Vegetation and climate change in southeastern Madhya Pradesh during Late Holocene,based on pollen evidence

Pollen analysis of 2 m deep sediment core from Kiktiha swamp, Shahdol district has revealed that between 1600 and 700 yr BP, tropical deciduous Sal forests comprising Shorea robusta (Sal), Madhuca indica, Terminalia, Lagerstroemia, Aegle marmelos flourished in the region under a warm and moist climate. Between 700 and 300 yr BP the deciduous Sal forests were succeeded by mixed deciduous forests, which turned sparse and less diversified, reflecting a relatively less moist climate attributed to the weak SW monsoon. The unfavourable climate also adversely affected the agricultural practice as evidenced from the diminution of Cerealia and other culture taxa. Since 300 yr BP onwards the modern deciduous Sal forests were re-established with the timely arrival of active SW monsoon. The increase in Cerealia and culture taxa indicates agricultural prosperity.     

Holocene vegetation and fire dynamics in the supra‐mediterranean belt of the Nebrodi Mountains (Sicily,Italy)

High‐resolution pollen, macrofossil and charcoal data, combined with accelerator mass spectrometry ¹⁴C dating and multivariate analysis, were used to reconstruct Holocene vegetation and fire dynamics at Urio Quattrocchi, a small lake in the supra‐mediterranean belt in the Nebrodi Mountains of Sicily (Italy). The data suggest that after 10 000 cal a BP increasing moisture availability supported closed forests with deciduous (Quercus cerris, Fagus sylvatica and Fraxinus spp.) and evergreen (Quercus ilex) species. Species‐rich closed forest persisted until 6850 cal a BP, when Neolithic activities caused a forest decline and affected plant diversity. Secondary forest with abundant Ilex aquifolium recovered between 6650 and 6000 cal a BP, indicating moist conditions. From 5000 cal a BP, agriculture and pastoralism led to the currently fragmented landscape with sparse deciduous forests (Quercus cerris). The study suggests that evergreen broadleaved species were more important at elevations above 1000 m a.s.l. before ca. 5000 cal a BP than subsequently, which might reflect less human impact or warmer‐than‐today climatic conditions between 10 000 and 5000 cal a BP. Despite land use since Neolithic times, deciduous supra‐mediterranean forests were never completely displaced from the Nebrodi Mountains, because of favourable moist conditions that persisted throughout the Holocene. Reconstructed vegetation dynamics document the absence of any pronounced mid‐ or late‐Holocene ‘aridification’ trend at the site, an issue which is controversially debated in Italy and the Mediterranean region. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A detailed pollen record of vegetation and climate changes in Central China during the past 16 000 years

Zhu, C., Ma, C., Yu, S.-Y., Tang, L., Zhang, W. & Lu, X. 2009: A detailed pollen record of vegetation and climate changes in Central China during the past 16 000 years. Boreas , 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2009.00098.x. ISSN 0300-9483.
Detailed pollen analyses, along with magnetic and loss-on-ignition (LOI) measurements, were conducted on a 3 m long peat sequence recovered from the Dajiuhu Basin, the Shennongjia Mountains in Central China. Ten AMS ¹⁴C dates provide a firm age control on this pollen record in terms of vegetation changes governed essentially by the rise and fall of the Asian summer monsoon during the past 16 000 years. Between 16 000 and 12 700 cal. yr BP, pollen assemblages were dominated by coniferous and broad-leaved trees, indicating a mixed forest landscape corresponding to the initial establishment of the monsoonal climate after the Last Glaciation. The progressive increases in percentages of evergreen tree pollen after 12 700 cal. yr BP point to a steady enhancement of the summer monsoon, which was episodically weakened during the Younger Dryas stadial. From 11 000 to 6000 cal. yr BP, values of coniferous and deciduous tree pollen decreased, while evergreen broad-leaved tree pollen increased substantially, implying a stronger than normal monsoonal climate condition corresponding to the Holocene Hypsithermal Interval. A great reduction in the values of evergreen tree pollen at about 4000 cal. yr BP indicates a sudden retreat of the summer monsoon from this area.     

