Название: LATE PLEISTOCENE TO HISTORIC VERTEBRATE FAUNAS FROM CAVES AND KARST FEATURES AT CAMP BULLIS, TEXAS
Источник: 15th International Congress of Speleology
Место публикации: Carlsbad
Том:
Выпуск:
Страницы: 80-85
Web/Url:
№ полки:
Добавлено: Elmaz
Ключевые слова: vertebrate, pleistocene, karst, Техас, палеонтология, плейстоцен, Техас, США
Источник:
Реферат: Since 1993, multidisciplinary karst investigations have occurred at Camp Bullis, north of San Antonio in Bexar and Comal counties, Texas. Vertebrate remains have been recovered from 62 caves and 11 karst features. The majority were collected as loose bones on cave floors during reconnaissance for endangered species conservation and hydrogeologic research. In a few cases, limited test pits or excavations to further explore the caves and karst features have recovered vertebrate remains, and in two cases, detailed paleontological excavations have been carried out. Vertebrate remains range from introduced species to Pleistocene extinct fauna or extralimital taxa. The majority of the caves preserve demonstrably recent historic or late Holocene faunas, but several caves have significant paleontological potential. These include Flach’s Cave (TMM-45555, Mammuthus and Geochelone wilsoni? present), Root Canal Cave (TMM-43430, fauna includes Synaptomys cooperi), B-52 Cave (TMM-43437, Blarina and Microtus present in one area), and Isocow Cave (TMM-43427, early Holocene to Pleistocene? stratified sample - Geochelone wilsoni present). In two cases, the conservation work required the systematic excavation of bone bearing sediments (Flying Buzzworm Cave TMM-43429, and Pain In the Glass Cave TMM-43442). Both of these caves yielded extensive microfauna during wet screening. The Flying Buzzworm fauna was a mixture of two components, a historic component that included historic debris and a Pleistocene? component (with extralimital taxa Sorex, Thomomys, and Onychomys). Pain In The Glass Cave yielded two stratified components, an upper mid-Holocene? fauna stratigraphically superposed over a Pleistocene? fauna (extinct Mammuthus, and Equus, as well as extralimital Scalopus, Thomomys, Cynomys, and ?Glaucomys). Neither fauna is particularly unique, but were excavated for necessity. While not Camp Bullis’ prime paleontological sites, their excavation demonstrate interesting assemblages of taxa and the potential for important vertebrate investigations in this protected and limited-access military reservation. We hope this paper will spur interest and further research at Camp Bullis.