Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-v2bm5 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T18:48:24.658Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Associated terrestrial and marine fossils in the late-glacial Presumpscot Formation, southern Maine, USA, and the marine reservoir effect on radiocarbon ages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Woodrow B. Thompson ,
Carol B. Griggs ,
Norton G. Miller ,
Robert E. Nelson ,
Thomas K. Weddle  and
Taylor M. Kilian
Woodrow B. Thompson*
Affiliation:
Maine Geological Survey, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0022, USA
Carol B. Griggs
Affiliation:
Tree-Ring Laboratory, Cornell University, B48 Goldwin Smith Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
Norton G. Miller
Affiliation:
Biological Survey, New York State Museum, 3140 Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY 12230, USA
Robert E. Nelson
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Colby College, 5804 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901-8858, USA
Thomas K. Weddle
Affiliation:
Maine Geological Survey, 22 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0022, USA
Taylor M. Kilian
Affiliation:
Department of Geology, Colby College, 5804 Mayflower Hill, Waterville, ME 04901-8858, USA Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
*
⁎Corresponding author. Fax: +1 207 287 2353.
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Excavations in the late-glacial Presumpscot Formation at Portland, Maine, uncovered tree remains and other terrestrial organics associated with marine invertebrate shells in a landslide deposit. Buds of Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar) occurred with twigs of Picea glauca (white spruce) in the Presumpscot clay. Tree rings in Picea logs indicate that the trees all died during winter dormancy in the same year. Ring widths show patterns of variation indicating responses to environmental changes. Fossil mosses and insects represent a variety of species and wet to dry microsites. The late-glacial environment at the site was similar to that of today's Maine coast. Radiocarbon ages of 14 tree samples are 11,907 ± 31 to 11,650 ± 50 14C yr BP. Wiggle matching of dated tree-ring segments to radiocarbon calibration data sets dates the landslide occurrence at ca. 13,520 + 95/−20 cal yr BP. Ages of shells juxtaposed with the logs are 12,850 ± 65 14C yr BP (Mytilus edulis) and 12,800 ± 55 14C yr BP (Balanus sp.), indicating a marine reservoir age of about 1000 yr. Using this value to correct previously published radiocarbon ages reduces the discrepancy between the Maine deglaciation chronology and the varve-based chronology elsewhere in New England.

Keywords

Presumpscot FormationMaineLate PleistoceneAMS and β-decay radiocarbon agesRadiocarbon age calibrationsMarine reservoir effectDendrochronologyMarine bivalves and barnaclesFossil mosses and insectsPlant macrofossilsPollenLandslides
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 75 , Issue 3 , May 2011 , pp. 552 - 565
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Abbott, R.T. Seashells of North America: A Guide to Field Identification. (1996). St. Martin's Press, New York. 280 pp Google Scholar
Allen, B. Checklist of Maine mosses. Evansia 16, (1999). 28–43.Google Scholar
Allen, B. Maine mosses, Sphagnaceae–Timmiaceae. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 93. (2005). 419 pp Google Scholar
Anderson, L.E., Crum, H.A., and Buck, W.R. List of the mosses of North America north of Mexico. Bryologist 93, (1990). 448–499.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Anderson, R.S., Miller, N.G., Davis, R.B., and Nelson, R.E. Terrestrial fossils in the marine Presumpscot Formation: implications for late Wisconsinan paleoenvironments and isostatic rebound along the coast of Maine. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 27, (1990). 1241–1246.Google Scholar
Antevs, E. The recession of the Last Ice Sheet in New England. American Geographical Society Research Series 11. (1922). 120 pp Google Scholar
