河西走廊西部全新世气候环境变化的元素地球化学记录

通过河西走廊西部地区条湖剖面沉积物元素地球化学分析, 结合高精度AMS-14C测年, 探讨研究区~11400-1060 cal BP期间的气候环境演变过程。研究结果显示, ~11400-9400 cal BP期间, 条湖处于高水位且流域内化学风化作用较强, 气候条件相对温暖湿润; ~9400-8100 cal BP期间, 湖泊水位下降, 化学风化作用减弱, 指示了干旱的气候条件; ~8100-5800 cal BP气候相对湿润, 其中最湿润时段出现在~8100-7200 cal BP之间; ~5800-4800 cal BP期间, 气候转干。~4800 cal BP以后人类活动增强, 导致区域荒漠化加剧。     

安徽巢湖更新世末——全新世中期环境演变的湖泊沉积植硅体记录

通过巢湖西岸湖泊钻孔的植硅体分析,结合AMS14 C年代测定,识别了5个植硅体组合带。根据各组合带主要植硅体类型变化特征,重建了该地区13.7—7.5cal ka BP的气候环境演变史,共分为4个阶段:1)13.7—12.9cal ka BP阶段,气候呈现温暖湿润的特点,降水量较大,其中晚期阶段(13.1—12.9cal ka BP)气候开始逐渐变凉变干;2)12.9—11.5cal ka BP阶段,降温幅度较大,降水量减少,可能对应全球性新仙女木降温事件;3)11.5—9.8cal ka BP阶段,气温有所回升,降水量增加,气候总体表现为温凉湿润;4)9.8—7.5cal ka BP阶段,气温进一步回升,降水量略有减少,并存在多次波动。其中8.4—8.2cal ka BP期间发生了一次明显的变冷变干事件,可能代表了全球8.2ka的降温事件。上述结果很好地响应了区域性与全球性的气候变化,填补了该地区之前更新世末至全新世初古环境演变研究的不足。此外,13.7—7.5cal ka BP期间,水稻植硅体的连续出现表明该地区可能一直存在水稻生长,表明更新世末至全新世中期我国野生稻资源分布的北界至少已经到达巢湖流域。这一结果为研究我国史前野生稻资源的分布,以及长江流域及其以北地区稻作农业起源与发展等相关问题提供了实证和新线索。     

水文气候波动下云南太平水库硅藻群落演替的长期特征

在区域气候变暖的背景下,干旱事件引起的水位频繁波动以及流域开发导致的污染物输入均可以直接威胁水库的生态安全。本研究以云南省太平水库为对象,通过对沉积物的物理(粒度、烧失量)、化学(碳、氮元素)、生物(硅藻群落)等代用指标的分析,并结合监测数据和调查资料,重建了该水库1937—2018年的生态环境变化过程,并识别了硅藻群落的演替特征及其环境影响因子。粒度结果指示,太平水库在筑坝期间(1956—1984年)水动力逐渐增强,而后水动力条件持续减弱,与文献记录的水文调控历史基本一致。总氮、总碳和有机质含量较为一致地记录了水库建设期间水体营养水平的下降、水库建成后初级生产力和内源有机质的上升过程。硅藻群落呈现出“浮游种-底栖种-浮游种”交替占优的演化模式。驱动太平水库硅藻群落演替的主要环境因子为气候变化、水动力条件和营养水平。在气候长期变暖的背景下,严格控制外源营养输入并合理开展水文调控是维持水库水体生态健康和环境安全的重要前提。     

