Fossil rotifers and the early colonization of an Antarctic Lake
Early Holocene sediments from a continental Antartic lake (Ace Lake, Vestfold Hills, East Antartica) contained abundant fossil rotifers of the genus Notholca. The fossil is similar to specimens of Notholca sp. present in modern-day Ace Lake and other fresh and brackish lakes of the Vestfold Hills. C...
Published in: | Quaternary Research |
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Main Authors: | , , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
2001
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/72b8334b-7930-48e8-afdf-42d349aab8d4 https://doi.org/10.1006/qres.2001.2222 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0035728020&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
Summary: | Early Holocene sediments from a continental Antartic lake (Ace Lake, Vestfold Hills, East Antartica) contained abundant fossil rotifers of the genus Notholca. The fossil is similar to specimens of Notholca sp. present in modern-day Ace Lake and other fresh and brackish lakes of the Vestfold Hills. Cyanobacteria and protists (chrysophyte cysts, dinoflagellate cysts, and rhizopod tests) were also recovered from the core samples. These sediments were deposited early in the freshwater phase of Ace Lake, soon after deglaciation of the area. The occurence of this trophically diverse assemblage of organisms at an early in the evolution of the lake suggests either that they were part of an endemic Antarctic flora and fauna which pre-dated the last glacial maximum and survived in glacial refugia or that effecient intercontinental dispersal had occurred. |
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