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Radiocarbon-Dated Subfossil Stomach Oil Deposits from Petrel Nesting Sites: Novel Paleoenvironmental Records from Continental Antarctica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Achim Hiller ,
Wolf-Dieter Hermichen  and
Ulrich Wand
Achim Hiller
Affiliation:
Arbeitsgruppe Paläoklimatologie, Quartärzentrum der Universität Leipzig, Permoserstrasse 15 D-04303 Leipzig, Germany
Wolf-Dieter Hermichen
Affiliation:
Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Forschungsstelle Potsdam Postfach 600149, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany
Ulrich Wand
Affiliation:
Alfred-Wegener-Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, Forschungsstelle Potsdam Postfach 600149, D-14473 Potsdam, Germany
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Abstract

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Radiocarbon dating is an important tool for reconstructing Late Quaternary paleoenvironmental history of the Antarctic continent. Because of the scarcity of datable material, new suitable substances are welcomed. We present here novel paleoenvironmental records—subfossil stomach oil deposits (mumiyo). This waxy organic material is found in petrel breeding colonies, especially in those of snow petrels, Pagodroma nivea. The substance is formed by accumulation and solidification of stomach oil regurgitated for the purpose of defense. We demonstrate and outline the usefulness and limitations of 14C dating mumiyo for determining dates of local ice retreat, moraines and petrel occupation history.

Type
I. 14C in the Reconstruction of Past Environments
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , 1995 , pp. 171 - 180
Copyright
Copyright © the Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona 

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