Silicon and titanium in peat profiles as indicators of human impact

Hölzer, Adam; Hölzer, Amal

doi:10.1191/095968398670694506

Cited by 41 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…The elevated detrital input was also supported by high Ti and Si concentrations, which have been shown to be good indicators of soil erosion (Hölzer and Hölzer 1998). Ti rarely exists in plants, though Si can be found in plants such as Cyperaceae, Equisetum, or diatoms (Hölzer and Hölzer 1998). However, the strong correlation of Ti and Si in the DJH profile suggests that an increase in Si is likely caused by the erosion of mineral soils.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…The high Ti and Si concentrations in DJH profile after 1300 cal BP correspond with a continuous occurrence of Cerealia pollen, suggesting landscape instability and soil erosion after forest clearance and agricultural activities (e.g. Hölzer and Hölzer 1998). The dry conditions after 700 cal BP, as indicated by the plant macrofossil results, might have been due to human activities through peat mining and altered drainage.…”

Section: History Of Human Influences Derived From the Peat-core Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Late Holocene Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Change Reconstructed from Peat Records in Eastern Central China

Zhao

Hölzer

2007

Radiocarbon

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ABSTRACT. We present a high-resolution multiproxy record (geochemistry, macrofossil, and pollen) from a peatland in the Dajiuhu Basin in eastern central China. The chronology of the 120-cm peat profile was controlled by 6 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14 C dates on plant remains, including 2 post-bomb dates. The age model was based on linear interpolations of calibrated ages. Plant macrofossil results indicate a major transition around 3600 cal BP from Sphagnum section Subsecunda and Drepanocladus sp. to Sphagnum imbricatum dominance, followed by the disappearance of S. imbricatum at 700 cal BP. These changes suggest a general sequence of local environment changes from a wet fen, through a Sphagnum-dominated peatland, to a dry sedge-dominated marsh, which are also reflected by change in peat lithology and composition. The drying trend after 3600 cal BP is in general agreement with the speleothem isotope record from this region and other paleoclimate records from east China, indicating a weakening summer monsoon resulting from a decrease in summer insolation. The shift to a dry environment at 700 cal BP might have been caused by human activities. Appearance of Cerealia pollen at 3600-3200 cal BP suggests the first introduction of crop farming in the region, while its absence at 3200-2000 cal BP could be attributed to abandonment of farmland. The increase of Ti and Si since 1300 cal BP may be related to agricultural activity and landscape erosion. A 2-step increase in Pb concentration at 1600 and 600 cal BP suggests 2 phases of industrial pollution intensity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Section: History Of Human Influences Derived From the Peat-core Recordmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Holocene Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Change Reconstructed from Peat Records in Eastern Central China

Zhao

Hölzer

2007

Radiocarbon

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“…Hölzer and Hölzer, 1998), it is possible to use it to calculate an atmospheric soil dust content (Shotyk et al, 1998). Because Ti is conservative, it can be assumed that its concentration in 'soil dust' is generally similar to its concentration in the upper continental crust (0.40%, McLennan, 2001) and the soils from which it is eroded.…”

Section: Human Vs Climatic Signals During the Last Millenniummentioning

confidence: 99%

A millennial record of environmental change in peat deposits from the Misten bog (East Belgium)

Vleeschouwer¹,

Pazdur²,

Luthers³

et al. 2012

Quaternary International

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a b s t r a c tIn this study, palaeoenvironmental changes recorded in the top metre of a peat profile (Misten bog, East Belgium) were investigated using a multiproxy approach. Proxies include bulk density, Ti and Si content, pollen, macrofossils, d13 C on specific Sphagnum stems, and d 13Ced 18O on Sphagnum leaves. A highresolution chronology was generated using 210 Pb measurements and 22 14 C AMS dates on carefully selected Sphagnum macrofossils. d 13C only records large change in mire surface wetness. This is partly due to the fact that the core was taken from the edge of a hummock, which may make it difficult to track small isotopic changes. The d 13 C signal seems to be dependent upon the Sphagnum species composition.For example, a change between Sphagnum section Cuspidata towards Sphagnum imbricatum causes a significant drop in the d 13 C values. On the whole, the C and O isotopes record two shallow pool phases during the 8the9th and the 13th centuries. Pollen and atmospheric soil dust (ASD) fluxes records increased human occupation in the area. There may be some climatic signals in the ASD flux, but they are difficult to decipher from the increasing human impact (land clearance, agriculture) during the last millennium. The variations in the proxies are not always synchronous, suggesting different triggering factors (temperature, wetness, windiness) for each proxy. This study also emphasizes that, compared to studies dealing with pollution using geochemical proxies, palaeoclimatic inferences from peat bogs need as many proxies as possible, together with highly accurate and precise age-models, in order to better understand climate variability and their consequences during the Holocene.

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“…Other studies have shown that silicon, aluminium, titanium and zirconium, together with rare earth elements (REE) are valuable tracers of soil dust inputs (e.g. Hölzer and Hölzer, 1998;Shotyk et al, 2001). Lead and lead isotopes have been used to trace variation in atmospheric dust composition (e.g.…”

Section: Sourcingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development and refinement of proxy-climate indicators from peats

Chambers

Booth

Vleeschouwer

et al. 2012

Quaternary International

157

104

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OATAO is an open access repository that collects the work of Toulouse researchers and makes it freely available over the web where possible. This is an author-deposited version published in : http://oatao.univ-toulouse.fr/ Eprints ID : 11364 The Netherlands a b s t r a c t Peat, especially from acidic mires (bogs), is a natural archive of past environmental change. Reconstructions of past climate from bogs commenced in the 19th Century through examination of visible peat stratigraphy, and later formed the basis for a postglacial climatic scheme widely used in Northwest Europe. Nevertheless, misconceptions as to how bogs grow led to a 50-year lacuna in peat-climate study, before the concept of 'cyclic regeneration' in bogs was refuted. In recent decades, research using proxyclimate indicators from bogs has burgeoned. A range of proxies for past hydrological change has been developed, as well as use of pollen, bog oaks and pines and other data to reconstruct past temperatures. Most of this proxy-climate research has been carried out in Northern Europe, but peat-based research in parts of Asia and North America has increased, particularly during the last decade, while research has also been conducted in Australia, New Zealand and South America. This paper reviews developments in proxy-climate reconstructions from peatlands; chronicles use of a range of palaeo-proxies such as visible peat stratigraphy, plant macrofossils, peat humification, testate amoebae and non-pollen palynomorphs; and explains the use of wiggle-match radiocarbon dating and relationship to climate shifts. It details other techniques being used increasingly, such as biomarkers, stable-isotopes, inorganic geochemistry and estimation of dust flux; and points to new proxies under development. Although explicit protocols have been developed recently for research on ombrotrophic mires, it must be recognised that not all proxies and techniques have universal applicability, owing to differences in species assemblages, mire formation, topographic controls, and geochemical characteristics.

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Silicon and titanium in peat profiles as indicators of human impact

Cited by 41 publications

References 16 publications

Late Holocene Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Change Reconstructed from Peat Records in Eastern Central China

Late Holocene Natural and Human-Induced Environmental Change Reconstructed from Peat Records in Eastern Central China

A millennial record of environmental change in peat deposits from the Misten bog (East Belgium)

Development and refinement of proxy-climate indicators from peats

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