Late Holocene soil evolution and treeline fluctuations in the Northern Apennines

Soil charcoal elucidates the role of humans in the development of landscape of extreme biodiversity

“…We analysed all recovered charcoal fragments in soil volumes of 10 L, with the exception of some charcoal‐rich samples for which a subsample of 180 charcoals was analysed; selected charcoal‐rich samples were analysed completely. In the context of modern pedoanthracology, such sampling may be considered a high standard; many studies analysed 90 charcoal fragments per sample (e.g., Nelle, Dreibrodt, & Dannath, ; Quednau & Ludemann, ; Robin, Bork, Nadeau, & Nelle, ; Robin, Knapp, & Bork, ) and some other not more than 50 charcoal fragments (e.g., Compostella, Trombino, & Caccianiga, ; Moser, Di Pasquale, Scarciglia, & Nelle, ). Several authors recommended a minimum of 250 charcoal fragments per layer to be analysed in archaeo‐anthracological studies (e.g., Damblon & Haesaerts, ; Damblon, Haesaerts, & van der Plicht, ), whereas Feiss et al () recommended even higher minima for pedoanthracological studies (up to 500–600 charcoals).…”

“…In the context of modern pedoanthracology, such sampling may be considered a high standard; many studies analysed 90 charcoal fragments per sample (e.g., Nelle, Dreibrodt, & Dannath, 2010;Quednau & Ludemann, 2017;Robin, Bork, Nadeau, & Nelle, 2014;Robin, Knapp, & Bork, 2013) and some other not more than 50 charcoal fragments (e.g., Compostella, Trombino, & Caccianiga, 2013;Moser, Di Pasquale, Scarciglia, & Nelle, 2017). Several authors recommended a minimum of 250 charcoal fragments per layer to be analysed in archaeo-anthracological studies (e.g., Damblon & Haesaerts, 2002;Damblon, Haesaerts, & van der Plicht, 1996), whereas Feiss et al…”

A comparison between different treeline types shows contrasting responses to climate fluctuations

“…Cusna during the early-mid Holocene, but with no evidence of Fagus. A prominent role of Abies alba in the Apennines throughout the Holocene is likely, as suggested by Watson (1996), Vescovi et al (2010a,b), Körner (2012) and Compostella et al (2012); its replacement by Fagus was probably at least in part induced by human activity (Carcaillet & Muller, 2005;Vescovi et al 2010a,b); the marginal role of Picea abies could be the result of ineffective spread due to unfavourable climatic conditions and competition during the Holocene (Ravazzi et al 2006). …”

“…In this case, the present treeline position could be the contingent result of the historical events which led to the present species composition, while different species could have resulted in higher treeline; the possibility for conifers to occupy higher positions than present broadleaved oceanic treelines has been documented in the southern hemisphere after the introduction of alien conifer species (Wardle, 1985(Wardle, , 2008. In the Northern Apennines the role of species composition could be supported by archaeological and paleoecological records (Cremaschi et al 1984;Compostella et al 2012) indicating a past occurrence of forest vegetation at least up to 2000 m on Mt. Cusna during the early-mid Holocene, but with no evidence of Fagus.…”

Geomorphology of the Mt. Cusna Ridge (Northern Apennines, Italy): evolution of a Holocene landscape

“…Cusna, among the other peaks of the Northern Apennines, is a paradigmatic case of study, and was investigated during the 1980s as part of a classic geomorphological work, which produced a 1:25,000 scale map of a larger area of the Appennines including its NE slope (Panizza et al, 1982). However, new data on deglaciation and recent Quaternary studies conducted on the Holocene climate changes and soil development in the area (Compostella, Trombino, & Caccianiga, 2012;Compostella, Mariani, & Trombino, 2014;Mariani, 2016) highlighted the need to improve the knowledge of the Holocene evolution of the whole Mt. Cusna ridge, focusing solely on the higher landscape.…”