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Holocene environmental changes in the highlands of Yemen revealed by Ostracod (Crustacea) stratigraphy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2025

Munef Mohammed ,
Dietmar Keyser Open the ORCID record for Dietmar Keyser [Opens in a new window] ,
Peter Frenzel ,
Ali Siraji ,
Abdullah Al haiani ,
Mohammed Yafoz ,
Fadhl Hussain ,
Abdulkareem Abood  and
Abdullah Meyad
Munef Mohammed
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Dietmar Keyser*
Affiliation:
Institut für Zell- und Systembiologie der Tiere, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
Peter Frenzel
Affiliation:
Institute of Geosciences, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
Ali Siraji
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Abdullah Al haiani
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Mohammed Yafoz
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Fadhl Hussain
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Abdulkareem Abood
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
Abdullah Meyad
Affiliation:
Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Sanaa University, Sanaa, Yemen
*
Corresponding author: Dietmar Keyser; Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

The region encompassing the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula has seen dramatic changes in Holocene moisture availability. While the highlands of Yemen are sensitive to moisture dynamics, their history remains poorly known. This study provides new information on Holocene environmental change in the Yemeni highlands through analyses of the lithostratigraphy and ostracod stratigraphy of two localities. The diversity and abundance of ostracod populations serve as key environmental indicators, reflecting stability and change in aquatic habitats. Six time periods are identified, each representing distinct phases of environmental and climatic change. Undated gravelly fine sands, possibly of late-glacial or Early Holocene age, indicate dry conditions. Subsequent stages indicate a progression of moister conditions and warmer climates characterized by the formation of ponds and lakes and fluctuations in water availability. Shifts occurred between oligotrophic and eutrophic conditions, and between desiccation trends and wetter conditions. We found the taxonomic composition of ostracod populations in Yemen’s highlands to include species from mountainous regions of Africa and the broader Palaearctic. This research aligns with previously reported data and expands our understanding of past ecosystems and climatic conditions in highland Yemen.

Keywords

Hydrologymoisture changesmountainsfreshwaterstable isotopes
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , First View , pp. 1 - 13
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Quaternary Research Center.

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