Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Using Coprolite and Pollen Analysis
Summary
Paleoenvironmental reconstruction harnesses the complementary strengths of coprolite and pollen analysis to elucidate past ecosystems with high temporal and spatial resolution. Coprolites—fossilised faecal deposits from animals ranging from extinct megaherbivores to bats—preserve dietary remnants, ancient DNA, pollen grains and geochemical signatures. Analysis of botanical microfossils and macrofossils within coprolites reveals animal–plant interactions, habitat preferences and community composition. Parallel palynological investigations in sedimentary archives, caves and speleothems chart regional vegetation dynamics by identifying stratigraphic changes in pollen assemblages. Coupling palynology with stable isotope measurements of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N), as well as radiocarbon dating, establishes robust chronological frameworks. This integrated approach has clarified responses of montane and lowland systems to abrupt climate shifts, monsoon variability, anthropogenic land-use change and faunal extinctions. By anchoring present-day conservation and restoration efforts in deep-time baselines, coprolite and pollen studies contribute critically to understanding ecosystem resilience under future environmental stress.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Analyses of nitrogen isotopes preserved in bat guano have been applied to reconstruct winter hydroclimate variability analogous to North Atlantic Oscillation phases over the past several centuries. In these studies, δ15N fluctuations in guano are interpreted as proxies for nitrogen cycle dynamics controlled by precipitation and soil mineralisation processes. The resulting chronologies, anchored by radiocarbon dating of organic layers, reveal multi-decadal shifts in moisture regimes that align with instrumental and proxy records of atmospheric circulation patterns. This work demonstrates the power of coprolite-derived archives to extend climate reconstructions into regions where conventional sedimentary sequences are scarce or poorly dated.
Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction Using Coprolite and Pollen Analysis publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in paleoenvironmental reconstruction using coprolite and pollen analysis across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Coprolite: Fossilised or mineralised animal faeces preserving dietary remains, microfossils and biochemical proxies.
Palynology: The study of pollen and spores in geological or archaeological contexts to reconstruct past vegetation and climate.
Stable isotope analysis: Measurement of ratios of isotopes (e.g. δ13C, δ15N) in organic matter to infer past ecological and environmental conditions.
Radiocarbon dating: Determination of the age of organic materials by measuring decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14.
Pollen assemblage: The characteristic composition and relative abundance of pollen types in a sedimentary sample reflecting surrounding vegetation.
References
- Evidence of long-term NAO influence on East-Central Europe winter precipitation from a guano-derived δ15N record. Scientific Reports (2017).
- A comprehensive procedure for pollen extraction from bat guano deposits in organic and detrital matrices. MethodsX (2023).
- Climate and vegetation and their impact on stable C and N isotope ratios in bat guano. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution (2022).
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