现代黄河三角洲北岸1.9Ma以来孢粉组合及古环境变化

通过对现代黄河三角洲地区YRD-1101钻孔的沉积地层研究和孢粉分析,认为该地区1.9 Ma以来孢粉组合代表的植被面貌自下而上表现为:针叶阔叶混交林—灌丛草甸→落叶针叶—阔叶混交林→落叶阔叶林→常绿阔叶落叶林→针叶阔叶混交林→落叶阔叶混交林→针叶落叶混交林及灌丛草甸→落叶阔叶混交林及林下灌丛。YRD-1101钻孔沉积特征变化显著,孢粉组合波动频繁。第四纪期间存在3次大的气候拐点,分别发生在0.75 Ma,0.125 Ma和9.1 ka,气候整体表现为温度逐渐上升、湿度逐渐升高的特点。特别是晚更新世以来气候趋于温暖湿润,MIS2陆相沉积阶段气候短暂转为凉爽干燥,海平面下降,植被以耐干旱草地灌丛植被扩张为特点;全新世阶段气温升高、湿度增加,海平面上升,植被以木本植物再次扩张、蕨类和藻类增加为特点。这一趋势与我国第四纪海侵地层分布及范围一致。     

Map of vegetation during the last glacial maximum in Japan

A vegetation map reconstructed for the Japanese Archipelago (based upon pollen data from 28 sites and plant macrofossil data from 33 sites) at the time of last glacial maximum shows that coniferous forests covered extensive areas of the land. Boreal conifer forests (dominated by the Picea jezoensis complex, P. glehnii, Abies sachalinensis, A. mariesii, Tsuga diversifolia, and Pinus with Larix gmelinii, though the latter species was confined only to the northern part of northeastern Honshu and Hokkaido) occupied the modern cool-temperature deciduous broadleaf and mid-temperate conifer forest zones, and temperate coniferous forests (mainly Picea maximowiczii, P. polita, P. bicolor, P. koyamai, Abies firma, A. homolepis, Tsuga sieboldii, and Pinus), the present warm-temperate evergreen (laurilignosa) forest zone. Small populations of various broadleaf forest species were scattered in the full-glacial temperate conifer forest mainly along the coastal belt, and the true laurilignosa forest was limited in distribution, occurring only in the paleo-Yaku Peninsula.     

广西百色盆地始新世孢粉组合与环境

对百色盆地百东河地表始新世剖面进行系统孢粉分析 ,建立那读组和百岗组连续的孢粉序列 ,共划分 6个孢粉带和 11个亚带。根据剖面孢粉母体植物的生态属性 ,确定 6个孢粉植物群—气候期。当时植被经历了由常绿阔叶林向常绿落叶阔叶混交林转变 ;气候从热带湿润型向南亚热带—北热带半湿润偏干型转变。     

浙江瓶窑BHQ孔全新统孢粉组合特征与气候变化

利用浙江省瓶窑北湖BHQ孔长约14m的岩心,以4个AMS¹⁴C数据为年代依据,对49块样品进行孢粉分析。分析结果发现,样品中孢粉浓度差异较大,植物种类繁多,总计103个科/属。通过对孢粉组合特征的分析,结合岩性特征,划分出3个孢粉带和9个亚带,重建了研究区早—中全新世植被演替和气候冷暖波动的环境序列。19～8.9m沉积时段,对应于早全新世气候回暖期,研究区植被主要是以落叶栎、松、阿丁枫和枫杨为主,混有少量常绿栎和榆等的针叶—落叶阔叶混交林,常绿乔木花粉含量较低,说明研究区经历晚更新世晚期新仙女木事件后进入全新世,气候迅速转暖;8.9～6.7m沉积时段,对应于全新世最适宜期,为研究区水热条件配置最佳阶段,主要发育由落叶栎、常绿栎、松、阿丁枫、枫杨和榆等组成的常绿—落叶阔叶混交林,常绿乔木的种类和含量要远远高于前一阶段,指示气候变化的最适宜阶段;6.7～4.775m沉积时段,对应于中全新世气候波动期,孢粉组合发生明显波动,研究区植被主要以落叶栎、枫香、松、枫杨等落叶阔叶乔木为主,常绿栎花粉的含量急剧萎缩,表明研究区植被类型演替为落叶阔叶林,反映经历了较为剧烈的气候恶化事件,而本段高含量的稻属花粉(≥35μm)可能指示该时段研究区存在一定规模的古人类活动。     

