Insect communities of late Pleistocene steppe–tundra and Holocene boreal forest ecosystems in central Yukon Territory, Canada

A detailed reconstruction of insect communities from the Quartz Creek site in central Yukon Territory reveals dramatic shifts between Late Pleistocene steppe–tundra and Holocene boreal forest ecosystems. The study identifies a species-poor, arid-adapted community dominated by weevils such as Connatichela artemisiae during the Pleistocene (MIS 4 to 2), reflecting cold, dry conditions with widespread Artemisia-grassland habitats. Post-glacial Holocene assemblages, dated to at least 6045 cal yr BP, show a marked increase in diversity and taxa associated with shrubs, wetlands, and coniferous forests, including bark beetles (Scolytus piceae, Polygraphus rufipennis) and the carpenter ant (Camponotus herculeanus). The absence of steppe–tundra specialists in Holocene samples underscores the collapse of Pleistocene ecosystems and the rise of boreal forest environments. This work provides critical insights into the ecological restructuring of eastern Beringia, linking insect community composition to broader climatic and vegetational changes.

Cocker, S. L., Kuzmina, S., Schafstall, N., Monzon, M. A., & Froese, D. G. (2026). Insect communities of late Pleistocene steppe–tundra and Holocene boreal forest ecosystems in central Yukon Territory, Canada. Journal of Quaternary Science, 41(7), 1178–1199. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70105