Sigmodontine rodents (mammalia: rodentia: cricetidae) and other micromammals from Northern Buenos Aires province (Argentina) : paleoenvironmental reconstruction for the uppermost Ensenadan

Abstract

Se estudiaron aspectos taxonómicos y paleoambientales de un agregado de micromamíferos coleccionado en sedimentos pleistocénicos de Ramallo (33° 29’ S, 60° 01’ O, partido de Ramallo, provincia de Buenos Aires). Los sedimentos portadores pueden referirse a la parte superior de la Formación Ensenada (Piso Ensenadense, Biozona de Tolypeutes pampaeus) con una edad algo más joven que 0,78 Ma. Se registraron los siguientes roedores Sigmodontinae: Akodon cf. A. azarae (Fisch.), Necromys cf. N. benefactus (Thos.), Scapteromys cf. S. aquaticus-S. tumidus, Oligoryzomys cf. O. flavescens (Waterh.), Calomys cf. C. laucha-C. musculinus, Graomys cf. G. griseoflavus (Waterh.), Reithrodon auritus (Fisch.) y un género indeterminado. La composición taxonómica del agregado de Ramallo robustece la hipótesis que la estructura específica de las comunidades vivientes de sigmodontinos se alcanza, en la región pampeana, durante el Ensenadense. Un análisis integral de las evidencias paleobiológicas del perfil de Ramallo indica la transición entre condiciones cálidas y húmedas hacia otras frías y secas. Las primeras son sugeridas por el desarrollo de una comunidad característica de bosques de Celtis tala Gill. ex Planch. similar a la que se verifica actualmente en Ramallo. Condiciones frías y secas son evidenciadas por el registro de marmosinos y roedores extralocales de afinidades centrales y patagónicas (e.g., Lestodelphys sp., Microcavia sp.) y la ausencia de C. tala. Este cambio climático se verifica por arriba del límite Matuyama-Brunhes, indicando un desacople entre la reversión paleomagnética y el deterioro ambiental en el norte de la provincia de Buenos Aires.We studied taxonomical and paleoenvironmental aspects of a micromammal assemblage recovered from Pleistocene sediments in Ramallo (33° 29’ S, 60° 01’ W, Ramallo county, Buenos Aires province). The bearing sediments can be referred to the uppermost part of the Ensenada Formation (Ensenadan Stage, Biozone of Tolypeutes pampaeus) aged little younger than 0.78 Ma. The following sigmodontine rodents were recorded: Akodon cf. A. azarae (Fisch.), Necromys cf. N. benefactus (Thos.), Scapteromys cf. S. aquaticus-S. tumidus, Oligoryzomys cf. O. flavescens (Waterh.), Calomys cf. C. laucha-C. musculinus, Graomys cf. G. griseoflavus (Waterh.), Reithrodon auritus (Fisch.), and an unidentified genus. The Ramallo assemblage supports the hypothesis that the specific structure of modern sigmodontine fauna in Buenos Aires province was settled during the Ensenadan. An integral analysis including all the biotic evidences collected in the Ramallo section (rodents, marsupials, plant macrofossils, mollusks, and insects) indicates a transition from wet and warm conditions to dry and cold ones. The former conditions are suggested by the development of a Celtis tala Gill. ex Planch. wood, similar to those presently occurring in Ramallo area. The latter conditions are evidenced by the record of extralocal Central-Patagonian marmosines and rodents (e.g., Lestodelphys sp., Microcavia sp.) and the absence of C. tala. This environmental and climatic change took place above the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, at the end of the Ensenadan stage, indicating a delay between the paleomagnetic reversion and the environmental deterioration in northeastern Buenos Aires province.IGMODONTINE RODENTS (MAMMALIA: RODENTIA: CRICETIDAE) AND OTHER MICROMAMMALS FROM NORTHERNBUENOS AIRES PROVINCE (ARGENTINA): PALEOENVIRONMENTAL RECONSTRUCTION FOR THE UPPERMOST ENSENADAN. We studied taxonomical and paleoenvironmental aspects of a micromammal assemblage recovered from Pleistocene sediments in Ramallo (33° 29’ S, 60° 01’ W, Ramallo county, Buenos Aires province). The bearing sediments can be referred to the uppermost part of the Ensenada Formation (Ensenadan Stage, Biozone of Tolypeutes pampaeus) aged little younger than 0.78 Ma. The following sigmodontine rodents were recorded: Akodon cf. A. azarae (Fisch.), Necromys cf. N. benefactus (Thos.), Scapteromys cf. S. aquaticus-S. tumidus, Oligoryzomys cf. O. flavescens (Waterh.), Calomys cf. C. laucha-C. musculinus, Graomys cf. G. griseoflavus (Waterh.), Reithrodon auritus (Fisch.), and an unidentified genus. The Ramallo assemblage supports the hypothesis that the specific structure of modern sigmodontine fauna in Buenos Aires province was settled during the Ensenadan. An integral analysis including all the biotic evidences collected in the Ramallo section (rodents, marsupials, plant macrofossils, mollusks, and insects) indicates a transition from wet and warm conditions to dry and cold ones. The former conditions are suggested by the development of a Celtis tala Gill. ex Planch. wood, similar to those presently occurring in Ramallo area. The latter conditions are evidenced by the record of extralocal Central-Patagonian marmosines and rodents (e.g., Lestodelphys sp., Microcavia sp.) and the absence of C. tala. This environmental and climatic change took place above the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary, at the end of the Ensenadan stage, indicating a delay between the paleomagnetic reversion and the environmental deterioration in northeastern Buenos Aires province.Fil: Voglino, Damián. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Pardiñas, Ulises Francisco J.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico; Argentin