Ashworth, A.C., and Brophy, J. Late Quaternary fossil beetle assemblage from the Missouri Coteau, North Dakota. Geological Society of America Bulletin 83, (1972). 2981–2988.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Askevold, I.S. Classification, reconstructed phylogeny, and geographic history of the New World members of Plateumaris Thomson, 1859 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Donaciinae). Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, No. 157. (1991). 175 pp Google Scholar
Barnhardt, W.A., Gehrels, W.R., Belknap, D.F., and Kelley, J.T. Late Quaternary relative sea-level change in the western Gulf of Maine: evidence for a migrating glacial forebulge. Geology 23, (1995). 317–320.Google Scholar
Beck, J.W., Richards, D.A., Edwards, R.L., Silverman, B.W., Smart, P.L., Donahue, D.J., Hererra-Osterheld, S., Burr, G.S., Calsoyas, L., Jull, A.J.T., and Biddulph, D. Extremely large variations of atmospheric 14C concentration during the last glacial period. Science 292, 5526 (2001). 2453–2458. http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1056649Google Scholar
Bondevik, S., Magerud, J., Birks, H.H., Gulliksen, S., and Reimer, P. Changes in North Atlantic radiocarbon reservoir during the Allerød and Younger Dryas. Science 312, (2006). 1514–1517.Google Scholar
Borns, H.W. Jr., Doner, L.A., Dorion, C.C., Jacobson, G.L. Jr., Kaplan, M.R., Kreutz, K.J., Lowell, T.V., Thompson, W.B., and Weddle, T.K. The deglaciation of Maine, U.S.A. Ehlers, J., and Gibbard, P.L. Quaternary Glaciations—Extent and Chronology. Part II: North America (2004). Elsevier, Amsterdam. 89–109.Google Scholar
Briffa, K.R., Jones, P.D., Schweingruber, F.H., Shiatov, S.G., and Cook, E.R. Unusual twentieth-century warmth in a 1000-year temperature record from Siberia. Nature 376, (1995). 156–159.Google Scholar
Bright, D.E. Jr. The bark beetles of Canada and Alaska. insects and arachnids of Canada, part 2. Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Publication 1576. (1976). 241 pp Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C., van der Plicht, J., and Weninger, B. ‘Wiggle matching’ radiocarbon dates. Radiocarbon 43, (2001). 381–389.Google Scholar
Cronin, T.M., Manley, P.L., Brachfeld, S., Manley, T.O., Willard, D.A., Guilbault, J.-P., Rayburn, J.A., Thunell, R., and Berke, M. Impacts of post-glacial lake drainage events and revised chronology of the Champlain Sea episode. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 262, (2008). 46–60.Google Scholar
Crum, H.A., and Anderson, L.E. Mosses of Eastern North America, 2 vols. (1981). Columbia University Press, New York.Google Scholar
Davis, B.M. Tilletia in the capsule of bryophytes. Botanical Gazette 36, (1903). 306–307.Google Scholar
Davis, R.B. Spruce–fir forest of the coast of Maine. Ecological Monographs 36, (1966). 79–94.Google Scholar
Davis, R.B., Jacobson, G.L. Jr. Late glacial and early Holocene landscapes in northern New England and adjacent areas of Canada. Quaternary Research 23, (1985). 341–368.Google Scholar
Devin, S.C., and Sandford, T.C. Stability of natural slopes in the Presumpscot Formation. Augusta, Maine Geological Survey, Open-File 90-24. (1990). 75 pp Google Scholar
Dorion, C.C., Balco, G.A., Kaplan, M.R., Kreutz, K.J., Wright, J.D., Borns, H.W. Jr. Stratigraphy, palaeoceanography, chronology and environment during deglaciation of eastern Maine. Weddle, T.K., and Retelle, M.J. Deglacial History and Relative Sea-Level Changes, Northern New England and Adjacent Canada. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 351, (2001). 215–242.Google Scholar
Downie, R.H., and Arnett, R.H. The Beetles of Northeastern North America, 2 vols. (1996). Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, Florida. 1720 pp Google Scholar
Friedrich, M., Kromer, B., Spurk, H., Hofmann, J., and Kaiser, K.F. Paleo-environment and radiocarbon calibration as derived from Lateglacial/Early Holocene tree-ring chronologies. Quaternary International 61, (1999). 27–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galimberti, M., Bronk Ramsey, C., and Manning, S.W. Wiggle-match dating of tree-ring sequences. Radiocarbon 46, (2004). 917–924.Google Scholar
Gleason, H.A., and Cronquist, A. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Ed. 2 (1991). The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY.Google Scholar
