Pleistocene plant fossils in and near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Sally P. Horn; Robert L. Sanford; David Dilcher; Terry A. Lott; Paul R. Renne; Michael C. Wiemann; Duane Cozadd; Orlando Vargas

doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2003.tb00598.x

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Pleistocene plant fossils in and near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Sally P. Horn, Robert L. Sanford, David Dilcher, Terry A. Lott, Paul R. Renne, Michael C. Wiemann, Duane Cozadd, Orlando Vargas

Year:

2003

Type:

Miscellaneous Publication

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-7429.2003.tb00598.x

Source:

Biotropica. Vol. 35, no. 3 (2003): Pages 434-441

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Abstract

Radiocarbon dating and 40 Ar/39Ar analysis of overlying tephra indicate that plant fossil assemblages exposed by stream erosion and well construction in and near La Selva Biological Station in eastern lowland Costa Rica are Pleistocene in age. We identified plant taxa based on wood, leaves, fruits, seeds, pollen, and spores examined from three sites at ca 30 m elevation. Extrapolating from modern ranges and surface temperature lapse rates suggests paleotemperatures 2.5-3.1°C cooler than at present.

Keywords

Costa Rica, fossil plants, La Selva Biological Station, paleoclimate, paleoecology, Pleistocene, pollen, spores, tropical vegetation, tropical wet forest

Citation

Horn, Sally P.; Sanford, Robert L.; Dilcher, David; Lott, Terry A.; Renne, Paul R.; Wiemann, Michael C.; Cozadd, Duane; Vargas, Orlando. 2003. Pleistocene plant fossils in and near La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica. Biotropica. Vol. 35, no. 3 (2003): Pages 434-441