A Holocene record of climate,vegetation change and peat bog development,east Otago,South Island,New Zealand

A Holocene record of pollen, macrofossils, testate amoebae and peat humification is presented from a small montane bog. Sediment accumulation began before 9000 yr BP, but peat growth not until ca. 7000 BP. From 12 000 to 7000 yr BP, a shrub–grassland dominated under a dry climate, with increasing conifer forest and tall scrub from ca. 9600 yr BP. At 7000 yr BP a dense montane–subalpine low conifer forest established under a moist, cool climatic regime. Between 7000 and 700 yr BP the bog surface was shrubby, tending to be dry but with highly variable surface wetness. The catchment was affected by major fire at least four times between 4000 and 1000 yr BP. Both fire and bog surface wetness may have been linked to ENSO-caused variations in rainfall. Cooler, cloudier winters and disturbance by fire promoted the expansion of the broadleaf tree Nothofagus menziesii between 4000 yr BP and 1300 yr BP at the expense of the previous conifer forest–scrub vegetation. Polynesian fires (ca. 700 yr BP) reduced the vegetation to tussock grassland and bracken. Deforestation did not markedly affect the hydrology of the site. European pastoralism since ad 1860 has increased run-off and rising water tables in the bog have led to a Sphagnum-dominated cover. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

台湾头社盆地湖沼相沉积孢粉记录的6.2~1.3 cal ka BP以来气候研究

头社盆地位于中国台湾省中部,东亚季风区的最前沿,对东亚季风的响应十分敏感,研究其中晚全新世以来古植被、重建古气候序列,探讨其气候与东亚夏季风的关系具有重要的科学意义。文章对头社盆地泥炭—湖泊沉积的AMS14C测年、体积磁化率测试的基础上,基于孢粉记录,重建晚全新世来植被变化,恢复古气候。结果表明全新世中晚期以来分六个阶段：6.2~6.0 cal ka BP,气候凉干,植被类型是亚热带常绿阔叶林;6.0~4.0 cal ka BP,气候转暖湿,植被类型为含较多热带成分的亚热带常绿阔叶林;4.0~2.2 cal ka BP,气候相对凉干,植被类型转为亚热带常绿阔叶林;2.2~1.9 cal ka BP,气候又变暖湿;1.9~1.7 cal ka BP,气候快速冷干事件,森林退化;1.7~1.3 cal ka BP,气候重转温暖湿润,植被类型为接近现代的沼泽草原。整体上6.2~2.2 cal ka BP的气候变化是由温暖湿润向温凉干燥转变的趋势,这是全新世中晚期以来的太阳辐射量减少所导致的,太阳辐射量的减少导致热带辐合南移,进而导致东亚夏季风减弱,而2.2 cal ka BP之后气候波动较大,可能是在东亚夏季风减弱的背景下,ENSO活动加强与人类活动的干扰下耦合的结果。     

太湖平原碟形洼地沉积物记录的距今8 000年以来植被、气候与地貌演变

利用DGY孔沉积物的岩性、粒度及孢粉分析资料,探讨了太湖平原碟形洼地沉积物记录的8 000年以来植被演化、气候波动,流域地貌环境的演变及其对海平面波动的响应。孢粉记录表明：本区距今8 000～5 000年木本植被由以落叶阔叶乔木和针叶乔木为主变为落叶阔叶乔木和常绿阔叶乔木为主,气候由温和略干转为暖热湿润;距今5 000～4 000年森林退缩,气候温和偏干;距今4 000年左右出现低温事件;距今4000～3000年木本植被以常绿阔叶乔木为主,气候温暖湿润;距今3 000年以来木本植被主要为常绿阔叶乔木、落叶阔叶乔木和针叶乔木,气候总体温暖湿润,有波动变凉干趋势。岩性、粒度及孢粉记录综合显示本区距今8 000～5 000年发育潟湖相泥质粉砂,反映流域环境开放、与海连通;距今5 000～4 000年发育淡水沼泽,未受海水作用,反映水域缩小、流域环境封闭;距今4 000～3 000年水域扩大,并出现海水倒灌,反映内低外高的碟形洼地已经形成;距今3 000年以来,发育湖沼平原,发生数次海水倒灌,反映碟形洼地地貌的进一步发育。     

