A first chironomid-based summer temperature reconstruction (13-5 ka BP) around 49 degrees N in inland Europe compared with local lake development
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2016 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| web | https://reader.elsevier.com/reader/sd/pii/S0277379116301044?token=B93E8BC910126F0278C47513CAB1A6FF131A352BE5F900CF9D165E3871D3C6BF53D73F66A3869B9B75E3BD90BEA61829 |
| Doi | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2016.04.001 |
| Field | Ecology |
| Keywords | Carpathians; Climate; Diatoms; Geochemistry; Holocene; Lake-productivity; Late Glacial; Pollen; Transfer functions; Water level changes |
| Attached files | |
| Description | Temperature reconstructions based on biotic proxies are rare for inland Europe around 49 degrees N. We analysed lake deposits in the Vihorlat Mts in eastern Slovakia. Chironomid head capsules were used to reconstruct mean July temperature (T-July), other proxies (diatoms, green algae, pollen, geochemistry) were used to reconstruct local environmental changes, such as epilimnetic total phosphorus concentrations (TP), lake level changes and development of surrounding vegetation. During the Younger Dryas (YD), temperature fluctuated between 7 and 11 degrees C, that agree with other palaeoclimate records in Europe. The site was somewhat colder than expected from the general south-to-north YD temperature gradient within Europe, possibly because of north-facing exposition. The warmer phases of the YD were characterised by low water level or even complete lake desiccation. At the Late-Glacial/Holocene transition T-July steeply increased from from 11 to 15.5 degrees C - the highest T-July for entire sequence. The open woodlands of conifers and Betula were replaced by broad-leaved temperate forests. At the same time, input of eroded coarse-grained material into the lake decreased and organic matter (LOI) and biogenic silica increased. The Early-Holocene climate was rather stable till 8700 cal yr BP. The lake was productive with a well-developed littoral. A distinct decline of T-July between 8700 and 8000 cal yr BP was associated with decreasing chironomid diversity and increasing climate moistening indicated by pollen. Tychoplanktonic and phosphorus-demanding diatoms increased which might be explained by hydrological and land-cover changes. Later, a gradual warming started after 7000 cal yr BP and representation of macrophytes, periphytic diatoms and littoral chironomids increased. Our results suggest that the Holocene thermal maximum was taking place unusually early in the Holocene at our study site, but its timing might be affected by topography and mesoclimate. |
| Related projects: |