云贵高原抚仙湖近13300年的花粉/炭屑记录*

抚仙湖是云贵高原著名的断陷深水湖,其沉积物蕴藏着流域地质历史时期丰富的环境信息。对钻取自该湖的900cm 湖泊沉积物岩芯进行花粉/炭屑分析及花粉数据的主成分分析表明,抚仙湖流域的植被、气候与火灾在过去的13 300年经历了5个阶段的变化：(1)13 300—10 400cal．a BP,植被以松林为主,伴有山地暗针叶林和常绿阔叶林,表明该时期气候较为冷湿,森林火灾多发,在后期随着温度和湿度的降低,森林火灾愈加频繁。(2)10 400—5 700cal．a BP,松林收缩,常绿阔叶林扩张,出现一定数量的落叶阔叶林,显示该时期气候偏暖偏干;此阶段早期随着气候变暖变干森林火灾的发生延续上阶段高发的状态,直到9 500cal．a BP后随着湿度的增加森林火灾明显减少。(3)5 700—1 800cal．a BP,松林变化较小,常绿/落叶阔叶林比重增大,首次出现了暖热性的枫香林,显示该时期暖湿的气候特征,火灾发生频率低。(4)1 800—500cal．a BP,松林扩张,阔叶林收缩,本阶段后期草本植被比重开始增加,显示该时期气候相对冷干,森林火灾发生频率较高。(5)500cal．a BP至今,松林收缩,落叶阔叶树种增多,草本植物花粉明显增多,显示该时期气候温凉偏干,森林火灾发生频率降低。     

藏东南巴松错200年沉积过程及其对硅藻记录的影响

青藏高原东南部高寒山区广泛发育冰川湖泊,湖泊沉积过程同时受控于区域气候、流域水文、地质条件及湖泊形态特征。基于放射性210Pb/137Cs和14C定年法,对巴松错沉积物理(粒度、分选系数)和化学指标(TOC、TN、C/N)进行分析,发现18世纪末到19世纪末湖泊沉积过程显著变化,表现为迅速变缓趋势。通过分析区域树轮重建的气候序列(温度、降水及相对湿度)及冰川地貌调查资料,认为气候变化及流域冰川分布位置是影响该湖泊沉积过程的重要因素。小冰期末期冰川前缘靠近湖区,随后温度上升导致冰川融水激增、水动力加强,从而引起湖泊沉积粒度的粗化。随着冰川前缘不断后退,径流输送距离增长、沉积分选变好、粒度细化。此外,该地区活跃的地质活动也可能是湖泊沉积过程明显变化的重要诱因。湖泊沉积硅藻是研究气候环境变化的有力指标。过去200多年巴松错硅藻组合变化不明显(DCCA=0.47 SD),说明该地区气候环境变化未超过其生态阈值。通过与其他沉积指标进行对比分析发现,巴松错硅藻记录受到流域水文和湖泊沉积过程影响,主要表现为外源输入和/或湖岸浅水区来源的底栖属种在湖心沉积物中的相对丰度增加。1770-1901年总体上具有较低的Procruste残差,说明期间沉积硅藻和粒度具有较一致的波动过程,也说明了巴松错沉积硅藻记录对沉积过程的响应较为敏感。藏东南地区很多湖区均受到冰川和地质作用的强烈影响,因此在利用微体古生物手段对该地区湖泊进行气候变化研究时,建议考虑沉积过程的影响并进行多指标对比分析。     

浅水湖泊表层沉积物记录的枝角类群落空间分布特征

浅水湖泊污染负荷能力较低,对环境变化敏感,过度开发会导致生态功能明显退化甚至发生稳态转变.本研究通过提取云南18个浅水湖泊的表层沉积物枝角类信息,识别枝角类群落的空间分布特征并甄别其群落构建的环境驱动因子.结果表明:表层沉积物枝角类群落的地理分布存在显著的空间差异,滇西北的枝角类群落以底栖物种占绝对优势,而随着营养水平的增加,滇东南湖泊枝角类优势物种由底栖型向浮游型转变.统计分析表明,海拔和水体总磷水平是驱动群落分布空间差异的关键环境因子,分别独立解释了枝角类群落变化的22.0%和7.7%,反映了海拔梯度及其指示的气候环境过程是控制枝角类群落空间分布的重要因子.同时枝角类群落随营养水平的变化出现差异性的结构特征,可能指示了流域开发、污染物输入、水生植被变化等人类活动扰动的综合影响.同时,海拔和总磷水平表现出显著的相互作用并解释了枝角类群落变化的26.3%,指示了云南地区的人类活动强度随着海拔梯度呈现显著的空间差异,并通过营养盐输入等过程调控了枝角类群落的结构特征.     