太湖平原碟形洼地沉积物记录的距今8000年以来植被、气候与地貌演变

利用DGY孔沉积物的岩性、粒度及孢粉分析资料,探讨了太湖平原碟形洼地沉积物记录的8000年以来植被演化、气候波动,流域地貌环境的演变及其对海平面波动的响应。孢粉记录表明:本区距今8000~5000年木本植被由以落叶阔叶乔木和针叶乔木为主变为落叶阔叶乔木和常绿阔叶乔木为主,气候由温和略干转为暖热湿润;距今5000~4000年森林退缩,气候温和偏干;距今4000年左右出现低温事件;距今4000~3,000年木本植被以常绿阔叶乔木为主,气候温暖湿润;距今3000年以来木本植被主要为常绿阔叶乔木、落叶阔叶乔木和针叶乔木,气候总体温暖湿润,有波动变凉干趋势。岩性、粒度及孢粉记录综合显示本区距今8000~5000年发育潟湖相泥质粉砂,反映流域环境开放、与海连通;距今5000~4000年发育淡水沼泽,未受海水作用,反映水域缩小、流域环境封闭;距今4000~3000年水域扩大,并出现海水倒灌,反映内低外高的碟形洼地已经形成;距今3000年以来,发育湖沼平原,发生数次海水倒灌,反映碟形洼地地貌的进一步发育。     

渤海湾西北岸中更新世中期以来的气候环境和沉积环境演变

渤海湾西北岸是渤海湾沿岸砂坝-澙湖沉积体系组成部分,其沉积物蕴含着丰富的地质环境演变信息,是认识该地区气候环境和新构造活动的关键.通过对渤海湾西北岸QEJ01孔80 m以上地层沉积环境、孢粉分析及微体古生物研究,结合测年数据,根据定量古气候重建数据,探讨了本区中更新世中期以来特征时期的植被演替及环境演变,并对MIS6～...     

Climate and vegetation history from a 14,000-year peatland record, Kenai Peninsula, Alaska

Analysis of pollen, spores, macrofossils, and lithology of an AMS ¹⁴C-dated core from a subarctic fen on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska reveals changes in vegetation and climate beginning 14,200 cal yr BP. Betula expansion and contraction of herb tundra vegetation characterize the Younger Dryas on the Kenai, suggesting increased winter snowfall concurrent with cool, sunny summers. Remarkable Polypodiaceae (fern) abundance between 11,500 and 8500 cal yr BP implies a significant change in climate. Enhanced peat preservation and the occurrence of wet meadow species suggest high moisture from 11,500 to 10,700 cal yr BP, in contrast to drier conditions in southeastern Alaska; this pattern may indicate an intensification and repositioning of the Aleutian Low (AL). Drier conditions on the Kenai Peninsula from 10,700 to 8500 cal yr BP may signify a weaker AL, but elevated fern abundance may have been sustained by high seasonality with substantial snowfall and enhanced glacial melt. Decreased insolation-induced seasonality resulted in climatic cooling after 8500 cal yr BP, with increased humidity from 8000 to 5000 cal yr BP. A dry interval punctuated by volcanic activity occurred between 5000 and 3500 cal yr BP, followed by cool, moist climate, coincident with Neoglaciation. Tsuga mertensiana expanded after ~ 1500 cal yr BP in response to the shift to cooler conditions.     

