Mock aridity and the paleoecology of volcanically influenced ecosystems

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1995 Mock aridity and the paleoecology of volcanically influenced ecosystems Judith Harris; Judith Harris 1University of Colorado Museum, CB 315, Boulder, Colorado 80309 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar John Van Couvering John Van Couvering 2American Museum of Natural History, 79th and Central Park West, New York, New York 10024 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Judith Harris 1University of Colorado Museum, CB 315, Boulder, Colorado 80309 John Van Couvering 2American Museum of Natural History, 79th and Central Park West, New York, New York 10024 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (7): 593–596. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0593:MAATPO>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Judith Harris, John Van Couvering; Mock aridity and the paleoecology of volcanically influenced ecosystems. Geology 1995;; 23 (7): 593–596. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0593:MAATPO>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The effects of volcanicity often mimic those of aridity and can lead to paleoenvironmental misinterpretations. The occurrence of volcanically induced barrenness, xeric conditions, and extreme geochemical alkalinity or salinity in the context of a regionally more humid climate is dubbed here "mock aridity." Biotic recovery at Mount St. Helens (Washington) and Oldoinyo Lengai (Kenya) points to potential long-term effects of volcanicity on the overall ecosystem. Contraindicating sedimentary rocks and fossils from Kenya Miocene rocks and contraindicating sites in U.S. Pacific Northwest Miocene rocks both suggest interpretive problems due to mock aridity. This calls for a reevaluation of volcanogenic sites derived from supposed climax ecosystems in the light of mock aridity. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.