Late Holocene environmental history on Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic, based on diatom floristic changes and geochemistry in sediments of a volcanic crater lake |
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Authors: | Sofia U Holmgren Karl Ljung Svante Bj?rck |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Earth and Ecosystem Sciences, Division of Geology, Quaternary Sciences, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden |
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Abstract: | A late Holocene diatom stratigraphy of Bottom Pond (37°05′S, 12°17′W) was studied and interpreted to infer paleolimnological
and climate changes on Tristan da Cunha, South Atlantic. The diatom flora of Bottom Pond is dominated by meroplanktonic Aulacoseira alpigena and A. distans and a benthic/epiphytic flora including Achnanthes spp., Naviculadicta spp., Eunotia taxa and Frustulia rhomboides. The flora also includes an important terrestrial and aerophytic component, consisting of several Diadesmis spp., Navicula lapidosa, Nitzschia terrestris and some Pinnularia spp., at times dominating the flora. Peaks of high terrestrial diatom abundances and low abundances and concentrations of
Aulacoseira spp., correspond to periods of increased magnetic susceptibility and are interpreted to be the result of increased catchment
erosion and/or precipitation leading to enhanced in-wash of species living in the soils around the lake. The diatom record
of Bottom Pond most likely registers both local responses to increased erosion in the catchment as well as climatic change
of a more regional character. Comparisons with the geochemical record in 2nd Pond on Nightingale Island show a correspondence
between the two data sets at 2,000–1,750 cal yrs BP, most likely evidence of increased precipitation in the Tristan da Cunha
region. The Tristan da Cunha archipelago is situated at the northern limit of the Southern hemisphere west wind belt and stronger
and/or a northward shift of the westerlies, are probably the main causes of the precipitation changes. |
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