西藏纳木错地区约120kaBP以来的古植被、古气候与湖面变化

西藏纳木错湖相沉积的U系和^11C测年结果表明，湖泊沿岸的6级湖岸阶地及拔湖约48～139．2m的高位湖相沉积形成于约120ka BP以来的晚第四纪。本文根据该套湖相层的发育和其中的孢粉组合特征对纳木错地区约120ka BP以来的湖面变化与古植被、古气候变迁进行了探讨。结果表明，纳木错地区晚更新世以来经历了频繁的湖面波动、气候的冷暖与干湿变化以及森林—草原与草原植被的交替演化。其总体特征是：约115．9ka BP时，纳木错湖面最高。在116～78ka BP期间，该区气候温和凉爽或温和偏湿，植被以疏林草原与森林草原或森林的交替出现为特征，湖面经历了较大幅度的波动，但基本保持在拔湖140～88m之间。在78～53ka BP期间，该区气候干冷，植被以疏林草原为主，湖面大幅度下降，并在拔湖约36～48m之间波动。约53～32ka BP期间，气候转为温暖偏湿或温暖湿润，湖面波动于拔湖约15～28m之间，波动较为频繁。与阶地的发育相对应，该时期内包含了3次明显的暖期和湖面波动过程，区域植被主要以松、蒿、桦为主，为含一定量的冷杉的森林。其中36ka BP左右气候最温暖湿润，区域内可能出现针叶林或针阔混交林。约32～12ka BP期间，该区气候最为干冷，古植被以草原和疏林草原为主，湖面再次发生较大幅度的下降，最低可至拔湖约8m处，但通常维持在拔湖约12～17m之间。约11．8～4．2ka BP期间，气候整体较为暖湿，其中在约8．4～4．2ka BP期间气候最温暖湿润，该区可能发育针叶林或针阔混交林，湖面波动于拔湖2～9m之间，整体波动幅度较小，但波动最为频繁。区域气候对比发现，纳木错地区的冷、暖气候变化过程与整个青藏高原乃至北半球的气候变化基本是一致的，特别是阶地下切所反映的湖面退缩过程与北大西洋的Henrich冷事件之间具有很好的对应关系。     

Paleohydrological implications of Holocene peatland development in northern Michigan

Sediment, pollen, and plant macrofossil stratigraphies from two small oligotrophic Chamaedaphne-Sphagnum peatlands provide data about local hydrologic changes in northern Michigan during the Holocene. Gleason Bog started about 8000 yr B.P. as a shallow pond that supported rich fen vegetation. After it was partly filled with peat and sand (about 4000 yr B.P.), the vegetation changed to oligotrophic bog. At Gates Bog paludification starting about 3800 yr B.P. caused peat accumulation over sand without an initial pond phase. The onset of peat accumulation at both sites is attributed to a rise in the water table resulting from the onset of cool and moist late Holocene climates. The water table of Gleason Bog is linked to the water level of adjacent Douglas Lake, which may have undergone a simultaneous rise. The results emphasize the individuality of hydrological conditions and hydroseral development in northern Michigan peatlands.     

甘肃疏勒河冲积扇绿洲全新世孢粉组合和环境演化

通过甘肃疏勒河冲积扇九道沟下游剖面(JDG)沉积物系统的孢粉分析,探讨了这一极干旱区全新世植被和气候环境演化.约4.3 m厚沉积剖面的孢粉组合特征清楚地反映了研究区全新世植被经历了6个发展演替阶段,从老而新依次为:针叶林为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;灌丛草原;疏林灌木草原;针叶树为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;草原植被;针叶林-灌木草原.与植被发展演替相对应的气候环境经历了凉较湿→温干→暖湿→温较湿→温干→凉较湿的变化.这些结果对于了解该地区全新世气候演化以及中国西北干旱区未来环境预测方面都具有重要意义.     

Fen ecosystem responses to water‐level fluctuations during the early and middle Holocene in central Europe: a case study from Wilczków,Poland

