Researchers including 鶹ԭ’s Dr. Sabrina Brown reconstruct environmental history of Yellowstone’s geyser basins
A studyincluding work from a 鶹ԭ professorreveals how climate and hydrothermal activity have shaped the vegetation, wildfire and aquatic ecosystem history of the Yellowstone Plateau over the past 15,000 years. The results of the National Science Foundation-funded project were published this week in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Sabrina Brown, assistant professor of biology and environmental studies at 鶹ԭ, has spent the last decade conducting research in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.Her interest in Yellowstone National Park’s Lower Geyser Basinbegan in 2020when sheanalyzed sediment samples from Goose Lake, noticingalongside coauthors Cathy Whitlock and Chris Schillerthat its contents differed from those in lakebeds in other parts of the park, suggesting that distinct geologic factors may have influenced the lake’s evolution. Collaboratorson the projectincludedscientists fromMontana State University,theU.S. Geological Survey, Oregon State University,鶹ԭand Colorado State University. Inthis study,the teamcollectedcore samples from small lakesof different agesin theLower Geyser Basin, which is Yellowstone’s largestgeyser system.The lakes are closed, meaning that theyhave noinflowing or outflowingstreams. Pollen records from thelakesindicatethatafterthe ice receded, a grassysteppeecosystem developed onthe rhyolitevolcanic soils.Steppewas replaced byalodgepole pine forestthatestablishedbetween 12,800 and 11,000 years ago. Despitesubsequentchanges in climate,these pineforestshavechanged littlein composition, leading theauthors tosuggestthat lodgepole pine will continue to […]
