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Rapid ecosystem response to abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period in western Europe, 40-16 ka

Wohlfarth, Barbara ; Veres, Daniel ; Ampel, Linda ; Lacourse, Terri ; Blaauw, Maarten ; Preusser, Frank ; Andrieu-Ponel, Valerie ; Keravis, Didier ; Lallier-Verges, Elisabeth and Björck, Svante LU , et al. (2008) In Geology 36(5). p.407-410
Abstract
We present a high-resolution and independently dated multiproxy lake sediment record from the paleolake at Les Echets in southeastern France that displays synchronous changes in independent limnic and terrestrial ecosystem proxies, in concert with millennial-scale climate oscillations during the last glacial period. Distinct lake-level fluctuations, low lake organic productivity, and open, treeless vegetation indicate cold and dry conditions in response to Heinrich events. Alternating phases of higher and low lake organic productivity, stratified surface waters and long-lasting lake ice cover, decreased or increased catchment erosion, and tree-dominated or herb-dominated vegetation resemble Dansgaard-Oeschger interstadial-stadial... (More)
We present a high-resolution and independently dated multiproxy lake sediment record from the paleolake at Les Echets in southeastern France that displays synchronous changes in independent limnic and terrestrial ecosystem proxies, in concert with millennial-scale climate oscillations during the last glacial period. Distinct lake-level fluctuations, low lake organic productivity, and open, treeless vegetation indicate cold and dry conditions in response to Heinrich events. Alternating phases of higher and low lake organic productivity, stratified surface waters and long-lasting lake ice cover, decreased or increased catchment erosion, and tree-dominated or herb-dominated vegetation resemble Dansgaard-Oeschger interstadial-stadial variability. Transitions between different ecological states occurred in as little as 40-230 yr and seem to have been controlled by the position of the Polar Front. Ecosystem response after 30 ka suggests that local climate conditions became more important. Our results demonstrate that all parts of the terrestrial system responded to the abrupt and dramatic climatic changes associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events, and that regional factors modulated ecosystem response. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles, multiproxy records, lake sediments, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, Heinrich events
in
Geology
volume
36
issue
5
pages
407 - 410
publisher
Geological Society of America
external identifiers
  • wos:000255853300018
  • scopus:46149116845
ISSN
0091-7613
DOI
10.1130/G24600A.1
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
88ff6e27-c687-4ec2-87dd-2f5f1214718f (old id 1203824)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 13:45:13
date last changed
2022-04-21 23:21:19
@article{88ff6e27-c687-4ec2-87dd-2f5f1214718f,
  abstract     = {{We present a high-resolution and independently dated multiproxy lake sediment record from the paleolake at Les Echets in southeastern France that displays synchronous changes in independent limnic and terrestrial ecosystem proxies, in concert with millennial-scale climate oscillations during the last glacial period. Distinct lake-level fluctuations, low lake organic productivity, and open, treeless vegetation indicate cold and dry conditions in response to Heinrich events. Alternating phases of higher and low lake organic productivity, stratified surface waters and long-lasting lake ice cover, decreased or increased catchment erosion, and tree-dominated or herb-dominated vegetation resemble Dansgaard-Oeschger interstadial-stadial variability. Transitions between different ecological states occurred in as little as 40-230 yr and seem to have been controlled by the position of the Polar Front. Ecosystem response after 30 ka suggests that local climate conditions became more important. Our results demonstrate that all parts of the terrestrial system responded to the abrupt and dramatic climatic changes associated with Dansgaard-Oeschger and Heinrich events, and that regional factors modulated ecosystem response.}},
  author       = {{Wohlfarth, Barbara and Veres, Daniel and Ampel, Linda and Lacourse, Terri and Blaauw, Maarten and Preusser, Frank and Andrieu-Ponel, Valerie and Keravis, Didier and Lallier-Verges, Elisabeth and Björck, Svante and Davies, Siwan M. and de Beaulieu, Jacques-Louis and Risberg, Jan and Hormes, Anne and Kasper, Haino Uwe and Possnert, Goran and Reille, Maurice and Thouveny, Nicolas and Zander, Anja}},
  issn         = {{0091-7613}},
  keywords     = {{Dansgaard-Oeschger cycles; multiproxy records; lake sediments; paleoenvironmental reconstruction; Heinrich events}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{407--410}},
  publisher    = {{Geological Society of America}},
  series       = {{Geology}},
  title        = {{Rapid ecosystem response to abrupt climate changes during the last glacial period in western Europe, 40-16 ka}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1130/G24600A.1}},
  doi          = {{10.1130/G24600A.1}},
  volume       = {{36}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}