This paper presents a palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Wilczków fen (central Poland). The fen developed in an inactive valley at the onset of the Holocene (~11 ka BP) and peat accumulation lasted until 5.7 ka BP. Multi‐proxy reconstructions were made on the basis of palaeobotanical, cladoceran, chironomid, beetle and geochemical analyses. A Kohonen self‐organizing map (SOM, unsupervised artificial neural network) of the biotic sequence distinguished four stages of fen history. Stage X₁ (11.0–10.7 ka BP) was relatively wet and cool. Organic matter started to accumulate but the habitat conditions remained unstable. Moss, sedge and fern communities then developed. Sedimentary changes reveal an intensive groundwater supply at that time. Numerous and diverse chironomid and cladoceran subfossils indicate nearly permanent aquatic conditions. During stage Y₁ (10.6–9.2 ka BP) conditions were dry and the upper peat layer desiccated. Cladocera nearly disappeared whereas chironomids were represented by semi‐terrestrial and predatory (Tanypodinae) species. Conditions started to be more reducing. All the remaining samples belonged to the interweaving stages X₂ and Y₂. Stage Y₂ (mostly 9.1–7.3 and 6.0–5.7 ka BP) was also dry but humidity increased towards the top. Oxidizing conditions occurred and the pH became more alkaline, favouring Cladium mariscus. The basin received mostly allochthonous matter input at that time. Stage X₂ (mostly 6.8–6.1 ka BP) was humid and warm. The groundwater supply remained low but there was an increase in precipitation, changing local conditions to ombrotrophic. Species‐rich chironomid and cladoceran communities were associated with temporary pools. Finally, conditions returned to those characteristic of stage Y₂. The presented reconstruction documents long‐term abiotic and biotic changes determined by water supply, including groundwater outflow, which have rarely been detected at a multi‐proxy scale. We show that inactivated valley fens are sensitive to climate‐driven hydrological fluctuations. Kohonen neural networks appear to be a promising method for analysing variability in multi‐proxy data.     

Paleoclimatic field studies in and along the Qinling Shan (Central China)

Recent investigations in and along the mountains south of the Loess Plateau (Central China) give no evidence of Pleistocene glaciations below 2800 m asl. Reliable Late-Pleistocene glacial landforms and till only occur in the Qinling Shan (3767 m). The paleosnowline in altitudes of 3250–3300 m was more than 1000 m lower than at present. A Late-Pleistocene periglacial region has been descended to about 2300 m asl, resulting an increase of the sediment yield of the rivers and intensified sediment aggradation in the valleys in and along the Qinling Shan. The Late-Pleistocene descend of the coniferous forest was comparable to the snowline depression. A spruce-fir forest dominated along the northern flank of the mountain range during the time 30-20 ka BP. Towards the end of the Pleistocene glacial periods respectively at the beginning of the following interglacial phase, dissection of alluvial deposits and terracing began in the mountain valleys and in the northern foreland. The replacement of forest vegetation by a more steppe-like vegetation as well as the loess accumulation along the northern Qinling Shan indicates increasing aridity as the climate warmed at the end of the last glacial period and during the Early Holocene. The widespread occurrence of Mid-Holocene paleosols within the loess proves a more moist and warm interval, which is followed by a drier and cooler Late Holocene period.     

A record of Lateglacial/Holocene environmental change from a high‐elevation site in the Intermountain West,USA

Records of past vegetation and fire history can be complicated by changes in the depositional environment of a sampling location. However, these changes can alternatively be used as a measure of climate variability. Our study site, ca. 18.0 cal. ka BP record from Little Brooklyn Lake, Wyoming, located near the crest of the Snowy Range, records three moisture states. Initially, the lake was likely a glacier‐fed pond indicated by the presence of Pediastrum algae colonies. Around 13.0 cal. ka BP this pond transitioned to a meadow environment, suggested by the loss of Pediastrum algae colonies and slow sedimentation rates. Meadow conditions were maintained until ca. 5.0 cal. ka BP when Pediastrum algae colony abundance increased,indicating the formation of a shallow lake. From 18.0 to ca. 5.0 cal. ka BP, the pollen record is suggestive of alpine vegetation conditions with relatively high spruce and herbaceous taxa. Low charcoal influx also characterizes the period between 18.0 and 5.0 cal. ka BP. After 5.0 cal. ka BP, the coincidence of the formation of shallow lake and pollen data, indicating a shift to a spruce and fir forest, suggests an increase in effective moisture. Fire remained rare in this basin over the entire record, however, once the lake established sedimentation rates and charcoal influx increased. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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。     

Sedimentology and palynology of Middle Wisconsinan deposits in the Pecatonica River valley,Wisconsin and Illinois

