Human‐affected disturbances in vegetation cover and peatland development in the late Holocene recorded in shallow mountain peatlands (Central Sudetes,SW Poland)

The aim of this study is to assess the impact of biotic and abiotic factors on peatland formation in the Central Sudetes (central Europe) during the late Holocene. The research methodology adopted allowed us to determine whether vegetation development and shallow peatland formation were affected by human activity. Knowledge of past changes might be useful in evaluating recent and future changes, and to avoid pitfalls in the present management of peatland ecosystems. A palaeoecological research study of four peatlands was conducted in the Sto?owe Mountains (Central Sudetes, SW Poland). The results showed that these shallow peatlands originated in the middle to late Holocene (from 3301 BC to AD 1137). Palaeoecological records reflect continuous human impact on vegetation development and peat accumulation from the Middle Ages to the present (late Holocene). The strongest agrarian settler activity is observed in the High Middle Ages (AD 1200–1500). The human‐induced or wildfires observed in the late Holocene were an integral component of peatland ecosystems in the Central Sudetes. Moreover, palaeoecological analysis (sphagnum spores decline) and radiocarbon dating (AD 1870) confirmed drainage of the study area in the 19th century, which greatly affected the vegetation communities.     

Late Glacial-Holocene sequence of Lake Saint-Point (Jura Mountains, France): Detrital inputs as records of climate change and anthropic impact

A sediment sequence (SP05, 12.5 m long) was taken from the deep zone of Lake Saint-Point (850 m a.s.l.). Sedimentological analyses highlight two main contrasted periods of sedimentation: the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM)/Late Glacial characterized by high silicates and quartz contents the Holocene dominated by the carbonated fraction. At the beginning of the Holocene (11 400 years cal. BP), silicates fraction flux abruptly decreased. The shift between the Late Glacial and the Holocene periods may be explained by forest development in the catchment. From 10 200 to 6800 years cal. BP, silicates and detrital carbonate fractions remained stable before they progressively increased steady till 5000 years cal. BP. Both increases cannot be totally attributed to an anthropic impact since pollen data indicate continuous anthropic activities only dated back from 3000 years cal. BP. They thus resulted from a dominant climatic control. From 5000 years cal. BP, silicates content still increased while detrital carbonates input became steady due to a change in pedogenetic processes affecting the catchment. During the last millennium, silicates and detrital carbonate decreased, probably due to pastureland development.     

Natural and anthropogenic influences on the geochemistry of Quaternary lake sediments from Holzmaar, Germany

 The accumulation of heavy metals and trace elements has been investigated in a well laminated sequence of Holocene and late Pleistocene lake sediments composed of diatomaceous gyttja, tuff and silt and clay sediments. Varve chronology of the annually deposited gyttja yielded a continuous high-resolution time sequence and allowed the absolute age dating of the sediment. Fluxes of elements remained largely uniform from the late Pleistocene into the Holocene (12 867–2 364 VT years ago; VT: varve time, years before 1950). Higher trace element and heavy metal fluxes occur from 2 322 to 862 VT years ago and reached their maxima in the uppermost sediments (<845 VT years ago). These increasing element fluxes correlate with increasing inputs of clastic material. The changing accumulation rates are the result of elevated soil erosion in the lake catchment caused by human settlement, deforestation and agricultural activities. Thus disturbances of the natural geochemical cycles of the Holzmaar region have occurred since the beginning of the Iron Age and especially since the beginning of the Middle Ages. Received: 29 May 1996 · Accepted: 19 August 1996     