长江三角洲地区全新世环境变化与人类活动的影响

长江三角洲地区全新世气候和环境曾发生过大的变迁,新石器时代文化伴随着全新世气候最暖期的到来,以及三角洲的形成和发展而出现,并由此向前推衍,奠定了以稻作农业为基础的经济形态。通过研究本区与农作物相关的现代植物花粉形态和代表性表土花粉,揭示出部分用于指示人类活动的综合指标、不同植被带表土花粉的组合特征和用于半定量界定不同植被类型的比值区间。研究区自然区域全新世孢粉反映当时植被3个主要发展阶段,即亚热带常绿-落叶阔叶混交林（11000～9500cal.aB.P.）、中亚热带常绿阔叶林（9500～3900cal.aB.P.）和次生性质的亚热带针阔叶混交林（3900cal.aB.P.以来）,其中8000～3900cal.aB.P.为全新世大暖期的鼎盛期,3900cal.aB.P.以来人类活动明显增强。人类活动区绰墩遗址孢粉植物群,反映新石器各主要文化期都以亚热带含针叶植物的常绿-落叶阔叶混交林为地带性植被,遗址周围一般都有较大面积的水域分布;  人类对植被的干预只是在后期才开始明显增强。区内人类文化几经兴衰,主要受制于环境的变迁,包括气候和地理状况的变化,以及由此产生的海平面升降和植被变化等。与此同时,人类活动的影响随着时间的推移而日趋加重,成为一种新的环境影响因素。     

Late Oligocene–Early Miocene palaeoecology based on pollen data from the Kalkım-Gönen Basin (Northwest Turkey)

Radiometric and palynological data of the Upper Oligocene–Lower Miocene Soma Formation from the Kalk?m-Gönen Basin yield new results related to age and palynological contents. In this study, Upper Oligocene strata from the Dani?ment and Linfa areas and Lower Miocene strata from the Bengiler area were sampled palynologically and for radiometric dating. The Dani?ment assemblage, which is older than the Linfa assemblages, mainly contains coniferous and evergreen to deciduous mixed mesophytic forest elements. Relatively high quantities of the altitudinal plants Picea and Abies, indicate a cooler palaeoclimate. The Linfa associations mainly include coniferous and riparian elements. Pollen of the riparian plant Alnus and Taxodiaceae indicative for the swamp forest community was predominant, probably as a result of a high lake level. There is a hiatus during the Oligocene–Miocene transition, probably showing a non-depositional phase and sea-level fall indicating the Mi-1 glaciation event. Higher in the sequence, the Aquitanian Bengiler sediments include high amounts of coniferous forest elements as well as components indicative for the evergreen and deciduous mesophytic forest and also riparian forest and swamp forest. Due to presence of thermophilous taxa Reveesia, Mastixiaceae and Arecaceae, a warm and humid palaeoclimate is inferred according to quantitative analyses using the Coexistence Approach.     

云南西部羊邑和龙陵地区晚上新世植被和古气候

云南西部羊邑和龙陵地区晚上新世孢粉组合均以被子植物占优势，蕨类和裸子植物次之，藻类类群少。龙陵孢粉组合比羊邑孢粉组合含有更丰富的亚热带被子植物成分；裸子植物类群相对较少；蕨类类群较多，但孢子含量低。与研究地区现生植被对比研究的结果显示羊邑孢粉组合的大部分类群来自常绿针阔叶混交林，现在分布于羊邑地区海拔2800-3100m的地带，其余部分来自海拔3200m以上的云冷杉林；而龙陵孢粉组合的大部分类群来自山地湿润常绿阔叶林，分布于今日龙陵地区海拔1600-2500m的地带，其余部分来自海拔2300-2900m的常绿针阔叶混交林。这些云南西部晚上新世植被反映了湿润的亚热带山地立体气候。     