The bedrock valley of the Pecatonica River north of Freeport, Illinois, contains a thick valley-fill complex of alluvium and drift. Within the valley, loess-capped benches surround hills of silty Illinoian drift. Beneath these benches lie thick deposits of poorly sorted stony silt interbedded with thin lenses of silt, sand, and organic-rich loam. Channel deposits and peat cap the diamicton in places. We interpret the stony silts as solifluction debris shed from silty slopes within the valley-fill during the Early or Middle Wisconsinan (Altonian). Top and bottom radiocarbon dates from a 2.5-m section of peat overlying the diamicton are 26,820 ± 200 and 40,500 ± 1700 yr B.P., respectively. We informally refer to the stony silts, channel sediments, and peat as the “Martintown unit.” Geomorphic position, sediment input, and macrofossils suggest that the dated peat was deposited in a floodplain pond (oxbow?). The pollen record from the peat indicates that a boreal forest dominated this area during the Middle Wisconsinan (late Altonian and Farmdalian). Two pollen zones are recognized: a basal Zone I with Pinus slightly more abundant than Picea and with few herbs and shrubs, and an upper Zone II dominated by Picea and with a larger representation of herbaceous and shrub taxa. Little displacement of vegetation zones is indicated, even though ice advanced to within 100 km of the site during the time of peat accumulation. Because of the problems involved in clearly defining Middle Wisconsinan forest-tundra in mid-latitudes by using analogs of Holocene forest-tundra in high latitudes, caution is required in making geomorphic inferences solely from vegetation data. Together, though, pollen and sediment data indicate that during the Middle Wisconsinan, Pecatonica hillslopes progressed through a sequence of instability-stability-instability related to climatic fluctuations.     

Postglacial history of East European boreal forests in the mid-Kama region,pre-Urals,Russia

The Ural Mountains are an important climatic and biogeographical barrier between European and Siberian forests. In order to shed light on the postglacial formation and evolution of the boreal forests in the European pre-Urals, we obtained a peat sediment core, Chernaya, from the Paltinskoe bog located between the southern taiga and hemiboreal forest zone in the mid-Kama region. We carried out pollen analysis, non-pollen palynomorph analysis, loss-on-ignition tests and radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon dated records provide centennial to decennial resolution of the vegetation and environmental history of the European pre-Urals for the last 8.8 ka. The postglacial formation of the pre-Uralian hemiboreal forests reveals four important phases: (i) the dominance of Siberian taiga and forest-steppe in the Early Holocene and beginning of the Middle Holocene (8.8–6.9 ka), indicating a dry climate; (ii) the spread of spruce and European broadleaved trees in the Middle Holocene (6.9–4 ka) under wetter climate conditions; (iii) the maximum extent of broadleaved trees coinciding with the arrival and spread of Siberian fir in the Late Holocene (4–2.3 ka); and (iv) the decline of broadleaved trees since the Early Iron Age (2.3 ka – present) possibly due to general climate cooling and logging. While temperate broadleaved trees possibly spread from local refugia in the Urals, fir arrived from Siberia and spread further west. The carbon accumulation rate of Paltinskoe bog (18.9±10.16 g C m⁻² a⁻¹) is close to the average value of carbon accumulation of northern peatlands. Local development of peat is characterized by non-gradual growth with a phase of intensive carbon accumulation between 3.5 and 2.3 ka. The vegetation was strongly influenced by fire in the Early Holocene and by humans since the Early Iron Age practicing deforestation, agriculture and pasture. Phases of increased anthropogenic activity correlate well with the local archaeological data.     

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.     

Orbital- and sub-orbital-scale climate impacts on vegetation of the western Mediterranean basin over the last 48,000 yr

High-resolution pollen analysis of Alborán Sea core MD95-2043 provides a 48-ka continuous vegetation record that can be directly correlated with sea surface and deep-water changes. The reliability of this record is supported by comparison with that of Padul (Sierra Nevada, Spain). Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 was characterised by fluctuations in Quercus forest cover in response to Dansgaard-Oeschger climate variability. MIS 2 was characterised by the dominance of semi-desert vegetation. Despite overall dry and cold conditions during MIS 2, Heinrich events (HEs) 2 and 1 were distinguished from the last glacial maximum by more intensely arid conditions. Taxon-specific vegetation responses to a tripartite climatic structure within the HEs are observed. In MIS 1, the Bölling-Allerød was marked by rapid afforestation, while a re-expansion of semi-desert environments occurred during the Younger Dryas. The maximum development of mixed Quercus forest occurred between 11.7 and 5.4 cal ka BP, with forest decline since 5.4 cal ka BP. On orbital timescales, a long-term expansion of semi-desert vegetation from MIS 3 into MIS 2 reflects global ice-volume trends, while Holocene arboreal decline reflects summer insolation decrease. The influence of precession on the amplitude of forest development and vegetation composition is also detected.     