全新世长江泥沙堆积的时空分布及通量估算

利用长江中下游、河口及口外、浙-闽沿岸陆架6个主要沉积盆地的40个晚第四纪钻孔及其年代学数据和长江口外、陆架的浅地层剖面,计算了全新世不同阶段各沉积盆地的沉积速率,并进行了近7 000年来泥沙堆积通量的估算。研究发现全新世早期距今10 000年至8 000年间长江口下切古河谷是长江泥沙的主要堆积中心,沉积速率可高达15m/ka。随着海平面上升,全新世中期长江中下游也成为长江泥沙的重要沉积盆地,其中江汉盆地的沉积速率可达10m/ka。近2 000年来,口外、陆架的堆积呈明显增加趋势,反映长江中下游盆地和河口可容空间日益减小。根据沉积速率估算,距今7 000年来长江中下游堆积泥沙约13 074×108 t,同期水下三角洲和陆架的泥沙堆积量约为9 470×108 t。研究还发现全新世以来有两个异常低沉积速率时期：距今8000-7 000年期间上述各沉积盆地沉积速率均显著低,未见长江泥沙的沉积中心; 距今4 000-2 000 年期间长江口呈现低沉积速率。 这两次异常的原因推测与海平面、气候波动事件密切相关。     

大凌河河口地区中更新世晚期以来沉积环境演化

大凌河河口地区LZK06孔40m以浅岩心的沉积学、古生物学和年代学等综合研究以及该地区LZK02- 04钻孔资料,揭示了研究区中更新世晚期以来经历了两次海侵- 海退旋回,依次形成了中更新世晚期湖相/河流相 SymbolnB@ 晚更新世海相- 湖相/河流相 SymbolnB@ 全新世海相- 河流相地层。全新世早中期由于物源供给很少,研究区处于长达约10ka的饥饿滞留相沉积环境,平均沉积速率仅约0. 02~0. 05cm/a。全新世晚期约1500a cal BP以来,由于人类活动导致水土流失,河流输砂量增加,研究区开始了快速加积过程,平均沉积速率约0. 9~1. 2cm/a,下辽河平原被快速充填,开始成陆。与全球海面变化时空分布特征的对比,推断辽东湾的第II海相层发育于MIS 5- MIS 3早期,第I海相层发育于MIS 1阶段高海面时期。晚更新世以来频繁的海面升降是辽东湾泥质海岸带地层和环境演化的主要控制因素。     

Palaeoecological study on the Holocene valley development of the River Main, southern Germany

Tree-ring studies carried out on subfossil oak trunk deposits within the Holocene valley fills of the River Main can reconstruct phases of increased fluvial activities. These phases have been dated on the base of two absolutely tree-ring dated chronologies and in addition by ¹¹C-datings of eleven floating tree-ring scries of subfossil oaks.
Geological-pedological investigations reveal an alternation between increased and reduced fluvial activity during the Holocene.
Periods of increased gravel redeposition are dated by dendrochronology, and by ¹⁴C and cultural findings. Increased fluvial activity becomes more frequent towards Modern Times with culminations in the Middle Atlantic, the Subboreal, the Iron-Roman Age, the Main Middle Ages till earliest Modern Times, and in the last century.
On the sequence of Holocene river deposits there developed specific soil types as indicators for the age of the river deposits since the Last Glacial.
Among other palaeoecological results an important finding is the correlation between tree-ring width, flood-loam sedimentation, and soil development.     

Morphological evolution of the Guadiana estuary and intertidal zone in response to projected sea‐level rise and sediment supply scenarios

Analysis of Holocene sediment accumulation in the Guadiana estuary (southern Portugal) during sea‐level rise since ca. 13 cal. ka BP was used to simulate the long‐term morphological evolution of the lower Guadiana estuary and the associated intertidal zone for 21st‐century predicted sea‐level rises. Three sea‐level rise scenarios given by the IPCC ( 2007 ) were used in the simulations of morphology using a large‐scale behaviour‐oriented modelling approach. Sedimentation rate scenarios were derived both from the Holocene evolution of the estuary and from a semi‐empirical estimation of present‐day sediment aggradation. Our results show that the net lateral expansion of the intertidal zone area would be about 3–5% of the present intertidal zone area for each 10 cm rise in sea level. Under constraints imposed by the lack of fluvial sediment supply, the lateral expansion of the landward boundary of the intertidal zone will occur mainly in the Portuguese margin of the Guadiana estuary, while submergence of the salt marshes will occur in the Spanish margin. Therefore the Spanish margin is highly vulnerable to both sea‐level rise and lack of sediment supply. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

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.     