Soil carbon accumulation after open-cast coal and oil shale mining in Northern Hemisphere: a quantitative review

Meta-analysis and other statistical methods were used to evaluate how changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) content in post-mining soils are related to different factors; the data were obtained from 17 studies covering 93 temperate post-mining sites in the Northern Hemisphere that had been revegetated by forest or grassland either by reclamation or natural succession. Because many studies have failed to report any measures of variance, only part of the data were used for meta-analysis. According to the meta-analysis, the rate of SOC accumulation was unrelated to vegetation type. In a separate analysis that included all available data and in which rates of SOC accumulation at each site were used as individual entries, the rate of SOC accumulation differed depending on the age of the site and vegetation type. Under deciduous forests, the rate reached a maximum after 5–10 years and then decreased. Under coniferous forests, the initial SOC values were lower than under deciduous forests, but slowly increased with age and reached a maximum after 30–40 years. No significant temporal trend was found in grasslands, probably because the data set included only relatively young grassland sites. Based on data from sites younger than 30 years, sites with grasslands and deciduous forests accumulated SOC faster than sites with coniferous forests. The rate of accumulation was negatively correlated with temperature under coniferous forests, but positively correlated with temperature in grasslands. This suggests that carbon sequestration is favored by cold climates in coniferous forests, but by warm climates in grasslands. Deciduous forests were intermediate. Compared to conifers, deciduous trees may support SOC sequestration deeper in the soil profile, which may enhance SOC stability. A large proportion of post-mining sites reach the pre-mining SOC stock within 20 years or less after reclamation.     

Pollen Evidence of Changing Holocene Monsoon Climate in Sichuan Province, China

Pollen evidence from Lake Shayema, Mianning County, was obtained to examine postglacial vegetation and climatic change in southwestern Sichuan, China. The sclerophyllous character of the region's warm temperate vegetation today is a reflection of extreme drought in spring before the onset of the Asian monsoons. The pollen record displays several changes in the vegetation over the last 11,000 yr. From 11,000 to 9100 yr B.P., cold-tolerant species, such as Abies , Betula, and deciduous oaks, dominated the vegetation. Between 9100 and 7800 yr B.P., the abundance of deciduous oaks decreased and evergreen oaks increased, as did Tsuga and mesic deciduous species. This change suggests a warming climate with increased precipitation. From 7800 to 4000 yr B.P., sclerophyllous species increased at the expense of mesic deciduous species, an indication that precipitation was becoming more seasonal. Except for increased disturbance starting ca. 1000 yr B.P., the predominance of sclerophyllous vegetation continued until today. The pollen results are compatible with proposed global circulation hypotheses of a strengthened monsoon system during the early to mid Holocene.     

Millennial-scale vegetation changes during the last 40,000 yr based on a pollen record from Lake Biwa, Japan

A high-resolution pollen record covering the last 40,000 yr (BIW95-4) from Lake Biwa, western Japan, shows regional vegetation responses to millennial-scale climate changes. From 40 to 30 ka, Cryptomeria japonica was dominant around the lake among pinaceous conifers and deciduous broad-leaved trees. During this period, fluctuations of C.japonica are correlated with Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) cycles recognized from the anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) record. Increases in the abundance of this taxon may have been caused by wetter summer conditions influenced by the East Asian monsoon or increased snowfall on the Sea of Japan side of the Japanese archipelago. Between 29 and 14 ka, pinaceous conifer forests mainly composed of Pinus subgenus Haploxylon, Tsuga, and Picea trees developed. At approximately 23 ka, Picea trees increased in abundance as ARM values decreased. This expansion of Picea trees has been correlated with Heinrich event (HE) 2 in the North Atlantic. At about 14 ka, the distribution of broad-leaved forest (mainly composed of deciduous oaks) began to expand after D-O 1. Evidence of significant vegetation change related to the abrupt Younger Dryas cooling event has not been found.     

