RT Journal Article
T1 Identification problems of arid environments in the Neogene–Quaternary mammal record of Spain
A1 Hernández Fernández, Manuel
A1 Alberdi, María Teresa
A1 Azanza, Beatriz
A1 Montoya, Plinio
A1 Morales Romero, Jorge
A1 Nieto, Manuel
A1 Peláez-Campomanes de Labra, Pablo
AB In this work, we investigate if broadly used methodologies are adequate to detect periods of aridity based on the Spanish fossil record and try to infer which of them were more or less severe. Thus, we present a qualitative statistical approach to two popular palaeoecological methodologies: ecological diversity and cenograms. Discriminant models, derived from modern localities of known biome, determined the probable biomes of Neogene–Quaternary fossil assemblages. Principal component analyses (PCA) provided additional inference on their ordination within an aridity gradient. While models work adequately with modern faunas, the analyses of the palaeocommunities showed that their ecological structure is very different from that of modern faunas, affecting the models’ performance. Nevertheless, the PCA was able to establish an aridity gradient. Our results suggest that independent tools of palaeoecological analysis are critical when reconstructing palaeoenvironments.
PB Elsevier
SN 1095-922X
YR 2006
FD 2006
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110809
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/110809
LA eng
NO Hernández Fernández, M., et al. «Identification Problems of Arid Environments in the Neogene–Quaternary Mammal Record of Spain». Journal of Arid Environments, vol. 66, n.º 3, agosto de 2006, pp. 585-608. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaridenv.2006.01.013.
NO Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología
NO Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología
NO Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025