Holocene environmental changes in northern Poland recorded in alkaline spring-fed fen deposits – A multi-proxy approach

Dobrowolski, Radosław; Mazurek, Małgorzata; Osadowski, Zbigniew; Alexandrowicz, Witold Paweł; Pidek, Irena Agnieszka; Pazdur, Anna; Piotrowska, Natalia; Drzymulska, Danuta; Urban, Danuta

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.05.027

Cited by 19 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 81 publications

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“…There is a clear coincidence in the timing of permafrost degradation in the Sokolica/Spurgle site (ca. 120 km to the west from Lake Szurpiły) described by Dobrowolski et al (2019) and MMD type 2. Potentially, very late permafrost degradation and unblocking of horizontal flows of ground water could have triggered MMD type 2.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Varves and mass-movement deposits record distinctly different sedimentation dynamics since the late glacial (Lake Szurpiły, northeastern Poland)

et al. 2019

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The sedimentological and geochemical characteristics of sediments from Lake Szurpiły (northeastern Poland) can be used as a record of mass movement and climate dynamics since the Allerød. Late-glacial sediments suggest enhanced runoff conditions in the catchment after the retreat of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet, while Holocene varved sediments are interrupted by mass-movement deposits (MMDs). We identified 85 thin (<10 cm) MMDs (type 1) that consist of autochthonous material and frequently occur during the Atlantic period. Mobilization of littoral zone and slope sediments caused redeposition in the deepest part of the lake and was likely related to climatic conditions. In contrasting, one sedimentary unit (>1-m-thick MMD type 2) consists of auto- and allochthonous material and represents multistage processes, including erosion and deformation of underlying varved sediments, rapid deposition of clastic material, and redeposition of previously eroded varved sediments. Seismic activity or permafrost degradation was responsible for the deposition of MMD type 2. Furthermore, varve-thickness variability suggests Gleissberg and Suess solar cycles before 850 BC, when human impact was limited. Additionally, 22 and 11 yr sunspot cycles are recognized in light/dark laminae-thickness ratios and reflect influences of solar irradiance on lacustrine productivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 91%

Varves and mass-movement deposits record distinctly different sedimentation dynamics since the late glacial (Lake Szurpiły, northeastern Poland)

et al. 2019

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“…Samples for plant macrofossil and malacological analysis were washed and sieved under a warm-water spray using a 0.20-mm mesh sieve. Samples for geochemical and isotope analyses were dried at 40°C and pulverised in an agate mortar (Dobrowolski et al, 2019); Komarów (Dobrowolski et al, 2016); Jaczno (Makri et al, 2021); Purwin (Apolinarska and Gałka, 2017); Kojle (Gałka, 2014;Gałka et al, , 2015; Szurpiły (Kinder et al, 2020); Żabińskie (Zander et al, 2021); Kurajnovas (Heikkilä and Seppä, 2010); Laihalampi (Heikkilä and Seppä, 2003). (b and c) Digital elevation models based on LiDAR data with location of the Turtul spring-fed fen, and cores Tu 1 and Tu 2.…”

Section: Laboratory Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…10,300 cal yr BP (Tu 2) and continued until 9250 cal yr BP (Tu 1), when CaCO 3 precipitation was initiated (Figure 7, Table 2). The highly decomposed peat underlying the peat-tufa intercalations typically occurs at the bottom of the spring-fed fen sediments and records accumulation associated with an active layer of permafrost that thawed seasonally during the progressive warming of the early Holocene (Dobrowolski et al, 2019). The deposition of peat in Turtul started as a response to a major environmental transformation in the region that was forced by the final decay of the Scandinavian Ice Sheet and change in the atmospheric circulation in the Baltic region (Lauterbach et al, 2011).…”

Section: Spatial Variation In the Sediment Records Of Turtul Fenmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In numerous fens, where the high sediment accumulation rate, characteristic of the actively precipitating CaCO 3 sites, is observed (i.e. 5-10 yr cm −1 , Dobrowolski et al, 2016Dobrowolski et al, , 2019Gałka et al, 2018Gałka et al, , 2021Limondin-Lozouet et al, 2013), a sampling resolution on the order of a decade or less is achievable. However, this potential is lost, and the resolution decreases to 100 years or more when 5-to 10-cm-thick sediment samples are used (Hájková et al, 2012;Jamrichová et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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High-resolution record of geochemical, vegetational and molluscan shifts in a Central European spring-fed fen: implications for regional paleoclimate during the early and mid-Holocene

