Paper No. 216-4
Presentation Time: 2:20 PM
HIGH ELEVATION BISON IN THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT RANGE DURING THE LATE HOLOCENE
WIDGA, Chris, Earth and Mineral Sciences Museum, Penn State University, 6 Deike Bldg, University Park, PA 16802, BOUVIER, Darian, Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology, East Tennessee State University, Gray, TN 37615, TODD, Lawrence, Greybull River Sustainable Landscape Ecology Project, Meeteetse, WY 82433, PHILLIPS, Amy, Draper Museum of Natural History, Cody, WY 82414, CANNON, Kenneth, Cannon Heritage Consultants, Inc., 1015 East 100 North, Logan, UT 84321, LEE, Craig, Sociology & Anthropology, Montana State University, P.O. Box 172380, Bozeman, MT 59715, WANAMAKER Jr., Alan D., Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, Iowa State University, 253 Science I, Ames, IA 50011 and STITES, Michael, US Forest Service, Greybull, WY 82426
Despite their shallow time depth, many Holocene ecosystems remain poorly understood. Non-analog behaviors, biogeographic shifts, and unclear anthropogenic impacts characterize the recent history of many large vertebrates, even those with well-characterized extant populations. The American Bison (Bison bison) is a keystone herbivore in modern grasslands. It enjoys an abundant and widespread fossil record. Its Holocene niche was extremely broad, including ecosystems and behaviors that no longer characterize modern herds. Bison are also important to regional economies, tribal identities, and conservation efforts making them a prime target for conservation paleobiology approaches.
During the late Holocene, large bison herds occurred in grass-dominated ecological zones across much of the North American mid-continent. However, in situ fossils and historic accounts illustrate the adaptability of bison to a broad ecological niche space, from grassy prairies and plains to eastern forests. Yet, few modern bison are found at high elevations. This research, spurred by the discovery of bison remains at >3000m in the front range of the Rocky Mountains, explores how bison used these landscapes through the lens of horn (keratin), bone and tooth (enamel) stable isotope systems (C, N, O, Sr).
Bison horn keratin was sampled in seven, late Holocene individuals for δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O to understand life history trends. Oxygen isotopes exhibit up to 8‰ periodicity. Changes in δ15N, occasionally in concert with δ18O from the same samples, are interpreted to represent movement from lower elevation grassland environments (high microbial activity) to high elevation ridge lines with herbaceous vegetations (low microbial activity).
Results of serial tooth enamel samples (δ13C, δ18O, and 87Sr/86Sr) from seven nearby bison molars also reflect diet and mobility patterns. Enamel 87Sr/86Sr suggests four of these acquired forage >10km from the location where they were recovered.
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