Gordon, R.E., and Cartwright, O.L. North American representatives of the Tribe Aegialiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae). Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology, No. 461. (1988). Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C. 37 pp Google Scholar
Griggs, C.B., and Kromer, B. Wood macrofossils and dendrochronology of three mastodon sites in upstate New York. Allmon, W., and Nester, P. Mastodon Paleobiology, Taphonomy, and Paleoenvironment in the Late Pleistocene of New York State: Studies on the Hyde Park, Chemung, and Java Sites. Palaeontographica Americana 61, (2008). 49–61.Google Scholar
Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Preliminary Geotechnical Data Report – Proposed Mercy Hospital – Phase 1 Replacement, Portland, Maine. (2005). Haley & Aldrich, Portland. File 31807-001 Google Scholar
Haley & Aldrich, Inc. Design-Phase Geotechnical Data Report – Mercy at the Fore Development – Phase 1 Hospital and Infrastructure Improvements, Portland, Maine. (2006). Haley & Aldrich, Portland. File 31807-001 Google Scholar
Hoffmann, D.L., Beck, J.W., Richards, D.A., Smart, P.L., Singarayer, J.S., Ketchmark, T., and Hawkesworth, C.J. Towards radiocarbon calibration beyond 28 ka using speleothems from the Bahamas. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 289, (2010). 1–10.Google Scholar
Holmes, R.L. Computer-assisted quality control in tree-ring dating and measurement. Tree-Ring Bulletin 43, (1983). 69–78.Google Scholar
Hua, Q., Barbetti, M., Fink, D., Kaiser, K.F., Friedrich, M., Kromer, B., Levchenko, V.A., Zoppi, U., Smith, A.M., and Bertuch, F. Atmospheric 14C variations derived from tree rings during the early Younger Dryas. Quaternary Science Reviews 28, (2009). 2982–2990.Google Scholar
Hughen, K.A., Southon, J.R., Lehman, S.J., and Overpeck, J.T. Synchronous radiocarbon and climate shifts during the last deglaciation. Science 290, (2000). 1951–1954.Google Scholar
Hughen, K.A., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Beck, J.W., Bertrand, C.J.H., Blackwell, P.G., Buck, C.E., Burr, G.S., Cutler, K.B., Damon, P.E., Edwards, R.L., Fairbanks, R.G., Friedrich, M., Guilderson, T.P., Kromer, B., McCormac, G., Manning, S., Ramsey, C.B., Reimer, P.J., Reimer, R.W., Remmele, S., Southon, J.R., Stuiver, M., Talamo, S., Taylor, F.W., van de Plicht, J., and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. Marine04 marine radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46, (2004). 1059–1086.Google Scholar
Hughen, K., Southon, J., Lehman, S., Bertrand, C., and Turnbull, J. Marine-derived 14C calibration and activity record for the past 50,000 years updated from the Cariaco Basin. Quaternary Science Reviews 25, (2006). 3216–3227.Google Scholar
Hussey, A.M. II Bedrock geology of the Portland West quadrangle, Maine. Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Open-File No. 03-94. (2003). Google Scholar
Hutchinson, I., James, T.S., Reimer, R.J., Bornhold, B.D., and Clague, J.J. Marine and limnic radiocarbon reservoir corrections for studies of late- and postglacial environments in Georgia Basin and Puget Lowland, British Columbia, Canada and Washington, USA. Quaternary Research 61, (2004). 193–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hyland, F., Thompson, W.B., Stuckenrath, R. Jr. Late Wisconsinan wood and other tree remains in the Presumpscot Formation, Portland, Maine. Maritime Sediments 14, (1978). 103–120.Google Scholar
Ingram, B.L., and Southon, J.R. Reservoir ages in eastern Pacific coastal and estuarine waters. Radiocarbon 38, 3 (1996). 573–582.Google Scholar
Kennett, D.J., Ingram, B.L., Erlandson, J.M., and Walker, P. Evidence for temporal fluctuations in marine radiocarbon reservoir ages in the Santa Barbara Channel, southern California. Journal of Archaeological Science 24, (1997). 1051–1059.Google Scholar
Kovanen, D.J., and Easterbrook, D.J. Paleodeviations of radiocarbon marine reservoir values for the NE Pacific. Geology 30, (2002). 243–246.Google Scholar
