Evol Ecol Res 13: 851-867 (2011)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

A comparison of estimates of mean annual precipitation from different proxies: a pilot study for the European Neogene

J.T. Eronen1,2, A. Micheels2,3 and T. Utescher2,3,4

1Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland, 2Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (LOEWE BiK-F), Frankfurt/Main, Germany, 3Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Frankfurt/Main, Germany and 4Steinmann Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany

Correspondence: J.T. Eronen, Department of Geosciences and Geography, University of Helsinki, PO Box 64, FIN-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
e-mail: jussi.t.eronen@helsinki.fi

ABSTRACT

Question: How well does the precipitation estimate method based on fossil mammal evidence correspond with results from the paleobotanical co-existence approach?

Data: Large herbivorous fossil mammals and plants for Western Eurasia. Data cover 23 to 2 million years ago. The data come from the NOW database and data compilation of the NECLIME Project.

Research method: We used standard statistical methods and GIS to compare plant and mammal proxies at different resolutions and through time.

Conclusions: The mammal and paleobotanical proxies give precipitation estimates that are very close to each other. On the regional scale, the integrated patterns are consistent. Overall, paleobotanical reconstruction gives higher precipitation estimates than those based on fossil mammals.

Keywords: Europe, fossil mammals, Neogene, paleobotany, paleoclimate.

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