Depositional model for a chenier plain, Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia

The southern coast of the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Australia, consists of a broad chenier plain which is comparable in size and morphology to those reported on the coasts of Surinam and south-western Louisiana. The Carpentaria chenier plain has, at some locations, prograded over 30 km since the Middle Holocene by deposition of low-tide muds over subtidal muds during periods of increased sediment input by the rivers. Chenier ridges are formed during periods of reduced sediment flux by wave induced sorting and redistribution processes. An alternation of increased and decreased sediment flux from fluvial sources has occurred several times during the upper Holocene. Such variation in sediment supply is believed to be related to temporal fluctuations in rainfall over the drainage basin which surrounds the southern and eastern Gulf.     

Late Quaternary vegetational and climatic change in the Popayán region,southern Colombian Andes

Late Pleistocene and Holocene vegetational and climatic change have been studied palynologically at a site at 1750 m elevation in the subandean vegetation belt near Popayán, in the southern Colombian Andes. Time control on the pollen record is based on six AMS ¹⁴C ages, ranging from possibly Middle Pleniglacial time (around 50000 yr BP) to 1092 ± 44 yr BP. Because of the presence of two hiatuses only the Middle Pleniglacial and Late Holocene periods (the last 2300 yr BP) are represented. Pollen data indicate the presence of closed subandean forest during glacial time. Changes in the contribution of pollen originating from the uppermost and lowermost subandean forest belts, changes in the contribution of a number of other subandean forest taxa, and changes in species composition between the three pollen zones, suggest that the climate during the Middle Pleniglacial was markedly colder, and perhaps also wetter, than during the Late Holocene. Pollen assemblages from the Late Holocene indicate that the landscape has been affected by deforestation and agriculture since at least 2300 yr BP, but that human impact decreased in the last 780 yr BP. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

腾格里沙漠西北缘青土湖中更新世晚期以来沉积环境变迁

以腾格里沙漠西北缘青土湖钻孔ZK1为研究对象,通过对钻孔沉积物的光释光年代、粒度、磁化率等研究,揭示了该湖泊自中更新世晚期以来的环境变迁。研究结果表明：该地区中更新世晚期经历了干冷→暖湿两个阶段,晚更新世经历了湿暖→干冷两个阶段,与深海氧同位素的末次间冰期、末次冰期气候旋回特征吻合,全新世主要经历了干冷→暖湿的气候波动。反映了腾格里沙漠西北缘晚第四纪的气候波动变化特征,特别是为本区中更新世晚期以来的气候环境变化的研究提供了依据。     

Evidence for Late Pleistocene and Holocene sea-level,neotectonic and climate control in the coastal zone of northwest Portugal

The coastal zone of northwest Portugal can be subdivided into two geomorphological sectors: Sector 1, between the Minho River and the town of Espinho, where the coastal segments consist of estuaries, sandy and shingle beaches with rocky outcrops, and Holocene dune systems (foredunes and some migrating dunes with blow-outs). The estuaries and the foredunes in particular are very degraded by human activities. Sector 2, between Espinho and the Mondego Cape, where coastal lagoons and Holocene dune systems (foredunes, parabolic and transverse dunes) occur. This study deals with the macroscale, i.e. 100–1000 years, forcing by sea-level changes and neotectonic activity on the one hand, and mesoscale, i.e. 1–100 years, forcing by climate fluctuations on the other hand, on these (palaeo-)environments. It is shown in particular that sea-level changes and neotectonic activity play a dominant role in the evolution of the coastal zone since the Late Pleistocene. Sediment starvation on the shoreface is postulated to be one of the major causes for coastal erosion since at least the 15th century. The mesoscale role of climate is difficult to assess at the present stage of knowledge, mainly because of overprinting by the macroscale evolution of the coast. However, data on estuarine saltmarsh evolution in sector 1 point towards discrete changes in storminess, while the development of Medieval dune systems in sectors 1 and 2 are attributed to the Little Ice Age or, alternatively, to human occupation of the dune areas.     

