Quaternary Paleoecology of the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory, Snake River Plain, Idaho

Abstract

Plant and animal fossils have been recovered from several different types of sediment at the Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL). Based on woodrat middens and pollen from cave sediments, the Holocene vegetation history has been one of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) steppe that became increasingly similar to shadscale (Atriplex spp.) steppe, culminating .apprx. 7000 yr ago. A radiocarbon date on snail shells from ancient Lake Terreton shows that the basin was filled as recently as 700 yr ago. Fossils of aquatic organims were found in aeolian sediments, indicating that lake and stream sediments may be an important source of the aeolian sediment at the INEL.