et al. 2022

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Despite the increasing interest in spring-fed fens’ sediments as a palaeoenvironmental archive, their potential as high-precision climatic records is rarely used to its full extent. Here, we present a detailed early to mid-Holocene record of environmental changes in the Turtul hanging spring-fed fen, northeastern Poland, to test whether the well preserved and accurately subsampled alternating peat and tufa sediments allow us to recognise short-duration local and regional climatic changes. Our reconstructions are based on a loss-on-ignition analysis of the sediment, carbon and oxygen stable isotope values of tufa, and biotic proxies: plant macrofossil and malacological analyses. A detailed environmental reconstruction was possible due to the combination of detailed sampling (1 cm intervals) and high sediment accumulation rates. The two sediment sequences collected from the fen revealed the congruent palaeoenvironmental history; however, the temporal shift associated with the distance of the coring site from the water outflow was also apparent, stressing the need for careful selection of the coring site in palaeoenvironmental research. Peat deposition at Turtul started at 10,300 cal yr BP; however, tufa precipitation did not begin before 9250 cal yr BP. During the most active tufa deposition, from 7850 to 6100 cal yr BP, a high sedimentation rate was observed (0.11–0.25 cm yr−1). We found several abrupt and short-duration declines in carbonate deposition corresponding to climatic fluctuations recorded in geological archives from the southeastern Baltic region. The carbonate drops at 8200–8130, 7900–7850, 7400–7300, 6600–6500, 5980–5870 and 5400 cal yr BP were associated with climate cooling or drying, whereas those at 10,200–9250, 8450–8340 and 6160–6100 cal yr BP can be attributed to drying with no cooling. We conclude that the evident sensitivity of the Turtul fen to climatic shifts that emerge from our high-resolution (one sample every 17 years on average) reconstruction complements the still rare high-resolution palaeoenvironmental records in the area.

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“…Alkaline fens develop on permanently waterlogged soils with calcareous water and small water level fluctuations, often in areas with groundwater discharge (Grootjans et al, 2021; Šefferova Stanova et al, 2008). The development of alkaline fens is basically a natural process, and many fens probably started in the early Holocene (Dobrowolski et al, 2019; Grootjans et al, 2015; Kossler and Strahl, 2011; van der Hammen and Wijmstra, 1971; Van Geel et al, 1980). Human influence on the origin of fens and peat growth is usually low, although some authors (Czerwiński et al, 2021; Lamentowicz et al, 2013; Moore, 1987) concluded that some mires can be regarded as man-made habitats.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The origin of alkaline fen in the Mosbeek Valley in the Netherlands is due to human impact rather than a natural development

Smeenge¹,

Kooijman

Brinkkemper

et al. 2022

The Holocene

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Alkaline fens are important Natura 2000 habitats, which harbor many endangered plant species. Alkaline fens are formed in areas with groundwater discharge and usually developed in a natural way in the early Holocene. We radiocarbon dated the base of three peat deposits from spring fens along the flanks of the ice-pushed ridge near the village of Ootmarsum to find out when and why peat-forming vegetation started to grow. We cored a sequence in the Mosbeek Valley for detailed paleoecological analyses of micro- and macrofossils. To our surprise, we found strong evidence for human impact during the 13th and 14th centuries AD as the triggering factor for starting organic colluvial accumulation and peat growth at sites where natural springs are present. This shows that this fen is not a relic, but results from changes in land use. Human actions were: (1) deforestation causing increased run-off and reduced evaporation on the plateaus by the vegetation, resulting in increased seepage in the valleys, (2) intensification of agriculture, trade routes, and paired erosion, which formed colluvial deposits and sediment fans that hampered fast run-off water, (3) increased back and groundwater levels after the foundation of watermills; four lowering water levels due to intensification and reorganization of water use by new watermills, and (4) head cut erosion and spring erosion after privatization and cultivation of common pastures after the mid 19th century. This means that cultural-historical changes in the landscape were much more important for alkaline fens than expected.

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Holocene environmental changes in northern Poland recorded in alkaline spring-fed fen deposits – A multi-proxy approach

Cited by 19 publications

References 81 publications

Varves and mass-movement deposits record distinctly different sedimentation dynamics since the late glacial (Lake Szurpiły, northeastern Poland)

Varves and mass-movement deposits record distinctly different sedimentation dynamics since the late glacial (Lake Szurpiły, northeastern Poland)

High-resolution record of geochemical, vegetational and molluscan shifts in a Central European spring-fed fen: implications for regional paleoclimate during the early and mid-Holocene

The origin of alkaline fen in the Mosbeek Valley in the Netherlands is due to human impact rather than a natural development

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