Holocene palaeoecology and climate history of South Georgia (sub-Antarctica) based on a macrofossil record of bryophytes and seeds
(2004) In The Holocene 14(3). p.382-392- Abstract
- The results are presented of a detailed plant macrofossil analysis of a C-14 dated Holocene organic sequence from a sub-Antarctic island, South Georgia. In the peat infilling of a rock basin 31 bryophyte species and many of the principal species of the present-day angiosperm flora, associated with bog communities, have been identified. The zonation of the bryophytes and the seeds and fruits shows a striking correspondence with the sediment stratigraphy, and indicates five ecological phases. The first four reflect a succession from a minerotrophic shallow pool to an ombrotrophic Warnstorfia-Polytrichum bog. After the deposition of a greyish-brown layer, c. 2200 C-14 years BP, a wet Deschampsia-Warnstofia-Sanionia-Rostkovia bog came into... (More)
- The results are presented of a detailed plant macrofossil analysis of a C-14 dated Holocene organic sequence from a sub-Antarctic island, South Georgia. In the peat infilling of a rock basin 31 bryophyte species and many of the principal species of the present-day angiosperm flora, associated with bog communities, have been identified. The zonation of the bryophytes and the seeds and fruits shows a striking correspondence with the sediment stratigraphy, and indicates five ecological phases. The first four reflect a succession from a minerotrophic shallow pool to an ombrotrophic Warnstorfia-Polytrichum bog. After the deposition of a greyish-brown layer, c. 2200 C-14 years BP, a wet Deschampsia-Warnstofia-Sanionia-Rostkovia bog came into existence, which is still present today. The ecological phases are radiocarbon dated. They can be interpreted in terms of climate development during the Holocene. Climate ameliorated rapidly at about 10 000 C-14 years BP followed by a drier period. Around 7000 C-14 years BP the climate became wetter and the following c. 2500 years probably represent the climatic optimum. Between 4500 and 2600 C-14 years BP, drier conditions prevailed at the study site. The most striking change occurred at 2600 C-14 years BP when a marked change in vegetation and ecology indicates much wetter conditions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/1969791
- author
- Van der Putten, Nathalie LU ; Stieperaere, H ; Verbruggen, C and Ochyra, R
- publishing date
- 2004
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- palaeoecology, macrofossils, bryophytes, seeds, fruits, palaeoclimate, South Georgia, sub-Antarctica, Holocene
- in
- The Holocene
- volume
- 14
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 382 - 392
- publisher
- SAGE Publications
- external identifiers
-
- wos:000221524900006
- scopus:2442607674
- ISSN
- 0959-6836
- DOI
- 10.1191/0959683604hl714rp
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 6715bde9-86fc-477e-a749-9d841437f56c (old id 1969791)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:12:36
- date last changed
- 2022-03-21 01:01:12
@article{6715bde9-86fc-477e-a749-9d841437f56c,
abstract = {{The results are presented of a detailed plant macrofossil analysis of a C-14 dated Holocene organic sequence from a sub-Antarctic island, South Georgia. In the peat infilling of a rock basin 31 bryophyte species and many of the principal species of the present-day angiosperm flora, associated with bog communities, have been identified. The zonation of the bryophytes and the seeds and fruits shows a striking correspondence with the sediment stratigraphy, and indicates five ecological phases. The first four reflect a succession from a minerotrophic shallow pool to an ombrotrophic Warnstorfia-Polytrichum bog. After the deposition of a greyish-brown layer, c. 2200 C-14 years BP, a wet Deschampsia-Warnstofia-Sanionia-Rostkovia bog came into existence, which is still present today. The ecological phases are radiocarbon dated. They can be interpreted in terms of climate development during the Holocene. Climate ameliorated rapidly at about 10 000 C-14 years BP followed by a drier period. Around 7000 C-14 years BP the climate became wetter and the following c. 2500 years probably represent the climatic optimum. Between 4500 and 2600 C-14 years BP, drier conditions prevailed at the study site. The most striking change occurred at 2600 C-14 years BP when a marked change in vegetation and ecology indicates much wetter conditions.}},
author = {{Van der Putten, Nathalie and Stieperaere, H and Verbruggen, C and Ochyra, R}},
issn = {{0959-6836}},
keywords = {{palaeoecology; macrofossils; bryophytes; seeds; fruits; palaeoclimate; South Georgia; sub-Antarctica; Holocene}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{382--392}},
publisher = {{SAGE Publications}},
series = {{The Holocene}},
title = {{Holocene palaeoecology and climate history of South Georgia (sub-Antarctica) based on a macrofossil record of bryophytes and seeds}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1191/0959683604hl714rp}},
doi = {{10.1191/0959683604hl714rp}},
volume = {{14}},
year = {{2004}},
}