Mensing Paleoecology Lab
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POLLEN
Extremely resistant to decay, pollen can be found in sediments and identified to the family or genus. Abundance of various pollen taxa at different periods of time in Earth's history are used to reconstruct paleoclimate.

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SEDIMENTARY CHARCOAL
Charcoal from sediment cores is used to reconstruct long-term changes in landscape fire regimes. Sedimentary records commonly extend further back in time than tree rings, allowing for extended reconstructions.


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CHIRONOMIDS
Commonly called midges, chironomids are globally distributed mosquito-like flies that can be used as paleotemperature proxies based on genus assemblages. Head-capsules are commonly recovered from lake sediments.

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ISOTOPES
Changes in quantities of particular isotopes, such as O-18 and C-13 can be used to measure past fluctuations in Earth's temperature and nutrient cycling.

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