云南程海湖泊系统响应富营养化与水文调控的长期模式

流域开发和气候变化背景下,逐渐增强的人类活动已经显著影响湖泊系统演替及功能。本研究以云南程海为研究对象,通过对程海湖泊沉积物记录与现代调查数据相结合,重建了程海近250年来的生态环境变化过程,探讨了程海湖泊系统在富营养化以及水文波动等多重环境压力影响下的长期响应模式。结果表明: 1970年之前程海营养水平整体偏低,1970—2000年间缓慢增长,2000年后快速增加,初级生产力呈长期上升趋势。1993—2000年期间,引水工程显著增加了湖泊水动力强度和物种扩散能力,促进了直链藻和菱形藻的增加。程海沉积物记录的碳循环变化主要受内源输入的长期影响。富营养化是硅藻群落长期演替的主要驱动因子,其次是湖泊水动力条件的波动。对程海的生态修复与流域管理不仅需要关注水体营养盐的富集与流域污染物的控制,同时还要考虑到湖泊水文调控和水位波动的影响。     

太湖沉积物有机碳与氮的来源

选取太湖梅梁湾和湖心柱状沉积物,研究了其有机碳同位素（δ13C）和氮同位素（δ15N）、C/N、总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷（TP）含量,并结合210Pb和137Cs沉积物年代测定技术,探究了近百年太湖沉积物有机质和氮的来源。结果表明：太湖梅梁湾湖区在近百年来,其有机质来源总体以自生为主。50年代以前,湖区受到人类活动的影响较小,沉积物有机质主要来自于湖泊自身水生植物的沉积;50年代到70年代,湖泊内部环境发生变化,湖区逐渐出现藻类大量死亡并沉积的现象,有机质主要来自于水生植物和藻类的共同沉积;70年代到80年代沉积物机质藻类贡献进一步增大;90年代后到现在,则以藻类的沉积为主要来源方式。梅梁湾湖区沉积物氮素的来源在50年代以前主要以流域土壤流失和大型水生植物的死亡为主;50年代到70年代,人类活动的加剧导致大量工业废水、生活污水的输入,藻类开始大面积爆发,氮主要来自于外源的输入、大型植物和藻类的死亡沉积;90年代后到现在,外源氮的输入得到有效地控制,藻类对沉积物氮的贡献相对显著。湖心区域沉积物有机质和氮的来源主要来自于湖泊内部水生植物的沉积。70年代前,沉积物有机质和氮的来源主要来自于水生植物的沉积和水土流失作用;70年代至今,虽然湖泊受到人类活动外源物质输入影响逐渐增大,但总体来讲贡献较小,沉积物有机质和氮的来源仍以湖泊自生为主。     

稳定碳同位素在滨海湿地碳生物地球化学循环中的应用

碳作为滨海湿地中重要的生命元素,其生物地球化学循环过程是滨海湿地研究的核心内容之一.稳定同位素技术越来越多地被应用到滨海湿地碳生物地球化学循环过程的研究中,提高了其研究水平,并推动了其研究的进程.本文从有机物质生产、土壤有机质来源、食物链传递、温室气体排放以及可溶性有机碳输出5个方面,综述了滨海湿地碳生物地球化学循环过程的稳定同位素研究进展.通过植物及土壤δ13C值的测定进行有机质的生产机理研究及外源追溯,通过对比各生物种群的δ13C值分析碳在生态系统中的流动过程,通过湿地排放温室气体及可溶性有机碳δ13C值的测定揭示影响碳输出的环境因子.最后,文章总结了当前研究中存在的问题,并对其研究前景进行了展望.     

