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The Ohio Pleistocene Mammal Database (OPMDB): Creation and Preliminary Taphonomic and Spatial Analyses

Terry, Ina M
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1377456136

Abstract Details

2013, Master of Science (MS), Bowling Green State University, Geology.
The Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene of Ohio was a period of dynamic changes in climate, flora, and fauna. Climate and flora studies have been greatly aided by palynology research in Ohio's prevalent peat deposits but faunal dynamics, particularly for large (≥ 44 kg) mammals, are less certain. Available Pleistocene-aged fossils are limited and existing databases are largely incomplete. This study adds to the available data through the creation of the Ohio Pleistocene Mammal Database (OPMDB). The database is composed of fossil finds within Ohio of probable Pleistocene age that have been collected from historic sources, i.e., period newspapers, science journals, etc., and compiled into a geographically referenced database. Within this thesis, I describe the scope and breadth of the OPMDB and present preliminary taphonomic and geospatial analyses using the OPMDB. Initial results are consistent with those previously described in the scientific literature, supporting the view that historical reports can be reliable sources for information about fossil mammal occurrences. Clear differences in spatial distribution and preservational potential exist among Late Pleistocene-Early Holocene mammals. Analysis of the distributions of preserved species and individual skeletal elements by sedimentary context revealed that the greatest variety of taxa is preserved in peats. Mastodons dominate Ohio fossil localities, making up 56% of occurrences in the OPMDB, with sites spread throughout the state. Mastodons are found in a variety of depositional contexts, from peats and clays to gravels. In contrast, mammoths are relatively rare in peats and clays, and none are known from the lake plain of northwest Ohio. The peccary record is notably rich, with many complete skeletons; peccaries are most likely to be found in fluvial sands and silts. Other ungulates, including equids, cervids, and bovids, are most often represented in the OPMDB by isolated cranial material (teeth, horns/antlers, partial crania); a collecting bias against unremarkable postcranial material may be a factor for these taxa. Cluster and geospatial analyses delineate two mammal species associations in Ohio that have also been reported elsewhere, the Mastodon and Mammoth Faunas. Additional faunal associations derived from the OPMDB may be unique to the Great Lakes region. Integrating data on early human occupation sites in Ohio did not reveal a strong association between humans and any one potential prey species; rather, humans may have tracked suitable habitat space. While the OPMDB has proven to be a useful tool for investigating Late Quaternary faunal dynamics in Ohio, inclusion of additional data on depositional environments and evidence of human modification of skeletal material, as well as more radiocarbon dates, would increase its utility. In particular, future work should expand on taphofacies analysis, exploration of spatial relationships among mammal taxa and humans, and changes in faunal composition and spatial distribution throughout this interval.
Margaret Yacobucci, Dr (Advisor)
Peter Gorsevski, Dr (Committee Member)
Jeff Snyder, Dr (Committee Member)
278 p.
Animals; Archaeology; Geographic Information Science; Geology; Paleoecology; Paleontology; Zoology
Pleistocene; Pleistocene fauna; Pleistocene mammal; Ohio Pleistocene; Faunal associations; Paleohuman; Early human; Taphonomy; Taphofacies; Sedimentology; Large mammal; Spatial analysis; Geographic Information Systems; Cluster analysis

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Terry, I. M. (2013). The Ohio Pleistocene Mammal Database (OPMDB): Creation and Preliminary Taphonomic and Spatial Analyses [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1377456136

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Terry, Ina. The Ohio Pleistocene Mammal Database (OPMDB): Creation and Preliminary Taphonomic and Spatial Analyses. 2013. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1377456136.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Terry, Ina. "The Ohio Pleistocene Mammal Database (OPMDB): Creation and Preliminary Taphonomic and Spatial Analyses." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2013. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1377456136

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1377456136
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This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.