This paper presents the results of a combined palynological and palaeoentomological investigation into the changing diversity of Holocene floodplain forest biota at Bole Ings in the lower reaches of the River Trent. The aim in combining the two techniques represents an attempt to overcome some of the inherent differences of scale and resolution which characterize different types of fossil species data. The two lines of ecofactual evidence, pollen and beetle remains indicate changes in the biodiversity of the floodplain, both in terms of the diversity and abundance of individual species, habitats and ecosystem structure. The results of the study demonstrate the potential of this approach in tracing the decline in plant and entomofaunal diversity at the floodplain forest margin. Although there are recognized limitations imposed by taphonomic uncertainties, taxonomic resolution and restricted ecological data, the combined results provide added details of variations in both species composition and structural diversity within the landscape. The results emphasize the need for multidisciplinary research design in palaeoecological investigations of biodiversity.
Summary 1.Floodplain environments are increasingly subject to enhancement and restoration, with the purpose of increasing their biodiversity and returning them to a more 'natural' state. Defining such a state based solely upon neoecological data is problematic and has led several authors to suggest the use of a palaeoecological approach. 2. Fossil Coleopteran assemblages recovered from multiple palaeochannel fills in south-west England were used to investigate past floodplain and channel characteristics during the mid-to late-Holocene. Ordination of coleopteran data was performed using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) and produced clear and discrete clustering. This clustering pattern is related to the nature of the environment in which assemblages were deposited and hence channel configuration and dynamics. 3. The DCA clustering pattern is strongly related to measures of ecological evenness, and a strong relationship between these indices and the composition of the water beetle assemblage within samples was revealed. Repeating the ordination with presenceabsence data results in a similar pattern of clustering, implying that assemblage composition is crucial in determining cluster placement. 4. As assemblage composition is primarily a function of floodplain topography and hence disturbance regime, we attempt to relate these data to the Intermediate Disturbance Hypothesis (IDH). A significant positive correlation was found between ecological diversity (Shannon's H ′ ) and Axis 1 of all ordinations in predominantly aquatic assemblages.
A multiproxy study of Ballywillin Crannog, Lough Kinale, central Ireland is presented. The methodology used reveals the wealth of information that a multiproxy approach can contribute in lake settlement studies. Plant macrofossils, pollen and spores, diatoms, chironomids and Coleoptera from a lake core are used to reconstruct local and regional vegetation change and lake history to establish the age and function of the crannog. The palaeoecological evidence suggests that Ballywillin Crannog was constructed around AD 620, with its most intensive period of occupation after AD 11 50. Cereals and a range of gathered fruits and nuts were brought onto and cooked on the crannog, and cereal grains were possibly stored there.
The fossil insect evidence for large scale and dramatic changes in the British landscape over the last 10,000 years is reviewed. Five main phases in the development of the British entomofauna are considered in detail: (i) Early Holocene warming and environments, (ii) afforestation, (iii) the maximum ‘Urwald’, (iv) deforestation and (v) the creation of the ‘culture‐steppe’. These changes are discussed in terms of the interplay between ecological, climatic and human‐induced changes to the environment. The fossil record indicates that during this process at least 44 species of invertebrates found in mature woodland, wetland and species rich grassland are no longer recorded in the UK. Increased habitat fragmentation as a result activity, perhaps against the backdrop of subtle climate change, is seen as the main cause of these losses.
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