湖北屈家岭遗址孢粉、炭屑记录与古文明发展*

湖北屈家岭遗址附近的河湖相沉积剖面及文化层的孢粉和炭屑分析表明,距今5400—4200年间,遗址周边地区分布有常绿阔叶和落叶阔叶林,大量的禾本科(Gramineae)和松属(Pinus)花粉及炭屑表明这一时期有强烈的人类活动,暖湿的气候条件为屈家岭文化和石家河文化发展奠定了基础。距今4200—2200年间,莎草科（Cyperaceae）花粉和水蕨(Ceratopteris)孢子的减少反映生境干旱化,遗址周边发育由蒿属（Artemisia）、藜科(Chenopodiaceae)、唐松草（Thalictrum）和蕨类植物组成的坡草丛;这种生境干旱化是由气候变干和强烈人类活动所致。伴随着生境日趋干旱化,屈家岭文化和石家河文化走向衰亡。距今2200年前,莎草科花粉和水蕨孢子含量增加表明这一时期遗址周围生境比较湿润,与此同时,大量的禾本科花粉及高浓度的炭屑指示着又一人类活动高潮期的到来。     

荔波小七孔岩溶植被的研究

通过实地调查、样方统计、标本采集等,对荔波小七孔地区岩溶植被的生境条件、区系组成、群落学特征等进行了初步的分析研究。结果表明: 该区植被区系十分丰富,在12km2 的范围内,自然分布的维管束植物高达375种,分别隶属于117科、272属;地理成分也相当复杂,既有世界分布、泛热带分布、热带美洲和热带亚洲间断分布、热带亚洲至热带非洲分布,又有北温带分布、东亚和北美间断分布、西亚至中亚分布和中国特有分布。此外,区内岩溶植被多元顶极演替特征也很明显,常绿阔叶、落叶阔叶与常绿落叶阔叶混交林共存。小七孔的这种植被群落特征主要由其气候、土壤、小生境差异及其相互配置的不同而引起。      

贵州梵净山九龙池一万年来的植被和气候变化

九龙池剖面是梵净山顶上的一个洼地剖面,深6.05m,未达基岩。采样112块,孢粉分析鉴定获得孢粉24539粒,有75个科属,以木本花粉为主,其次为蕨类孢子,草本少。根据孢粉组合及~(14)C年龄,该剖面为一万年来的沉积物。其古植被、古气候可分为三个发展时期:(Ⅰ)距今8100—10000年左右为少量落叶阔叶树及较多蕨类组成的疏树蕨类——不很繁茂的落叶阔叶林(林下蕨多)。气候由温凉—稍转温暖。(Ⅱ)距今1300—8100年左右,阔叶林繁盛时期,植被由落叶阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——常绿阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——落叶阔叶树为主的常绿、落叶阔叶混交林——落叶阔叶林。气候相应由温暖—温暖湿热—温暖—温暖偏凉。(Ⅲ)距今1300—900年左右,以松、栎为主的针阔叶混交林及喜冷湿的莎草较多,气候温暖偏凉湿。 笔者等认为,其气候期的划分(Ⅰ)代表前北方期一北方期,(Ⅱ)代表大西洋期—亚北方期—亚大西洋期(Ⅲ)代表亚大西洋期后的气候。     

北京天竺晚上新世以来植被演替与气候变迁

研究了北京天竺TZ01钻孔岩心孢粉样品239块，孢粉组合反映了北京天竺晚上新世以来(约3.580 Ma BP)植被演替和气候变迁大致经历了10个发展阶段：(1) 3.580～3.050 Ma BP：以针叶林植被为主，气候寒冷偏湿；(2) 3.050～2.555 Ma BP：植被为落叶阔叶和常绿阔叶混交林-草原类型，该阶段开始升温，但气候较为温暖湿润；(3)2.555～2.300 Ma BP：植被为温凉偏干的疏林草原，湿度开始下降；(4) 2.300～1770 Ma BP：植被类型仍为疏林草原，该阶段温度上升，但幅度并不大，湿度基本不变，气候温凉干爽；(5) 1.770～1.070 Ma BP：植被类型为针阔混交林-草原，气候温暖湿润；(6) 1.070～0.922 Ma BP：植被演替为较暖湿略干的针阔混交林-草原；(7)0.922～0.800 Ma BP：植被为较寒冷干燥的疏林草原，温度降低，降水减少；(8) 0.800～0.650 Ma BP：植被为温暖偏干的以松为主的疏林草原，温度有所上升，但湿度变化较小；(9)0.650～0.160 Ma BP：植被为温凉湿润的针阔叶混交林-草原；(10) 0.160 Ma BP至今：植被以针阔叶混交林-草原为主，前期气候冷湿，后期较为温暖湿润。     