Kromer, B., and Münnich, K.O. CO2 gas proportional counting in radiocarbon dating — review and perspective. Taylor, R.E., Long, A., and Kra, R. Radiocarbon After Four Decades: an Interdisciplinary Perspective. (1992). Springer-Verlag, New York. 184–197.Google Scholar
Kromer, B., Friedrich, M., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, F., Remmele, S., Schaub, M., and Talamo, S. Late glacial 14C ages from a floating 1382-ring pine chronology. Radiocarbon 46, (2004). 1203–1209.Google Scholar
Lindbladh, M., Jacobson, G.L. Jr., and Schauffler, M. The postglacial history of three Picea species in New England, USA. Quaternary Research 59, (2003). 61–69.Google Scholar
Lindroth, C.H. The Ground-Beetles (Carabidae, excl. Cicindelinae) of Canada and Alaska, Parts 1–6. (1961–1969). Entomologiska Sällskapet, Lund, Sweden. XLVIII + 1192 pp Google Scholar
Morse, E.S. On the landslides in the vicinity of Portland, Maine. Boston Society of Natural History Proceedings 12, (1869). 235–244.Google Scholar
Packard, A.S. Jr. Observations of the glacial phenomena of Labrador and Maine. Boston Society of Natural History Memoirs 1, (1867). 210–262.Google Scholar
Panshin, A.J., and de Zeeuw, P. Textbook of Wood Technology. 3rd ed. (1970). McGraw-Hill, New York. 705pp Google Scholar
Rayburn, J.A., Cronin, T.M., Manley, P.L., Franzi, D.A., and Knuepfer, P.L.K. Variable marine reservoir effect in bivalves from Champlain Sea sediments in the Lake Champlain Valley, USA. Program with Abstracts, American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting. (2006). Google Scholar
Reimer, P.J., Baillie, M.G.L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J.W., Blackwell, P.G., Bronk Ramsey, C., Buck, C.E., Burr, G.S., Edwards, R.L., Friedrich, M., Grootes, P.M., Guilderson, T.P., Hajdas, I., Heaton, T.J., Hogg, A.G., Hughen, K.A., Kaiser, K.F., Kromer, B., McCormac, F.G., Manning, S.W., Reimer, R.W., Richards, D.A., Southon, J.R., Talamo, S., Turney, C.S.M., van der Plicht, J., and Weyhenmeyer, C.E. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51, (2009). 1111–1150.Google Scholar
Retelle, M.J., and Weddle, T.K. Deglaciation and relative sea-level chronology, Casco Bay Lowland and lower Androscoggin River valley, Maine. Weddle, T.K., and Retelle, M.J. Deglacial History and Relative Sea-Level Changes, Northern New England and Adjacent Canada. Geological Society of America, Special Paper 351, (2001). 191–214.Google Scholar
Richard, P.J.H., and Occhietti, S. 14C chronology for ice retreat and inception of Champlain Sea in the St. Lawrence Lowlands, Canada. Quaternary Research 63, (2005). 353–358.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rick, T.C., Vellanoweth, R.L., and Erlandson, J.M. Radiocarbon dating and the “old shell” problem: direct dating of artifacts and cultural chronologies in coastal and other aquatic regions. Journal of Archaeological Science 32, (2005). 1641–1648.Google Scholar
Ridge, J.C. The Quaternary glaciation of western New England with correlations to surrounding areas. Ehlers, J., and Gibbard, P.L. Quaternary Glaciations—Extent and Chronology. Part II: North America (2004). Elsevier, Amsterdam. 89–109.Google Scholar
Schauffler, M., Jacobson, G.L. Jr. Persistence of coastal spruce refugia during the Holocene in northern New England, USA, detected by stand-scale pollen stratigraphies. Journal of Ecology 90, (2002). 235–250.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M., Pearson, G.W., and Braziunas, T. Radiocarbon age calibration of marine samples back to 9000 cal yr BP. Radiocarbon 28, 2B (1986). 980–1021.Google Scholar
Thompson, W.B. Surficial materials of the Portland West quadrangle, Maine. Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Open-File 99-38. (1999). Google Scholar
Thompson, W.B. Surficial geology of the Portland West quadrangle, Maine. Maine Geological Survey, Augusta, Open-File 08-16. (2008). Google Scholar
Tremblay, T., and Lamothe, M. Late Quaternary geomorphology and geochronology near Covey Hill, and an ice stream deglaciation model for the southern St-Lawrence Valley. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs 39, 1 (2007). 56 Google Scholar
Supplementary material: PDF

Thompson et al. Supplementary Material

Supplementary Material

Download Thompson et al. Supplementary Material(PDF)
PDF 1.6 MB