Palaeontological signatures of the Anthropocene are distinct from those of previous epochs

Mark A. Williams; Jan Zalasiewicz; Anthony D. Barnosky; Reinhold Leinfelder; Martin J. Head; Colin N. Waters; Francine M.G. McCarthy; Alejandro Cearreta; David C. Aldridge; Mary McGann; Bruce Hamilton; Colin P. Summerhayes; Jaia Syvitski; Jens Zinke; Andrew B. Cundy; Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel; J.R. McNeill; Michinobu Kuwae; Neil L. Rose; Simon D. Turner; Yoshiki Saito; Michael Wagreich; M. Allison Stegner; Moriaki Yasuhara; Yongming Han; Amy Wrisdale; Rachael Holmes; Juan Carlos Berrio

doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104844

Palaeontological signatures of the Anthropocene are distinct from those of previous epochs

Earth Science Reviews

By: Mark A. Williams, Jan Zalasiewicz, Anthony D. Barnosky, Reinhold Leinfelder, Martin J. Head, Colin N. Waters, Francine M.G. McCarthy, Alejandro Cearreta, David C. Aldridge, Mary McGann, Bruce Hamilton, Colin P. Summerhayes, Jaia Syvitski, Jens Zinke, Andrew B. Cundy, Barbara Fialkiewicz-Koziel, J.R. McNeill, Michinobu Kuwae, Neil L. Rose, Simon D. Turner, Yoshiki Saito, Michael Wagreich, M. Allison Stegner, Moriaki Yasuhara, Yongming Han, Amy Wrisdale, Rachael Holmes, and Juan Carlos Berrio

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104844

Abstract

The “Great Acceleration” beginning in the mid-20th century provides the causal mechanism of the Anthropocene, which has been proposed as a new epoch of geological time beginning in 1952 CE. Here we identify key parameters and their diagnostic palaeontological signals of the Anthropocene, including the rapid breakdown of discrete biogeographical ranges for marine and terrestrial species, rapid changes to ecologies resulting from climate change and ecological degradation, the spread of exotic foodstuffs beyond their ecological range, and the accumulation of reconfigured forest materials such as medium density fibreboard (MDF) all being symptoms of the Great Acceleration. We show: 1) how Anthropocene successions in North America, South America, Africa, Oceania, Europe, and Asia can be correlated using palaeontological signatures of highly invasive species and changes to ecologies that demonstrate the growing interconnectivity of human systems; 2) how the unique depositional settings of landfills may concentrate the remains of organisms far beyond their geographical range of environmental tolerance; and 3) how a range of settings may preserve a long-lived, unique palaeontological record within post-mid-20th century deposits. Collectively these changes provide a global palaeontological signature that is distinct from all past records of deep-time biotic change, including those of the Holocene.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Article
Publication Subtype	Journal Article
Title	Palaeontological signatures of the Anthropocene are distinct from those of previous epochs
Series title	Earth Science Reviews
DOI	10.1016/j.earscirev.2024.104844
Volume	255
Year Published	2024
Language	English
Publisher	Elsevier
Contributing office(s)	Pacific Coastal and Marine Science Center
Description	104844, 25 p.
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page

Palaeontological signatures of the Anthropocene are distinct from those of previous epochs

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Abstract