Holocene development and anthropogenic disturbance of a shallow lake system in Central Ireland recorded by diatoms |
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Authors: | K A Selby A G Brown |
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Institution: | (1) School of Geography, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK;(2) School of Geography, Archaeology and Earth Resources, University of Exeter, Amory Building, Rennes Drive, Exeter, EX4 4RJ, UK |
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Abstract: | Three cores from two connected lakes in Central Ireland (Lough Kinale and Derragh Lough) were investigated using diatom analysis
to establish the Holocene development of the lacustrine system, any local variations within the lakes and any anthropogenic
influences. The study area was situated in a lowland location and the lakes were shallow, unstratified and interconnected.
Litho-and bio-stratigraphical analyses of the lake cores and deposits beneath a mire separating the two lakes showed the changing
spatial configuration of the lake system in the early Holocene and the separation of the initial lake into three basins (cf.
lacustrine cells) and finally into two interlinked lakes. The evolution of the lake system is conceptualised as the development
of distinct lacustrine cells, and its sediments have recorded changes in the physical (geography, depth and sedimentation)
and chemical (water chemistry) properties of the lakes inferred through diatom analyses. The longest sequence, from the early
Holocene, records fluctuating lake levels and these are correlated with geomorphological mapping and surveying of palaeoshorelines.
The diatom assemblages of the upper 2 m of the three cores, covering approximately the last 2000–3000 radiocarbon years show
considerable difference in trophic status and life-form categories. This is related to the location of the cores in the lake
and also the distance from human settlement with particular reference to proximity to crannog (artificial island) construction
and use. The most central core from the deepest part of Lough Kinale has the least representation of the human settlement
and agricultural activity in the catchment and on the fringes of the lake, whereas the core taken from the edge of a crannog
is able to identify when construction and use of the crannog occurred. The local nature of the palaeoecological response to
human activity due to incomplete water mixing has the advantage of allowing the lake sediment cores to be used to determine
spatially discrete settlement patterns. |
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Keywords: | Shallow lakes Diatoms Holocene Trophic status changes Human impact Crannogs Multiple cores |
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