Effect of Atmosphere and Temperature Treatment on Leoanardite for Increasing Humic Acid Yield

In this review, the shifts in organic matter (OM) accumulation and C:N ratios in lake sediments to reconstruct paleoclimate and paleo-environmental changes since the early Holocene period are presented. The C:N proxy data of total OM reflect wet climatic conditions during early Holocene (10 to 8.2 kyrs BP) due to enhanced southwest monsoon. This was followed by intermittent arid conditions during the mid and late Holocene period (8.2 to 2.8 kyr BP). Enhanced values of C:N ratio during middle to late Holocene (7.8–2.3 kyrs B.P) indicate periods with lower lake levels and minimum precipitation, while decreased C:N ratio point to stronger SW monsoon and expansion of the lakes. Further, C:N and δ¹³C results from the lake sediments reveal a detailed and continuous paleo-environmental changes in the relative sources of OM (allochthonous vs autochthonous). Proxy records using such natural archives have also been utilized to reconstruct past extreme events and environmental changes around the lake systems, such as causes for lake desiccation, hydrographic changes, alternations between C₃ and C₄ vegetation and historical disturbances in the catchment area since the early-late Holocene period coupled with the Indian summer monsoon.     

Interplay between detrital and diagenetic processes since the last glacial maximum on the northwest Iberian continental shelf

Integrated analyses of magnetic, geochemical and textural data on six cores from the northwestern Iberian continental shelf allowed the reconstruction of the paleoenvironmental evolution of this area since the last glacial maximum (LGM). Four sedimentary units were identified, representing a succession from fluvial and subaerial settings to high and finally low-energy marine deposits subsequent to the post-LGM sea-level rise. The uppermost unit was deposited during the Holocene and its magnetic properties were controlled by the interplay between detrital input and early diagenetic reductive dissolution of magnetic minerals. Identification of a primary steady-state early diagenetic signal allowed the recognition of periods of increased detrital input, bounded by intervals of lower detrital input and intensified reductive diagenesis related to intensified upwelling in the area. These paleoenvironmental alternations are consistent with the climatic evolution of the late Holocene. During the Roman Warm Period and Medieval Warm Period, the combined effect of greater humidity and intense agricultural and mining activities led to a greater erosion and transport of detrital sediments to the shelf. In contrast, enhanced diagenetic reduction intervals, caused by upwelling intensification, were roughly coincident with the colder Dark Ages and the Little Ice Age.     

中国北方晚更新世以来地质环境及未来生存环境变化趋势

我国北方晚更新世以来古环境变化在总趋势上有一致性,但又有地区上的差别.青藏高原古气候变化有其特殊性,末次冰期寒冷气候开始早于其他地区;全新世暖期开始晚于其他地区1500年左右.除受全球性气候变化影响外,青藏高原的迅速上升也是影响我国北方晚更新世以来古环境的因素之一;华北平原未来生存环境变化中水资源的变化受人类活动影响很大.目前水资源开发利用程度高,预测于21世纪前半个世纪内缺水状况是严峻的,平原区缺水将大于80×108m3/a;我国北方在全新世大暖期后,气候环境的变化是在大暖期期间形成的环境基础上演变的.总的趋势是向以冷干为主的气候和向干旱化环境演化.     

黄土高原全新世黄土-古土壤演替及气候演变的再研讨

文章从黄土-古土壤的演替规律、黄土再沉积与古土壤埋藏后的次生成壤特殊性,揭示了第四纪生物气候演变的实质。对黄土高原具代表性的现代耕种土壤壤土和黑垆土的研究,揭示了土壤剖面内伏形成环境较现代暖湿的古土壤层;对于土壤剖面上部的覆盖层,证实不仅是人为施加土粪的堆积物,且包含新的黄土沉积物;从土壤发生学观点,埃土与黑垆土称之耕种埋藏型古土壤较合适;通过分辨古土壤剖面层内干旱草原和暖湿型森林植被孢粉共存的矛盾实质,证实黄土高原全新世曾存在茂密的森林和森林草原植被及森林型土壤的发育,并延续到人类历史时期。在第四纪研究中,通常把黑垆土作为全新世代表地层,以S0表示,我们的研究补充提出,根据黄土高原生物气候地带性的分异规律,自南而北,S0应以埃土与黑垆土分别表示,并应在S0层上部划分出Lx,说明气候冷干化的趋向及新一轮黄土沉积期已悄然来临。以上问题的再研讨,对第四纪生态环境演变和当前黄土高原生态环境建设的战略部署,具有重要的理论和实际意义。     

