Holocene history and environmental reconstruction of a Hercynian mire and surrounding mountain landscape based on multiple proxies

Abstract

We discovered the first peat section covering the entire Holocene in the Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, representing an island of unique alpine vegetation whose history may display transitional features between the Hercynian and Carpathian regions. We analysed pollen, plant macrofossils (more abundant in bottom layers), testate amoebae (more abundant in upper layers), peat stratigraphy and chemistry. We found that the landscape development indeed differed from other Hercynian mountains located westward. This is represented by Pinus cembra and Larix during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition, the early expansion of spruce around 10,450 cal yr BP, and survival of Larix during the climatic optimum. The early Holocene climatic fluctuations are traced in our profile by species compositions of both the mire and surrounding forests. The mire started to develop as a calcium-rich percolation fen with some species recently considered to be postglacial relicts (Meesia triquetra, Betula nana), shifted into ombrotrophy around 7450 cal yr BP by autogenic succession and changed into a pauperised, nutrient-enriched spruce woodland due to modern forestry activities. We therefore concluded that its recent vegetation is not a product of natural processes. From a methodological viewpoint we demonstrated how using multiple biotic proxies and extensive training sets in transfer functions may overcome taphonomic problems.

Holocene vegetation history of the Jeseníky Mts: Deepening elevational contrast in pollen assemblages since late prehistory

“…Cichorioideae, Apiaceae and Rumex acetosa type), while the summits experienced a gradual increase of acidophyic dwarf shrubs, Amaranthaceae and Plantago lanceolata . Large bogs at higher middle elevations (Rejvíz and Skřítek sites) became gradually similar to high‐mountain sites, but local autogenic succession from fen to bog vegetation might have contributed to the observed change in pollen spectra by promoting abundance of dwarf ericoid shrubs (Dudová et al., , ).…”

“…This area is the easternmost part of the Hercynian mountain range (Sudetes), showing transitional features to the Western Carpathians (Dudová, Hájková, Opravilová, & Hájek, 2014;Jamrichová et al, 2017).…”

“…In this paper we aim to reveal general patterns of Holocene vegetation development in the Jeseníky Mountains, Central Europe. This area is the easternmost part of the Hercynian mountain range (Sudetes), showing transitional features to the Western Carpathians (Dudová, Hájková, Opravilová, & Hájek, ; Jamrichová et al., ). The highest mountains in the northwest reach the alpine treeless zone (Hrubý Jeseník Mountains, Králický Sněžník Mountains), whereas the larger southeast part consists of uplands of mostly 400–600 m a.s.l.…”

Cut and covered: Subfossil trees in buried soils reflect medieval forest composition and exploitation of the central European uplands

“…The pioneer taxa represent the impact of some human‐induced grazing and wood exploitation in a secondary forest (Phase 2; Figure ). This local finding of an already existing but rather weak human impact before heavy intensification in the course of the main occupation/exploitation phase (here by mining/metallurgy) can be corroborated by further records on early to high medieval landscape and vegetation changes in central Europe (e.g., Brather, ; Dudová, Hájková, Opravilová, & Hájek, ; Novák et al, ; Schreg, ; Wacnik et al, ). It is likely that hardly any forest site, at least at low to mid‐altitudes in the central European uplands, remained primeval until the high medieval period.…”

Controlling factors limiting timberline position and shifts in the Sudetes: A review

“…Further, in the Hrubý Jeseník Mts. the forest-free areas are very fragmented, constituting one large (the southern part of the main ridge) and four relatively small enclaves with alpine treeline ecotones (2015) and Table 1 the occurrence of open forests with Pinus cembra, birch and Larix decidua at the end of the Late Glacial (Dudová et al 2014). In contrast to the Krkonoše, larch had been present in timberline stands of the Hrubý Jeseník at least until 580 BC (Dudová et al 2013).…”