华北区第四纪植被演替与气候变化

文中华北区是指燕山、辽南一线以南、吕梁山以东、渭河谷地与准阳丘陵以北地区。该区属暖温带,即蒙古和东北寒温带、温带区域与华中和华东亚热带区域之间的过渡地带,故第四纪冰期、间冰期气候的变化,对本区的影响表现得很强烈,它引起第四纪植被的明显演替,是我国第四纪植被变化较大的两个区域之一(另一为青藏区)。     

华北地块东北缘红庙子盆地鹰嘴砬子组孢粉化石

报道华北地块东北缘地区红庙子盆地鹰嘴砬子组的孢粉化石,建立了Cicatricosisporites-Abietineaepollenites-Piceites组合,该组合的主要特征为:以裸子类双气囊花粉和海金沙科孢子为主,含一定量裸子类无气囊花粉,未见被子类花粉,孢粉组合特征可与松辽盆地沙河子组对比。一些具有早白垩世时代意义的孢粉化石,如Cicatricosisporites sp.,Cicatricosisporites undulates和Cicatricosisporites implexus的出现,表明鹰嘴砬子组的地质时代为早白垩世。根据孢粉化石资料,推测华北地块东北缘地区在鹰嘴砬子组沉积时期古植被面貌以松科和杉科组成的松柏类针叶林为主,林下生长着真蕨类。古气候相当于湿润-半湿润的亚热带气候。     

Mid-Holocene vegetation and climatic variability in tropical deciduous sal (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Shorea robusta</Emphasis>) forest of Lower Brahmaputra valley,Assam

One 2.5 m lacustrine sedimentary profile dated back to 6340 years BP from Deosila swamp under Rangjuli Reserve forest of Assam, Northeast India has been pollen analyzed for tracing past vegetation vis à vis climate variability since mid-Holocene. The pollen diagram has deciphered that during 6340 to 2970 years BP, tropical tree savannah type of vegetation grew in the region chiefly constituted of grasses interspersed with scattered trees of Salmalia, Dillenia, Emblica, Meliaceae along with sporadic presence of Artocarpus chaplasha, Symplocos, Ilex, Schima and Shorea robusta under relatively less cool and dry climatic condition with a little ameliorating trend at the upper column. The vegetation scenario implies poor growth of arboreals due to harsh abiotic dynamics causing changes in drainage system. Subsequently during 2970 to 1510 years BP, tropical mixed deciduous forest succeeded tree savannah with invasion of Shorea robusta, Lagerstroemia, Lannea, Semecarpus and Acacia under warm and humid climate. The gradual enrichment of organic soil might have been conducive for better growth of both deciduous and semi evergreen arboreals as found today. However, during 1510 to 540 years BP, the forest groves became more strengthened resulting establishment of tropical deciduous Sal forest. Steady increment of Shorea robusta along with Lannea, Lagerstroemia, Terminalia, Sapotaceae, Albizia and Adina was observed probably due to influence of active SW monsoon under increased warm and humid climatic regime. This is well substantiated by the consistent occurrence of marshy and aquatic taxa along with ferns and fungal remains. Finally during 540 years BP onward the reduced forest floristics have obviously been envisaged the change in climate which turned to warm and relatively dry probably attributable to the weak monsoon rainfall. The acceleration in human settlement during this phase is evidenced by Cerealia and by the increase of Melastoma, Ziziphus and Areca catechu implying forest clearance.