Comparing past and present. The Holocene and Marine Isotope Stage 3 microvertebrate assemblage of Ararat-1 Cave, Armenia

IF 3.3 1区地球科学 Q1 GEOGRAPHY, PHYSICAL

Quaternary Science Reviews Pub Date : 2025-07-07 DOI:10.1016/j.quascirev.2025.109512

Dominik L. Rogall , Hugues-Alexandre Blain , Ioannis A.K. Oikonomou , Theodoros Karampaglidis , Artur Petrosyan , Boris Gasparyan , Ariel Malinsky-Buller

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Abstract

The Ararat-1 Cave site, situated within the dry mountain steppe zone of Armenia at an elevation of 1,034 m, preserves a stratigraphic sequence spanning Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and the Holocene (MIS 1). The site has yielded a rich microvertebrate assemblage comprising 18 extant taxa, including rodents, insectivores, lagomorphs, amphibians, and reptiles. Middle Paleolithic deposits (52-35 kyrs, MIS 3) are characterized by taxa such as Chionomys nivalis (Snow Vole), Ellobius sp. (Mole Voles), Microtus arvalis (Common Vole), Microtus socialis (Social Vole), Meriones sp. (Jirds), Mus sp. (Mice), Nothocricetulus migratorius (Grey Dwarf Hamster), Scarturus sp. (Jerboas), Crocidura sp. (White-toothed Shrews), Erinaceus concolor (Southern White-breasted Hedgehog), Ochotona cf. rufescens (Afghan Pika), Bufotes gr. viridis (Green Toads), Agamidae indet. (Agamids), Erycinae indet. (Sand Boas), Colubridae indet. 1 and 2 (Colubrids), Natrix tessellata (Dice Snake), and Vipera gr. berus (Vipers). Holocene layers (SU0.1–SU1.3) exhibit a similar taxonomic composition, though lacking C. nivalis, Ellobius sp., O. cf. rufescens, as well as Erycinae indet., Colubridae indet. 1 and 2, and Natrix tessellata. A comprehensive taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of the small mammal and herpetofaunal assemblages was conducted, employing the Taxonomic Habitat Index Method to reconstruct local ecological conditions during MIS 3 and the Holocene. Small mammal taxa indicate the coexistence of both cold- and warm-adapted species, while herpetofaunal assemblages predominantly exhibit Eastern-Mediterranean and Turano-Mediterranean affinities, with the V. berus complex being a notable exception due to its European or Sibero-European distribution. Paleoenvironmental reconstruction reveals a mosaic landscape comprising open semi-arid shrublands and grasslands interspersed with forested patches, rocky terrain, and a perennial water source. This environment closely resembles the modern “mountain steppe” and “dry mountain steppe” biomes of southern Armenia. The findings from Ararat-1 Cave underscore the ecological diversity present in the Southern Caucasus during both the Pleistocene and Holocene and contribute to a deeper understanding of the region's paleoenvironments.

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比较过去和现在。亚美尼亚Ararat-1洞穴全新世和海洋同位素第3阶段微脊椎动物组合

Ararat-1洞穴遗址位于亚美尼亚海拔1034米的干燥山地草原地带，保留了跨越海洋同位素阶段（MIS） 3和全新世（MIS 1）的地层序列。该遗址发现了丰富的微脊椎动物群落，包括18个现存分类群，包括啮齿动物、食虫动物、足形动物、两栖动物和爬行动物。旧石器时代中期沉积物（52-35年，MIS 3）以雪田鼠（Chionomys nivalis）、鼹鼠鼠（Ellobius sp.）、普通田鼠（Microtus arvalis）、社会田鼠（Microtus socialis）、Meriones sp.（鸟类）、Mus sp.（小鼠）、Nothocricetulus migratorius（灰矮仓鼠）、Scarturus sp.（跳鼠）、Crocidura sp.（白齿鼩）、Erinaceus concolor（南方白胸刺猬）、Ochotona cf.rufescens（阿富汗鼠兔）、Bufotes gr. viridis（绿蟾蜍）、Agamidae indet等类群为特征。（菊科），赤藓科；（沙鲤），金鱼科。1和2 (Colubrids), Natrix tessellata （Dice Snake）和Vipera gr. berus（蝰蛇）。全新世层（su0.1 ~ su1.3）具有相似的分类组成，但缺乏C. nivalis、Ellobius sp.、O. cf. rufescens和Erycinae indet。，哥伦比亚大学。1和2，以及镶嵌矩阵。利用分类学生境指数法，对该地区的小型哺乳动物和爬行动物进行了全面的分类和分类分析，重建了MIS 3和全新世的生态条件。小型哺乳动物类群表明冷适应和暖适应物种共存，而爬行动物类群主要表现出东地中海和图拉诺-地中海的亲缘关系，V. berus复合体是一个明显的例外，因为它分布在欧洲或西伯利亚-欧洲。古环境重建揭示了一个由开放的半干旱灌丛和草地、森林斑块、岩石地形和多年生水源组成的马赛克景观。这种环境与亚美尼亚南部的现代“山地草原”和“干山地草原”生物群落非常相似。Ararat-1洞穴的发现强调了南高加索在更新世和全新世期间存在的生态多样性，有助于更深入地了解该地区的古环境。

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来源期刊

Quaternary Science Reviews 地学-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.50

自引率

15.00%

发文量

388

审稿时长

3 months

期刊介绍： Quaternary Science Reviews caters for all aspects of Quaternary science, and includes, for example, geology, geomorphology, geography, archaeology, soil science, palaeobotany, palaeontology, palaeoclimatology and the full range of applicable dating methods. The dividing line between what constitutes the review paper and one which contains new original data is not easy to establish, so QSR also publishes papers with new data especially if these perform a review function. All the Quaternary sciences are changing rapidly and subject to re-evaluation as the pace of discovery quickens; thus the diverse but comprehensive role of Quaternary Science Reviews keeps readers abreast of the wider issues relating to new developments in the field.