δ 13 C signal of earthworm calcite granules: A new proxy for palaeoprecipitation reconstructions during the Last Glacial in western Europe

Prud'homme, Charlotte; Lécuyer, Christophe; Antoine, Pierre; Hatté, Christine; Moine, Olivier Le; Fourel, François; Amiot, Romain; Martineau, François; Rousseau, Denis‐Didier

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2017.11.017

Cited by 20 publications

(32 citation statements)

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“…Numerous examples have shown that loess–palaeosoil sequences represent valuable and highly temporally resolved records of past climate and environmental changes especially for the last glacial period (Meszner et al ., ; Marković et al ., ; Antoine et al ., ; Moine et al ., ; Obreht et al ., ; Rousseau et al ., ; Prud'homme et al ., ; Vlaminck et al ., ). However, besides the reconstruction of sedimentation processes and pedogenic overprinting linked to in situ environmental conditions, loess deposits also provide extensive information about geomorphic processes that contributed to their genesis (Smalley, ; Wright, ; Stevens et al ., ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origins and genesis of loess deposits in central Spain, as indicated by heavy mineral compositions and grain‐size variability

et al. 2018

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The formation of loess deposits strongly depends on the availability of deflatable dust-sized material. Identification of source areas and mechanisms of dust production is essential for an appropriate characterization of related palaeoenvironmental conditions. So far, little research has been done on loess deposits in the Mediterranean region and information about mechanisms of dust production is very rare. In this context, it is not clear from where the loess deposits from the upper Tagus Basin in central Spain originated. The main objective of this study was to find out whether these loess deposits were formed primarily by mountain processes and fluvial comminution, or whether they have their origin in the weathering of Tertiary marls in the centre of the Madrid Basin. A further concern was to link the determined source areas with loess formation mechanisms and concomitant environmental contexts. Following a comprehensive approach using heavy minerals and grain-size data, together with information on stratigraphic features and geomorphic positions, different local loess sources could be identified. This study shows that during the last 35 kyr a major proportion of the Tagus loess deposits was deflated from river floodplains, while the mountain region of the Iberian Range was identified as a significant source of respective floodplain sediments. Based on heavy mineral compositions and dating results, it was found that during Heinrich Stadial 3, sediment supply from the Iberian Range strongly increased, suggesting an environmental shift from initially warmer towards colder temperatures in late Marine Isotope Stage 3. Furthermore, it was found that grain-size patterns clearly indicate maximum wind strengths during Heinrich Stadial 3, followed by Heinrich Stadial 2 and Heinrich Stadial 1. These results demonstrate that the formation of dustsized particles in this part of the Mediterranean operated similar to many other places in temperate and continental regions, and that weathering processes linked to hot and dry environments were only of minor importance.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Origins and genesis of loess deposits in central Spain, as indicated by heavy mineral compositions and grain‐size variability

et al. 2018

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“…Correlation between ECG concentration and quantitative palaeoclimate parameters (temperature and precipitation; Prud'homme et al . , ) of the Nussloch loess sequence with the Greenland ice‐core record (Rasmussen et al . ) and the Heinrich events (Rasmussen et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…) have been estimated from oxygen and carbon stable isotope analyses performed on ECG (Prud'homme et al . , ). During the formation of GBU, the air temperature for the five warmest months was 13.0±4.1 °C and the mean palaeoprecipitation was 287 +223/−161 mm a −1 , whereas during the formation of the Lohner Boden, the temperature of the warmest season was 11.7±3.6 °C and the mean rainfall was 322 +236/−171 mm a −1 (Prud'homme et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the formation of GBU, the air temperature for the five warmest months was 13.0±4.1 °C and the mean palaeoprecipitation was 287 +223/−161 mm a −1 , whereas during the formation of the Lohner Boden, the temperature of the warmest season was 11.7±3.6 °C and the mean rainfall was 322 +236/−171 mm a −1 (Prud'homme et al . , ). The palaeoenvironmental reconstructions from the coastal Atlantic marine core MD04 2845 next to the French coast and located above 45°N indicate that GI 12 is characterized by a mild and moderately humid environment with mainly Pinus forest whereas GI 8 is still mild but less humid with a vegetation represented by grassland and dry shrubland (Fletcher et al .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…), (ii) allow the quantification of palaeoclimatic parameters (temperature and precipitation; Prud'homme et al . , ) and (iii) can be used as a bio‐indicator for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions (Prud'homme et al . ).…”

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High‐resolution quantification of earthworm calcite granules from western European loess sequences reveals stadial–interstadial climatic variability during the Last Glacial

Prud'homme

Moine

Mathieu

et al. 2018

Boreas

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High concentrations of calcite fossil granules produced by earthworms (ECG) have been identified in most of the stratigraphical units along the loess‐palaeosol reference sequence of Nussloch (Germany). They are particularly abundant in interstadial brown soils and in tundra gley horizons, the latter reflecting short‐term phases of aggradation then degradation of permafrost. These granules are characterized by a radial crystalline structure produced in the earthworms by specific bio‐mineralization processes. In our study, we used this biological indicator combined with 14C and OSL dating, and sedimentological parameters to characterize millennial‐time scale climatic variations recorded in loess sequences. The approach is based on high‐resolution counts of ECG throughout a 17‐m‐thick loess sequence (332 samples). Strong increases in granule and mollusc concentrations suggest warmer climate conditions during palaeosol formation phases, associated with increasing biodiversity, biological activity and vegetation cover. Decreased granule concentrations occur within primary loess deposits, indicating a strong correlation with palaeoenvironmental conditions and demonstrating the reliability of ECG concentration variations as a new palaeoenvironmental proxy. Finally, this pattern is also recorded in loess sequences located about 600 km westward in northern France demonstrating the large‐scale validity of this new palaeoclimatic proxy.

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The past in dust: current trends and future directions in Pleistocene geoarcheology of European loess

Chu

Nett

2021

J Quaternary Science

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Loess is a main archive of Pleistocene landscapes and environments and therefore has an important connection to the preservation and interpretation of Paleolithic sites. In Europe, anthropogenic sites have been found in loess because of past local occupation. At one extreme, sites are well preserved with minimal disturbance often accompanied by embedded proxies to estimate ecological parameters. On the other hand, loess deposits have undergone post‐depositional alterations such as weathering, pedogenesis or bioturbation due to changing environmental conditions or other disturbances that obscure anthropogenic sites. We outline the current state of research and connections between Paleolithic archeology and loess research while introducing a series of subsequent regional case studies as part of a special issue. We also make recommendations for future work to incorporate a wider variety of methods to create more robust inferences on hominin and environmental evolution and their connections.

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δ 13 C signal of earthworm calcite granules: A new proxy for palaeoprecipitation reconstructions during the Last Glacial in western Europe

Cited by 20 publications

References 54 publications

Origins and genesis of loess deposits in central Spain, as indicated by heavy mineral compositions and grain‐size variability

Origins and genesis of loess deposits in central Spain, as indicated by heavy mineral compositions and grain‐size variability

High‐resolution quantification of earthworm calcite granules from western European loess sequences reveals stadial–interstadial climatic variability during the Last Glacial

The past in dust: current trends and future directions in Pleistocene geoarcheology of European loess

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