Forums
Kuril Islands Biocomplexity

Aloha Misty!

Wondering if in the scientists diggings, they have unearthed different species than what are there today. Even on the microscopic level, if a change in species can be connected to a change in climate?

Thank you so much for all your hard work. I am REALLY enjoying your journals! My students will be in the classroom in less than 2 weeks! We will all enjoy your observations :)

warmly,

Maggie 

Mon, 07/23/2007 - 08:16

Misty Nikula

MaggieSo many great questions!
 
I asked Mike Etnier, our resident faunal expert, about your question and this is what he told me:
 
There are some animal species that we have found remains of in midden sites that are do not currently live on the islands.  For example, we have found some Japanese sea lion bones and ringed seal bones.  Both of these animals do not currently live in the Kurils.  The Japanese sea lion is a relative of the California sea lion that is now extinct, probably due to over-hunting.  Ringed seals, on the other hand, live on ice.  The Sea of Okhotsk does have pack ice in the winter that comes down to even the southern end of the Kurils (due to the direction of its currents, primarily), so it is not surprising to find ringed seal bones at archaeological sites.  However, as the climate begins to change and pack ice does not extend as far, it may be less likely to find ringed seals here.
 
I also know that Pat Anderson, a palynologist, or pollen scientist, from the University of Washington, is doing a lot of lake coring to determine the climate and types of land cover in various places in the Kuril Islands at various times.  Currently, though, she is working on Iturup and Kunashir Islands and I do not know what they have found so far from last year's work on Urup, Kharimkotan and Paramushir.
 
Hope that helps!  Keep the questions coming!
Misty