云南高原湖泊放线菌区系及资源的研究

1983—1987年从云南高原的滇池等12个湖泊采集底泥和水样,用不同方法从中分离了放线菌,同时筛选了产生纤维蛋白溶酶等的菌株,结果如下： 1．放线菌的数量和组成与湖泊的理化特性有关。 2．在12个湖泊的底泥样品中,小单孢菌占有明显优势。这是湖泊放线菌区系的一个显著特点。 3．杞麓湖、异龙湖、大屯海的放线菌总数达2991—3542x 103／g干土。 4．从这些湖泊分离到马牡拉放线菌,小多孢菌,小四孢菌,糖单孢菌,糖多孢菌。这在有关淡水湖泊放线菌的研究中还未报道过。还发现了以下新种：暗绿小单孢菌,云南糖单孢菌,黄玫瑰小四孢菌,程海马杜拉放线菌,绿黄马杜拉放线菌。 5．放线菌在湖内甲壳素、纤维素及某些有毒物质的降解中起显著的作用。 6．湖生放线菌是各种有用产品(如纤维蛋白溶酶等)的一个来源。     

Late Quaternary environmental and climate history of Rauer Group, East Antarctica

The Rauer Group is an archipelago in Prydz Bay, East Antarctica. The ice-free islands and the surrounding shallow marine areas provide valuable archives for the reconstruction of the late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental and climatic history of the region. Two sediment records from two marine inlets of Rauer Group have been studied for their sedimentological, geochemical, and biological characteristics. Radiocarbon ages from one of the inlets indicate ice-free conditions within the last glacial cycle, probably during the second half of Marine Isotope Stage 3. Subsequent ice sheet coverage of Rauer Group during the Last Glacial Maxiumum (LGM) can be inferred from a till layer recovered in one of the basins. The inlets became ice-free prior to 11,200 cal yr BP, when biogenic sedimentation started. Deglacial processes in the catchments, however, influenced the inlets until ~ 9200 cal yr BP as evidenced by the input of minerogenic material. Marine productivity under relatively open water conditions indicates an early Holocene climate optimum until 8200 cal yr BP, which is followed by a cooler period with increased sea ice. Warmer conditions are inferred for the mid Holocene, when both basins experienced an input of freshwater between ~ 5700-3500 cal yr BP, probably due to ice-sheet melting and increased precipitation on the islands. Neoglacial cooling in the late Holocene since c. 3500 cal yr BP is reflected by an increase in sea ice in both inlets.     

The Holocene history of low altitude Mediterranean Fagus sylvatica forests in southern France

Questions

As the dominant tree in many European forests, Fagus sylvatica functions as an ecosystem engineer, yet its istory remains little understood. Here we ask: (a) are there indications for its presence in southeast France during the last Glacial period; (b) what was the timing of the expansion and decline of F. sylvatica dominated forests; (c) which factors influenced their dynamics and in particular to what extent did past precipitation changes impact upon them; and (d) at which altitudes did these beech forests occur within the region?

Location

Languedoc, the French Mediterranean area.

Method

This article presents a well dated and high‐resolution pollen sequence covering the last 7,800 years from the Palavas Lagoon in the Languedoc together with a review of Fagus charcoal occurrences in the Languedoc and the lower Rhône Valley, and a review of pollen data from a compilation of 69 sites in southeast France.

Results

The Palavas pollen sequence provides a regional summary of F. sylvatica abundance changes near the Mediterranean coast. Around 6,000 years cal BP , an abrupt transition from small beech populations to well‐developed forests is recorded. The maximum development of beech forests occurred between 4,000 and 3,000 years cal BP , while F. sylvatica started to regress after 3,000 years cal BP .

Conclusion

Scattered F. sylvatica populations probably survived throughout southern France during the last Glacial period. F. sylvatica started to spread around 8,000 years cal BP while beech forests never expanded before 6,000 years cal BP . The complex patterns of F. sylvatica expansion in southern France after 6,000 years cal BP suggests that a combination of global (climate change) and local (human impact) factors were responsible for this major change. Recurrent abrupt climate changes, the aridity trend and human deforestation caused beech forests to decline after 3,000 years cal BP .