4 000aB.P.前后东亚季风变迁与中原周围地区新石器文化的衰落

4000aB.P.前后中原周围地区新石器文化发生了衰落,其原因一直存在较大的争议。文章依据前人的研究成果,从东亚夏季风锋面降水的穿时性特点初步探讨了这一问题。认为4000aB.P.前后的降温和由地球轨道因素变化引起的全新世东亚季风的长期变化,使东亚夏季风降雨带北撤南迁,形成中国东亚季风区的一种南涝北旱的环境格局,可能是4000aB.P.前后中原周围地区新石器文化的衰落的主要原因。     

青藏高原兹格塘错沉积物粒度组成及其环境记录的研究 *

兹格塘错是位于藏北高原腹地的一个封闭型湖泊,对其沉积物的粒度组成、粒度参数等粒度特征进行分析,揭示了湖面水位变化,水动力、风动力搬运强度等。并结合其他环境代用指标进行比较,探讨环境变化,揭示了兹格塘错区域全新世初期气候湿润、中期气候偏干、晚期干湿交替的气候变化特征。粒度参数所反映出的湖面波动与环境变化得到了其他环境代用指标较好的支持。     

16 ka以来冲绳海槽中南部沉积物物源演化及其对古气候的响应

基于有孔虫AMS14C年龄年代框架,通过冲绳海槽中南部的OKT12孔沉积物黏土矿物的分析,探讨了16 ka以来冲绳海槽细颗粒沉积物的物源变化及其对源区气候的响应。研究结果显示,10 ka时黏土矿物组成发生明显变化,伊利石、绿泥石含量增加,高岭石、蒙皂石含量减少,指示物源由之前的长江和东海陆架源转变为台湾源。受到海平面上升影响,长江河口和冲绳海槽距离增加,夏季风增强,黑潮增强,既搬运台湾来源物质,又阻碍长江物质跨陆架输运,在这些因素综合作用下,长江物质减少、台湾物质增加。高岭石/（伊利石+绿泥石）和绿泥石/（伊利石+蒙皂石）比值在4 ka以来增加指示全新世晚期台湾源区侵蚀强度发生变化。4 ka前后物源判别显示,OKT12孔沉积物来源由台湾东北部河流变为台湾东南部河流,反映了该时期季风降雨导致源区台湾不同区域的侵蚀差异,可能与ITCZ南移、ENSO活动增强有关。     

Organic carbon burial rates,and carbon and sulfur relationships in coastal sediments of the southern Baltic Sea

Organic C burial rates and C–S relationships were investigated in the Holocene sediment sequences of 3 shallow polymictic coastal lagoons in the southern Baltic Sea to better understand the biogeochemical cycling of C and S in these environmental systems. The results show that these lagoons may have a considerable influence on the environmental status of the southern Baltic Sea area in having the potential to act as a temporary sink or source for heavy metals. High organic C accumulation rates (C_org-AR) can be observed in the sediments due to a high organic matter supply from land and a high productivity of the water bodies as a result of eutrophication. However, organic C burial does not increase as a result of increasing sediment accumulation rates (SAR). Even when high sedimentation rates do occur, there appears to be a thorough recycling and resuspension of the sediment enhancing the biological decay of organic matter before burial or the removal of organic matter from the system by transport. That is why high SAR in the coastal lagoons do not enhance pyrite formation, and thereby permanent fixing of heavy metals in the sediments, to the extent that could be expected from their magnitude. Initially there is a high potential for a temporary binding of heavy metals, but the latter are likely to be subject to mobilization and redistribution within the sediments and the water column. The patterns of burial of organic and mineral matter are different from those observed in the present-day Baltic Proper, implying possible important links in deposition between the central and coastal areas of the Baltic Sea and implications for C cycling in the ecosystem of the Baltic Sea.