Late Holocene environmental change and human impact inferred from three soil monoliths and the Laguna Zurita multi-proxi record in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes

Niemann, Holger; Behling, Hermann

doi:10.1007/s00334-009-0226-6

Cited by 26 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 38 publications

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“…A study by Colinvaux et al (1988) from Laguna Yaguarcocha and Yambo (northern Ecuador) suggests wet conditions from ca 1600 to 800 yr BP. In southern Ecuador the record from Laguna Zurita shows high occurrence of Cyperaceae and Isoetes before 1200 cal yr BP, which indicates the presence of a marshy lake shore and cooler conditions (Niemann & Behling 2010).…”

Section: Comparison With Other Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three millennia of vegetation and environmental dynamics in the Lagunas de Mojanda region, northern Ecuador

Villota

Behling

León‐Yánez

2017

Acta Palaeobotanica

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ABSTRACT. The pollen record from Lagunas de Mojanda, located at 3748 m a.s.l. (northern Ecuadorian Andes) reflects the vegetation and climate dynamics for the last ca 3400 cal yr BP. Páramo vegetation has been the main vegetation type since the beginning of the record. At Lagunas de Mojanda, from the last ca 3400 to 2200 cal yr BP, grass páramo was well represented mainly by Poaceae (40%) and the occurrence of Valeriana (5%), while montane forest taxa were poorly represented and subpáramo taxa were rare. The vegetation composition suggests cool and humid conditions. Between ca 2200 and ca 1300 cal yr BP, montane rainforest and subpáramo taxa had a higher presence but páramo taxa remained the main vegetation type in the study area, suggesting cool climatic conditions. From ca 1300 to ca 500 cal yr BP, páramo vegetation remained stable, with higher presence of Phlegmariurus and Isoetes, suggesting cool and humid conditions. The last ca 500 cal yr BP generally show lower frequency of montane rainforest and subpáramo taxa. Páramo vegetation reached the highest share, with the presence of Poaceae, Plantago and Ranunculus suggesting a trend of peat bog drying. Fires were present during the whole record, perhaps human-caused, but the study area does not show great disturbance except from ca 1300 to 500 cal yr BP, a period of an evident higher influx of charcoal particles coincidentally with nearby ancient human occupation.

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Section: Comparison With Other Study Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Three millennia of vegetation and environmental dynamics in the Lagunas de Mojanda region, northern Ecuador

Villota

Behling

León‐Yánez

2017

Acta Palaeobotanica

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“…Páramo vegetation began to decrease while subpáramo and mountain rainforest increased (9000-5600 cal yr BP). et al 1994;Niemann & Behling 2008). Pteridophyta were rare during this period, Huperzia decreased during the transition from the late Pleistocene-Holocene period (Hansen et al 2003).…”

Section: Pollen Of Lower Mountain Rainforest (Lmf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is evidence of a slight increased influx of smaller charcoal fragments after 5600 cal yr BP. Studies from lake Titicaca and the surrounding altiplano as well as southern Ecuador suggest that once the mid-Holocene drought ends, human populations expand rapidly and are engaged in landscape modification (Brenner et al 2001;Niemann & Behling 2008). …”

Section: Pollen Of Lower Mountain Rainforest (Lmf)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Higher frequency of fires probably lowered the UFL position. (Niemann & Behling 2008). Nevertheless, a pollen record of Cocha Caranga suggests higher proportions of the UMF between ca.…”

Section: Upper Forest Line (Ufl) Changes Thementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Several investigations from sites between 2000 and 3300 m a.s.l. provide reconstructions of the environmental history, mostly of the northern PNP (Brunschön & Behling 2009;Jantz et al 2013;Niemann & Behling 2008;Rodríguez & Behling 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late Glacial and Holocene Environmental Change Inferred From the Páramo of Cajanuma in the Podocarpus National Park, Southern Ecuador

Villota¹,

Behling²

2015

Caldasia

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To reconstruct the environmental history including vegetation, fire and climate dynamics, from the Cajanuma valley area (3285 m elevation) in the Podocarpus National Park, southern Ecuador, we address the following major research question: (1) How did the mountain vegetation developed during the late Glacial and Holocene? (2) Did fire played an important control on the vegetation change and was it natural or of anthropogenic origin?. Palaeoenvironmental changes were investigated using multiple proxies such as pollen, spores, charcoal analyses and radiocarbon dating. Pollen data indicated that during the late Glacial and transition to the early Holocene (ca. 16 000-10 500 cal yr BP) herb páramo was the main vegetation type around the study area, while subpáramo and mountain rainforest were scarcely represented. The early and mid-Holocene (ca. 10 500 to 5600 cal yr BP) is marked by high abundance of páramo during the early Holocene followed by a slight expansion of mountain forest during the mid-Holocene. During the mid-to late Holocene (ca. 5600-1200 cal yr BP) there is a significant presence of páramo and subpáramo while Lower Mountain Forest decreased substantially, although, Upper Mountain Forest remained relatively stable during this period. The late Holocene, from ca. 1200 cal yr BP to present, was characterized by páramo; however, mountain forest and subpáramo presented significantly abundance compared to the previous periods. Fires became frequent since the late Holocene. The marked increased local and regional fire intensity during the wetter late Holocene strongly suggests that were of anthropogenic origin. During the late Glacial and early Holocene, the upper forest line was located at low elevations; but shifted slightly upslope to higher elevations during the mid-Holocene.

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High-resolution studies on vegetation succession, hydrological variations, anthropogenic impact and genesis of a subrecent lake in southern Ecuador

Brunschön

Haberzettl

Behling

2010

Veget Hist Archaeobot

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A lake sediment record from Laguna Campana at 2,488 m a.s.l. in the eastern Ecuadorian Andes allows the reconstruction of local environmental conditions over the past *500 years. A high-resolution multi-proxy approach using pollen, spore, charcoal and XRF analyses provides information about lake genesis, hydrological variations and the development of the surrounding vegetation. Results suggest that Laguna Campana originated from a landslide, which are naturally common and anthropogenically promoted in the study area. Human activities, e.g. deforestation or slash and burn cultivation, impacted the local vegetation development and biodiversity during the recorded period. After a first dense layer of pioneer grasses developed on open soil around the small lake, successional stages of secondary upper mountain rainforest forest mainly composed of Alnus and Weinmannia were observed. The record shows no signs of dense forest regeneration but rather open vegetation with trees and a grassy understory. Especially since ca. A.D. 1980, the proportion of forest in the area was reduced, most probably by fire use for pastures, cultivation and wood extraction. Hydrological variability was derived from differences in minerogenic input and variations in Botryococcus braunii and Sphagnum occurrence. After wettest conditions at the study site, probably triggering the landslide, humid conditions persisted until a time of drier conditions between A.D. 1900 and 1960. A subsequent return to wetter conditions was observed over the last decades. XRF analyses suggest an increase in deposition of atmospherically derived lead since the formation of the lake.

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Late Holocene environmental change and human impact inferred from three soil monoliths and the Laguna Zurita multi-proxi record in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes

Abstract: Late Holocene vegetation,

Cited by 26 publications

References 38 publications

Three millennia of vegetation and environmental dynamics in the Lagunas de Mojanda region, northern Ecuador

Three millennia of vegetation and environmental dynamics in the Lagunas de Mojanda region, northern Ecuador

Late Glacial and Holocene Environmental Change Inferred From the Páramo of Cajanuma in the Podocarpus National Park, Southern Ecuador

High-resolution studies on vegetation succession, hydrological variations, anthropogenic impact and genesis of a subrecent lake in southern Ecuador

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