     

A late glacial to present diatom record from Lake Euramoo, wet tropics of Queensland, Australia

A new diatom record from Lake Euramoo on the Atherton Tableland, north Queensland, Australia is used to assess regional climate change and variability and their links to forcing at a local to global scale. The major factor driving diatom composition in the approximately fifteen thousand-year record appears to be regional moisture availability. Patterns of diatom preservation and other indicators, particularly sediment organic content, suggest that permanent deep water formed at the site from ca. 15,000 cal. yr BP. However, between 13,800 and 11,500 cal. yr BP, there was a notable phase of lower lake levels and effective precipitation. The timing and duration of this phase does not correspond to large-scale climate phenomena such as the Antarctic Cold Reversal or the Younger Dryas and supports emerging evidence for a variable climate regime in the south-west Pacific during the late glacial transition.The Early to Mid Holocene record is one of remarkable stability with 5000 years of sustained dominance by the planktonic diatom Aulacoseira ambigua. Conversely, the Mid to Late Holocene record is marked by distinct diatom variability superimposed on a series of sustained shifts in composition. Accentuated Late Holocene climate variability may aid in explaining intensified land use in indigenous populations and also suggests that Europeans may have arrived in the landscape at the time it was most vulnerable to perturbation.     

A 21 000 cal years paleoclimatic record from Caçó Lake,northern Brazil: evidence from sedimentary and pollen analyses

Sedimentological studies including seismic profiles, mineralogy and organic geochemistry on two cores from the center and margin of Caçó Lake, Maranhão State, northern Brazil, revealed variable climatic and environmental conditions during the last 21 cal kyr BP. Between 21 and 17 cal kyr BP, during the Late Glacial Maximum, regional climate was predominantly dry, interrupted by short humid phases, as reflected by a succession of very thin layers of sand and organic matter. The Late Pleistocene climate was relatively wet as is suggested by rapid lake-level rise and forest expansion. The Late Pleistocene humid climate differed significantly from present conditions. We suggest that Late Glacial humid conditions were the consequence of intensification of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone or shifts of its position, resulting in Antarctic cold-front occurrences. The abrupt climatic changes during this period were marked by siderite deposition into Caçó Lake, which appears to be related to regional hydrologic changes linked to global/Northern Hemisphere events. The Holocene was characterized by lower moisture availability and a distinct dry period until 7 cal kyr BP, in response to South American insolation conditions.     

An 11?000-year lithostratigraphic and paleohydrologic record from Equatorial Africa: Lake Edward, Uganda-Congo

Sedimentologic and geochemical analyses of four cores from Lake Edward, Uganda-Congo, document a complex record of moisture balance in the Edward basin from 11?000 cal yr BP to present. Highly organic, diatomaceous muds provide evidence for shifts in wind intensity and stratification within an early Holocene wet phase. Lake level variations within this period may have shifted due to tectonic lowering of the lake’s outlet level. The onset of mid-Holocene aridity, as documented by the appearance of authigenic calcite at 5200 cal yr BP, initiated a period of falling lake levels that culminated in a late Holocene lowstand between 4000 and 2000 cal yr BP. This lowstand is documented by coarse sediments whose fabric and mineralogy depend on the core site. Although different cores yield different ages for this regression, it appears that declining lake levels culminated in a maximum lake lowstand of −14 m. Lake levels then rose rapidly, attaining modern positions by 1700 cal yr BP. This lake level history suggests that although many paleoclimatic changes in Africa are apparently synchronous throughout northern hemispheric Africa, other events may be spatially heterogeneous. These patterns highlight the need for a well-dated network of paleoclimate sites within the African continent.     

A Holocene environmental record from the southern Yangtze River delta, eastern China

The Holocene sedimentary record of core ZX-1, recovered west of mid-Holocene Chenier ridges on the monsoon-controlled Southern Yangtze delta, eastern China, consists of lagoon, salt marsh, upper tidal flat, and limnic facies, reflecting low-energy depositional environments. Holocene deposits mainly originated from the surrounding Tai Lake drainage basin. The temporal variation of most geochemical element percentages corresponds with the climatic phases inferred from the pollen record, i.e., the relatively low values of SiO₂, Na₂O, CaO and high values of Al₂O₃, K₂O, MgO, Fe₂O₃, FeO, FeO + Fe₂O₃ and TiO₂ generally concur with the warm and humid climate, and vice versa. Three geochemical indices − Al₂O₃/Na₂O, K₂O/Na₂O, and CaO/K₂O − are found to be sensitive to past precipitation in the monsoon-controlled southern Yangtze River delta. Based on fine sediment analysis of core ZX-1, the samples deposited under a dry climate with a mean annual precipitation (MAP) < 500–900 mm tend to have Al₂O₃/Na₂O values less than 12.2, and the samples deposited under a moist climate with an MAP 1000–1800 mm mostly have Al₂O₃/Na₂O values higher than 12.2. Similarly, the K₂O/Na₂O boundary value is 2.0. However, for CaO/K₂O, the dry climate sediments likely show values higher than 0.9, and those wet climate ones generally have values less than 0.9. This geochemical response suggests the potential application of these indices in the interpretation of palaeoclimate variation of monsoon-controlled eastern China.

