28 Leaving Footprints, Changing Landscapes: Advances in Ichnological and Zoogeomorphological Research (Posters)

Monday, 21 March 2022
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Freedom Hall A

COMPARATIVE AERIAL IMAGE ANALYSIS OF BISON WALLOWS IN NORTH AMERICA (YELLOWSTONE NP, WY, USA) AND EUROPE (BIAŁOWIEŻA NP, POLAND)

Paper number: 28-11
Program: Theme Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Authors

Abstract

Over the past century, two extant species of bison have experienced a substantial increase in their populations (both domesticated and wild). This translates into greater impact, through both their range expansion and focused activity (zoogeomorphic yield), on landforms and ecosystems in North America (plains and woods subspecies of Bison bison) and Eastern Europe (zubr or wisent, Bison bonasus). This study presents a satellite-aided comparative analysis of wallows, as part of a larger study aimed at assessing their growing role as keystone zoogeomorphic agents, as well as a reference for reconstructing their paleo-environmental impact. At Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming, USA), within a randomly selected 1x1 km quadrant, >150 wallows ranged in area between 10-80 m2 , with larger tramplegrounds averaging ~150 m2. At Białowieża National Park (Poland/Belarus), European bison occupy outwash plains that are similar to many Pleistocene periglacial landscapes. Outside the wooded areas, the wallows range between 18-90 m2. The average width/length ratio of 0.74 may offer a diagnostic metric for distinguishing these features from nearly circular depressions of other biogenic and abiotic origin. In addition to wallows, extensive trails produced through pediturbation by migrating bison herds, especially considering their past numbers and ranges, have been long considered important landscape elements. Trail segments clearly visible in aerial images range between 200-2,000 m in length, with time-series analysis serving as an important reference database to test the potential of specific segments to be converted into drainage elements.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 54, No. 3

doi: 10.1130/abs/2022NE-373677

© Copyright 2022 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.