In this study, we investigated clay mineral assemblages together with other provenance indicators of Core ARC7-LIC retrieved from the southern Alpha Ridge, in order to reveal the changes in sediment deposition, ocean circulation in the western Arctic Ocean, and the development of surrounding ice sheet through the mid-late Pleistocene (~MIS 29). Changes in clay mineral composition in Core ARC7-LIC suggest a transition of Siberian sourced material during MIS 29−13 towards a North American sourced material during MIS 12−1. This transition reflects the change of the circulation in the western Arctic Ocean before and after the Mid-Brunhes Event, which features an amplification of glacial-interglacial cycles in the post Mid-Brunhes Event. An exceptionally high smectite peak characterizes MIS 12, which is inferred to be from North American source. Laurentide ice sheet discharges icebergs and fine material in the western Arctic Ocean since MIS 16. The amplitude of ice sheet growth and decay increases since MIS 12. During MIS 6, 4 and 3, the asynchronous variations of Ca/Al and kaolinite suggest heterogeneous development of Laurentide ice sheet on the Canadian Arctic Archipelago and Alaska-Mackenzie sides.
| 科 Family | 属数 Number of genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) | 属 Genus | 种数 Number of species | 占总种数比例 Percentage of total species (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 鹅膏菌科Amanitaceae | 2 | 11 | 5.26 | 鹅膏菌属 Amanita | 10 | 4.78 |
| 小菇科 Mycenaceae | 2 | 12 | 5.74 | 丝盖伞属 Inocybe | 5 | 2.39 |
| 多孔菌科 Polyporaceae | 8 | 14 | 6.70 | 蜡蘑属 Laccaria | 5 | 2.39 |
| 红菇科 Russulaceae | 3 | 23 | 11.00 | 小皮伞属 Marasmius | 6 | 2.87 |
| 小菇属 Mycena | 11 | 5.26 | ||||
| 光柄菇属 Pluteus | 5 | 2.39 | ||||
| 红菇属 Russula | 17 | 8.13 | ||||
| 栓菌属 Trametes | 5 | 2.39 |