Late-glacial Coleoptera and the paleoclimate at Hirtles, Nova Scotia

Authors

  • Randall F. Miller Steinhammer Palaeontology Laboratory, New Brunswick Museum, 277 Douglas Avenue, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K 1E5, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/2101

Abstract

Paleoentomological studies of Coleoptera from a late-glacial site at Hirtles, Nova Scotia, Canada, produced a tundra-treeline to northern boreal assemblage during the interval 12,300 to 11,700 years B.P. This is one of the oldest late-glacial buried organic deposits in the Maritime Provinces of Canada and provides fossil beetle evidence for recently deglaciated environments in the region. Bark beetles indicate the presence of trees, perhaps as early as 11,900 years B.P. A comparison can be made with contemporaneous sites in central and eastern North America where coleopteran evidence suggests warmer temperatures. Coleoptera fossils demonstrate evidence of a climatic gradient from the Great Lakes to eastern Canada during this time interval possibly greater than occurs today. RÉSUMÉ Des études paléoentomologiques de coléopteres d'un emplacement tardiglaciaire, à Hirtes, en Nouvelle-X9;cosse, au Canada, ont permis l'etablissement d'une limite de végétation des arbres et de toundra pour la florizone boréale septentrionale pendant l'intervalle de 12 300 à 11 700 ans avant le present. Il s'agit de l'un des plus anciens dépôts organiques tardiglaciaires enfouis dans les provinces maritimes canadiennes; il fournit une preuve de l'existence de coléopteres fossiles dans la région. L'existence de scolytes révèle la présence d'arbres, peut-être des 11 900 ans avant le présent. On peut effectuer une comparaison avec des emplacements contemporains dans le centre et Pest de l'Amérique du Nord, oû la preuve de la présence de coléopteres permet de supposer des températures plus chaudes. Les fossiles de coléoptères demontrent qu'il a existé pendant cet intervalle un gradient climatique possiblement supérieur à celui d'aujourd'hui, des Grands Lacs à l'Est du Canada. [Traduit par la rédaction]

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Published

1995-08-01

How to Cite

Miller, R. F. (1995). Late-glacial Coleoptera and the paleoclimate at Hirtles, Nova Scotia. Atlantic Geoscience, 31(2). https://doi.org/10.4138/2101

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 2 (1995)

Section

Articles

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