all time slices. Strong canonical correlations are demonstrated between model outputs and pollen data compiled for the same period and region. Simulated aNPP values,... (More)
In order to investigate the potential role of vegetation changes in megafaunal extinctions during the later part of the last glacial stage and early Holocene (42-10 ka BP), the palaeovegetation of northern Eurasia and Alaska was simulated using the LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model. Palaeoclimatic driving data were derived from simulations made for 22 time slices using the Hadley Centre Unified Model. Modelled annual net primary productivity (aNPP) of a series of plant functional types (PFTs) is mapped for selected time slices and summarised for major geographical regions for all time slices. Strong canonical correlations are demonstrated between model outputs and pollen data compiled for the same period and region. Simulated aNPP values, especially for tree PFTs and for a mesophilous herb PFT, provide evidence of the structure and productivity of last glacial vegetation. The mesophilous herb PFT aNPP is higher in many areas during the glacial than at present or during the early Holocene. Glacial stage vegetation, whilst open and largely treeless in much of Europe, thus had a higher capacity to support large vertebrate herbivore populations than did early Holocene vegetation. A marked and rapid decrease in aNPP of mesophilous herbs began shortly after the Last Glacial Maximum, especially in western Eurasia. This is likely implicated in extinction of several large herbivorous mammals during the latter part of the glacial stage and the transition to the Holocene. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Quaternary Science Reviews
volume
29
issue
19-20
pages
2604 - 2618
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000281360500014
  • scopus:77955550660
ISSN
0277-3791
DOI
10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.05.031
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
bcd6cfa7-8711-4659-b564-93902a0bca4c (old id 1672168)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:32:48
date last changed
2022-02-10 03:13:16
@article{bcd6cfa7-8711-4659-b564-93902a0bca4c,
  abstract     = {{In order to investigate the potential role of vegetation changes in megafaunal extinctions during the later part of the last glacial stage and early Holocene (42-10 ka BP), the palaeovegetation of northern Eurasia and Alaska was simulated using the LPJ-GUESS dynamic vegetation model. Palaeoclimatic driving data were derived from simulations made for 22 time slices using the Hadley Centre Unified Model. Modelled annual net primary productivity (aNPP) of a series of plant functional types (PFTs) is mapped for selected time slices and summarised for major geographical regions for all time slices. Strong canonical correlations are demonstrated between model outputs and pollen data compiled for the same period and region. Simulated aNPP values, especially for tree PFTs and for a mesophilous herb PFT, provide evidence of the structure and productivity of last glacial vegetation. The mesophilous herb PFT aNPP is higher in many areas during the glacial than at present or during the early Holocene. Glacial stage vegetation, whilst open and largely treeless in much of Europe, thus had a higher capacity to support large vertebrate herbivore populations than did early Holocene vegetation. A marked and rapid decrease in aNPP of mesophilous herbs began shortly after the Last Glacial Maximum, especially in western Eurasia. This is likely implicated in extinction of several large herbivorous mammals during the latter part of the glacial stage and the transition to the Holocene. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.}},
  author       = {{Allen, Judy R. M. and Hickler, Thomas and Singarayer, Joy S. and Sykes, Martin and Valdes, Paul J. and Huntley, Brian}},
  issn         = {{0277-3791}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{19-20}},
  pages        = {{2604--2618}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Quaternary Science Reviews}},
  title        = {{Last glacial vegetation of northern Eurasia}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.05.031}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.quascirev.2010.05.031}},
  volume       = {{29}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}