Late‐glacial and Holocene record of vegetation and climate from Cynthia Bay,Lake St Clair,Tasmania

A Late‐glacial–Holocene pollen record was obtained from a 3.96 m sediment core taken from Lake St Clair, central Tasmania. Modern vegetation and pollen analyses formed the basis for interpretation of the vegetation and climate history. Following deglaciation and before ca. 18450 yr BP Podocarpus lawrencei coniferous heath and Astelia–Plantago wet alpine herbfield became established at Lake St Clair. A distinct Poaceae‐Plantago peak occurs between 18450 and 11210 yr BP and a mean annual temperature depression from ca. 6.2°C to 3°C below present is inferred for this period. The marked reduction in Podocarpus and strong increase of Poaceae suggests reduced precipitation levels during the period of widespread deglaciation (ca. 18.5–11 kyr BP). The local Late Pleistocene–Holocene non‐forest to forest biostratigraphical boundary is dated at 11.2 kyr BP. It is characterised by expansion of the subalpine taxa Athrotaxis/Diselma with Nothofagus gunnii, and by the establishment of Nothofagus cunninghamii with Eucalyptus spp. A ‘Phyllocladus bulge’ prior to the expansion of Nothofagus cunninghamii, reported at other Tasmanian sites, is not present at Lake St Clair. Nothofagus cunninghamii cool temperate rainforest peaked at 7800 yr BP, probably under wetter climatic conditions than present. The maximum development of rainforest in the early–middle Holocene may indicate that the temperature was slightly warmer than present, but the evidence is not definitive. The expansion of Eucalyptus spp. and Poaceae after 6000 yr BP may be partly a disclimax effect as a result of Aboriginal burning, but appears also to reflect reduced precipitation. The changes in vegetation and inferred climate can be explained by major changes in synoptic patterns of southern Australia and the adjacent southwest Pacific. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Holocene vegetation dynamics and hydrological variability in forested peatlands of the Clay Belt,eastern Canada,reconstructed using a palaeoecological approach

Forested peatlands are widespread in boreal regions of Canada, and these ecosystems, which are major terrestrial carbon sinks, are undergoing significant transformations linked to climate change, fires and human activities. This study targets millennial‐scale vegetation dynamics and related hydrological variability in forested peatlands of the Clay Belt south of James Bay, eastern Canada, using palaeoecological data. Changes in peatland vegetation communities were reconstructed using plant macrofossil analyses, and variations in water‐table depths were inferred using testate amoeba analyses. High‐resolution analyses of macroscopic charcoal >0.5 mm were used to reconstruct local fire history. Our data showed two successional pathways towards the development of present‐day forested peatlands influenced by autogenic processes such as vertical peat growth and related drying, and allogenic factors such as the occurrence of local fires. The oldest documented peatland initiated in a wet rich fen around 8000 cal. a BP shortly after land emergence and transformed into a drier forested bog rapidly after peat inception that persisted over millennia. In the second site, peat started to accumulate from ~5200 cal. a BP over a mesic coniferous forest that shifted into a wet forested peatland following a fire that partially consumed the organic layer ~4600 cal. a BP. The charcoal records show that fires rarely occurred in these peatlands, but they have favoured the process of forest paludification and influenced successional trajectories over millennia. The macrofossil data suggest that Picea mariana (black spruce) persisted on the peatlands throughout their development, although there were periods of more open canopy due to local fires in some cases. This study brings new understanding on the natural variability of boreal forested peatlands which may help predict their response to future changes in climate, fire regimes and anthropogenic disturbances.