Holocene climatic variation history is reconstructed for the southern Yangtze delta. From 8000 to 7000 yr BP, regional climate demonstrated frequent fluctuations, with warm and wet periods (8000–7700; 7500–7200 yr BP) alternating with cool and less humid periods (7700–7500; 7200–7000 yr BP). From 7000 to 6000 yr BP, the climate was relatively warm and humid. Since then, it had turned cool and dry, climaxing in an intense cold event around 4000 yr BP. After the cold event, it became warm and humid until around 2500 yr BP.     

Holocene vegetation–fire–climate linkages in northern Yellowstone National Park,USA

Yellowstone National Park has been an important location for paleoecologic studies that focus on the use of charcoal data to reconstruct past fire activity and on the role of climate variations in shaping past vegetation and fire regimes. One hypothesis, which has been explored in other parts of the western U.S., is the idea that present-day summer-dry and summer-wet precipitation regimes were intensified during the early Holocene as a result of greater-than-present summer insolation and its effect on atmospheric circulation patterns. In Yellowstone, this hypothesis was previously examined at two sites, one in summer-wet and one in summer-dry precipitation regions. The records showed variation in both fire and vegetation history that supported the hypothesis. We present a fire and vegetation history from Blacktail Pond, located in Pseudotsuga parkland in the transitional region. The Blacktail Pond data indicate the following ecological history: prior to 12,000 cal yr BP, the site supported tundra vegetation and fire episodes were infrequent. Between 12,000 and 11,000 cal yr BP, Picea–Pinus parkland was established and fire activity increased; these changes are consistent with increasing temperature, as a result of rising summer insolation. From 11,000 to 7600 cal yr BP, the presence of a closed forest of Pinus and some Picea is attributed to high levels of winter moisture, but high fire activity indicates that summers were drier than at present. After 7600 cal yr BP, the presence of forest and steppe vegetation in combination with high fire activity suggest that middle-Holocene conditions were warm and dry. The decrease in Picea and Betula in the last 4000 cal yr indicates continued drying in the late Holocene, although fire-episode frequency was relatively high until 2000 cal yr BP. The pollen data at Blacktail Pond and other low-elevation sites in the northern Rocky Mountains suggest a widespread vegetation response in summer-wet regions to effectively wetter conditions in the early Holocene and decreased moisture in the middle and late Holocene. In contrast, the more-variable fire history among the three sites implies either that (1) summer moisture stress and fire conditions are related to year-round moisture balance and not well predicted by the hypothesis, (2) the transitional area between summer-wet and summer-dry precipitation regimes experienced complicated shifts in effective moisture through time, and/or (3) fire-episode data have a limited source area that makes it difficult to separate local influences from regional climate changes in understanding long-term variations in fire-episode frequency.     

Transition from shallow lake to a wetland: a multi-proxy case study in Zalavári Pond,Lake Balaton,Hungary

