Researchers analyzing hyrax urine layers to study climate change
Tuesday, February 19, 2013 - 07:00
in Earth & Climate
(Phys.org)—Researchers from Montpelier University in France have discovered a novel way to trace climate change over the past several thousand years—by analyzing layers of urine deposited by generations of the rock hyrax in the mountains of South Africa. The small, guinea pig-sized animal lives among the rocks and crags and tends to urinate in the same spot every time it goes, creating layer after layer of material that is chock full of evidence of climatic change. The study is being led by Brian Chase who reported on the team's findings while speaking at the American Association for the Advancement of Science's annual meeting in Boston.