A Late Quaternary Paleoecological Record From Caves of Southern Jamaica, West Indies

Authors

Donald A. McFarlane, Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps CollegeFollow
Joyce Lundberg, Carleton University
A.G. Fincham, University of Southern California

Document Type

Article

Department

Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science

Publication Date

2002

Abstract

Studies of an unusual and diverse system of caves in coastal southern Jamaica have yielded a paleoclimatic record associated with a fossil vertebrate record that provides useful insights into the poorly documented paleoecology of latest Wisconsinan and Holocene Jamaica. Episodes of significantly increased precipitation during the Holocene have left characteristic deposits of speleothems, and have supported both faunal and archaeological communities that were dependent on these mesic conditions. Deposits of fossil bat guano preserved in the caves provide a δ¹³C record of alternating mesic and xeric climatic episodes that supports the interpretation of the faunal and archaeological record.

Comments

Used with permission of the National Speleological Society (www.caves.org)

Terms of Use & License Information

Terms of Use for work posted in Scholarship@Claremont.

Recommended Citation

McFarlane, D. A., Lundberg, J., and Fincham, A. G. (2002). "A late Quaternary paleoecological record from caves of southern Jamaica, West Indies." Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 64(2): 117-125.