Radiocarbon-Dated Subfossil Stomach Oil Deposits from Petrel Nesting Sites: Novel Paleoenvironmental Records from Continental Antarctica
Issue Date
1995-01-01Keywords
Pagodroma niveaThalassoica antarctica
fatty acids
lipids
Antarctica
paleoenvironment
upper Quaternary
organic acids
Chordata
Tetrapoda
Vertebrata
Aves
organic compounds
organic materials
organic residues
Cenozoic
Quaternary
methods
C 14
carbon
dates
isotopes
radioactive isotopes
absolute age
Metadata
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Hiller, A., Hermichen, W.-D., & Wand, U. (1995). Radiocarbon-dated subfossil stomach oil deposits from petrel nesting sites: Novel paleoenvironmental records from continental Antarctica. Radiocarbon, 37(2), 171-180.Journal
RadiocarbonAdditional Links
http://radiocarbon.webhost.uits.arizona.edu/Abstract
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
Articletext
Language
enISSN
0033-8222ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1017/S0033822200030617