BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1040          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Natural variation in small mammal communities - Blanche Cave
Abstract: This project aims to examine small mammal responses to past climate change as recorded in fossil deposit from Blanche Cave 3rd Chamber (Entrance 5U6) by Dr Amy Macken in Naracoorte Caves National Park, South Australia. The study builds on projects: 1. Taphonomy and Site Formation - Blanche Cave by Dr Liz Reed 2. Palaeoecology of Blanche Cave by Ms Tegan Stehbens. The project links to 'Natural variation in small mammal communities - Wet Cave' by Dr Amy Macken, and involved identification of small mammal craniodental material from the site, faunal analyses and geochronological analyses. PROJECT SPECIFIC PUBLICATIONS: Macken, A.C. and Reed, E.H. 2013. Late Quaternary small mammal faunas of the Naracoorte Caves World Heritage Area. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 137, 53-67. Macken, A.C. and Reed E.H. 2014. Postglacial reorganisation of a small-mammal paleocommunity in southern Australia reveals thresholds of change. Ecological Monographs 84, 563-577. Macken, A.C., Staff, R.A. and Reed, E.H. 2013b. Bayesian age-depth modelling of Late Quaternary deposits from Wet and Blanche caves, Naracoorte, South Australia: a framework for comparative faunal analyses. Quaternary Geochronology 17, 26-43. Macken, A.C. 2013. Natural variation in south-eastern South Australian small mammal communities through the Late Quaternary. PhD Thesis, Flinders University, South Australia.
 
Start Date: 05/12/2006      End Date: 01/08/2013
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: Third Chamber, Blanche Cave (entrance 5U6), Naracoorte Caves National Park: Zone 54, Easting 481872, Northing 5901424.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Refer to Abstract.
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: SAMPLE COLLECTION: Fossil material was collected by Dr Liz Reed for project: Taphonomy and Site Formation - Blanche Cave. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL PREPARATION: Small mammal craniodental material was sorted and identified from Layers 1-27 of grid square A3. Rodents were sub-sampled given size of collection (details in associated publication). N.B., fossil material from Layers 4 and 14 of grid square A3 are missing. Fossils from these layers were examined from grid square B3. Refer publications for more details. VERTEBRATE FOSSIL REGISTRATION: Small mammal craniodental specimens for this project were registered to the Flinders University fossil collection (FU14100-14685) SEDIMENTARY ANALYSES: Nil for this project. GEOCHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSES: Modelling of radiocarbon chronology for the site was undertaken. See publications for details.

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Fauna : Fossil excavation
Fauna : Climate and climate change related investigations
Information Authority: Flinders University of SA
Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:South East)