Lake Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe, has no natural outlet, therefore, underwent water level changes during its 15,000–17,000 years of history. The lake is very sensitive to both climate changes and human impacts. Surroundings have been inhabited since the Stone Age; however, heavy human impact can be recognized during the past 6000 years. In this study, we established three different stages for and reconstructed water level changes of Lake Balaton by geochemical data, subfossil Cladocera and diatom remains in the sediments of the Zalavári Pond, a part of the Kis-Balaton wetland. In 9900–8600 cal. year BP, climate was dry, water level was low, and there was a wetland in this area. Although organic matter content was low in the sediment, the ratio of Fe/Mn was high. Between 5600 and 5000 cal. year BP, water level increased, Fe/Mn ratio shows that oxygen conditions of sediments was improved in agreement with the relatively low number of diatom remains and dense chydorid remains. About 5000 cal. year BP, water level of Lake Balaton decreased as indicated by high organic content with low carbonate and high Fe/Mn ratio in the sediments (oxygen depletion). At the bottom of this section, high Fe and S concentrations showed accumulation of pyrite (FeS₂) that is common in wetlands with very low redox potential. Low abundance of Cladocera remains together with rich and diverse diatom flora confirm the low water level hypothesis. Our data support that the water level of Lake Balaton was higher between 8600 and 5000 cal. year BP than it is at present.     

Pollen-based quantitative reconstructions of Holocene climate variability in NW Romania

A modern analogue technique is applied to two high-resolution pollen sequences from NW Romania to provide the first quantitative evidence for winter, summer and annual temperatures and for precipitation across the Holocene in this region.

The pollen-based climate reconstructions allow the identification of four main intervals: i) an early, less stable period between 11,700 and 11,200 cal. yr BP; (ii) generally stable conditions between 11,200 and 8300 cal. yr BP with winter and annual temperatures and precipitation higher than at present, and summer temperatures about the same; (iii) lower winter and annual temperatures, and higher summer temperatures and precipitation between 8000 and 2400 cal. yr BP; (iv) warmer winter and annual temperatures and lower precipitation for the last 2400 years, whereas summer temperatures became cooler at Steregoiu and remained stable at Preluca Tiganului.

The pollen-based climate reconstructions at the two sites show similar patterns in annual and winter temperatures and precipitation changes during the Holocene, but the trends appear to be less consistent for summer temperatures.

Our pollen-based reconstructions revealed several short-term climatic oscillations during the Holocene, the strongest of which occur between 10,300–10,100, 8300–8000, 6800–6400, 5100–4900, 4000–3600 and 3200–3000 cal. yr BP.     

Holocene vegetation history of the Sahel: pollen, sedimentological and geochemical data from Jikariya Lake, north-eastern Nigeria

Aim This study aims to separate regional and local controls on Holocene vegetation development and examine how well pollen records reflect climate change in a semi‐arid region. The relative importance of climate and human activity as agents of vegetation change in the Sahel during the late Holocene is also considered. Location Jikariya Lake, an inter‐dune depression in the Manga Grasslands of north‐eastern Nigeria. Methods Pollen and charcoal were used to provide a record of Holocene vegetation history. Palaeoclimate and hydrological changes were reconstructed from sedimentary and geochemical data. Regional and local influences were separated by comparing the evidence obtained from Jikariya Lake with previously published data from the Manga Grasslands. Results The Manga Grasslands experienced a prolonged wet period during the early and mid‐Holocene, during which swamp forest vegetation with Guinean affinities (Alchornea, Syzygium, Uapaca) occupied the inter‐dune depressions. However, variation in the pollen records between sites suggests that their establishment was dependent on conditions being locally favourable, rather than being directly coupled to regional climate. The pollen records from the Manga Grasslands are more consistent in suggesting the colonization of the dunefields by trees associated with Sudanian savanna (Combretaceae, Detarium) c. 8700 cal. yr bp . The Jikariya Lake pollen data are in accordance with the sedimentological and geochemical data from the region in indicating that the onset of arid conditions occurred progressively during the late Holocene (from c. 4700 cal. yr bp ). Abrupt changes in pollen stratigraphy, recorded at other Manga Grasslands sites 3500 cal. yr bp , appear to be the product of the local passing of ecological thresholds. The dunefield vegetation (Sahelian savanna) appears to have been resilient to (or at least palynologically silent regarding) to the climatic variability of the late Holocene. Main conclusions While climate appears to have been the primary control on vegetation development in the Manga Grasslands during the Holocene, local conditions (particularly depression size and sand influx) had a strong influence on the timing of pollen stratigraphic changes. Anthropogenic influences are difficult to detect, even during the late Holocene.