Interplay of climate-human-vegetation on the north-eastern edge of the Carpathians (Western Ukraine) between 7500 and 3500 calibrated years BP

Kołaczek, Piotr; Karpińska‐Kołaczek, Monika; Madeja, Jacek; Kalinovych, N.; Szczepanek, Kazimierz; Gębica, Piotr; Harmata, Krystyna

doi:10.1111/bij.12732

Cited by 15 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 76 publications

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“…The study by Kołaczek et al . ( 2016 ) contributes to our knowledge of Holocene vegetation changes and human presence in the region through a multiproxy palaeoecological reconstruction of the relatively biologically unexplored north‐eastern foothills of the Carpathians. Three papers present phylogeographical/phylogenetic case studies either focused on the Carpathians ( Dénes et al .…”

Section: The Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography of the Carpathians: evolutionary and spatial facets of biodiversity

Mráz

Ronikier

2016

Biol. J. Linn. Soc.

128

105

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The Carpathians are the largest mountain range in Central Europe. Their geographical position, extent, isolation, landscape heterogeneity, well‐preserved environment, and relatively low impact of Quaternary glaciations make them of utmost importance for studies on European biodiversity and biogeography. In this review, introducing a Special Issue of the Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, we provide an overview of current research and focus on three main aspects: (1) distribution patterns and species richness including endemism; (2) phylogeographical patterns, inference of major barriers, and divergence areas; and (3) cytological studies and cytogeography inferred from vascular plant polyploid complexes. Our survey shows that, although accurate estimation is not possible for several important taxonomic entities because of unavailable or dispersed data, the Carpathians are a clear hotspot of European diversity for many groups of organisms, such as mammals, breeding birds, amphibians, lichens, and vascular plants. Certain groups, not necessarily those with high species richness, are rich in endemic taxa. This holds mainly for subterranean invertebrates, molluscs, grasshoppers, beetles, spiders, and vascular plants. Distribution patterns of endemic richness vary across taxonomic groups, as well as geographically, reflecting both history and habitat features. In general, the South‐Eastern Carpathians have a significantly higher proportion of endemic taxa than the northerly‐situated Western Carpathians. Molecular clock‐based estimations have provided some insight into the diversification age of the Carpathian biota, including a Tertiary origin for some endemic taxa and lineages, especially those confined to environmentally stable habitats. Distribution patterns, as well as phylogeographical and phylogenetic data, corroborate the persistence of many high‐mountain and forest taxa during the Quaternary climatic oscillations, often in multiple spatially delimited areas isolated by physical barriers. Several studies show that the Carpathian massifs played an important role as refugia for rare lineages and/or as stepping stones in migrations. Phylogeographical analysis reveals clear patterns of biogeographical breaks, as well as links, although clear exceptions also confirm that extant distribution patterns are often shaped more by idiosyncratic processes acting at different geological times. Cytogeographical data also uncover several consistent patterns, which probably reflect a deeper evolutionary history. In conclusion, the available data highlight the unique position of the Carpathians in the evolution and preservation of European biota within the European Alpine System.

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Section: The Special Issuementioning

confidence: 99%

Biogeography of the Carpathians: evolutionary and spatial facets of biodiversity

Mráz

Ronikier

2016

Biol. J. Linn. Soc.

128

105

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“…The peat aeration in the root layer of alder speeds up the mineralisation of peat, a process that leads to depositional gaps (Bennett and Birks, 1990; Pokorný et al, 2000). Such gaps were detected at sites located in river valleys (Kołaczek et al, 2016; Pokorný et al, 2000; Wójcicki and Nita, 2017). However, in the case of Zbludza fen, a simultaneous constant presence of P. abies and A. alba led to peat acidification and therefore it probably limited peat decomposition rates.…”

Section: Discussion: Development Of Submontane Forestmentioning

confidence: 97%

Development and degradation of a submontane forest in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains (Polish Western Carpathians) during the Holocene

et al. 2021

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Mountain regions harbour high biodiversity; however, in numerous areas, they are strongly degraded by human activity. Our study reconstructs the development of the submontane forest belt (400 and 650 m a.s.l.) in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains (Western Carpathians, Central Europe) affected by climate, humans, fire, and parasitic fungi during the Holocene. This forest belt is considered the most transformed by the human in the Carpathian region. Our multi-proxy study included analyses of pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs), plant macrofossils, micro- and macrocharcoal (size fraction >100 µm, analysed in contiguous sampling), geochemical, and sedimentological markers. The results revealed that Picea abies dominated on the fen subjected to study at ca. 8510–5010 cal. BP. Tilia cordata was a substantial component of the submontane forest between ca. 8510 and 2970 cal. BP and it survived a probable Kretzschmaria deusta outbreak, as well as a period of increased fire activity (ca. 6000 cal. BP). The final retreat of forests with a substantial contribution of Tilia was induced by the expansion of Abies alba, Fagus sylvatica, and partly Carpinus betulus and was preceded by the period of increased fire activity and erosion. From ca. 900 cal. BP human-induced deforestations and agricultural and pastoral activity increased. The modern presence of woodlands with Pinus sylvestris and Larix decidua, in the submontane zone in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains, is a result of sub-recent anthropogenic afforestation on overgrazed areas. The example of the Zbludza site reveals that changes related to fire and pathogen infections, if they have low magnitudes and new competitive taxa are absent, may be reversible in a forest composed of fire-intolerant tree taxa as Tilia. Nonetheless, the widespread submontane ecosystem degradation and the introduction of alien species hamper the regeneration of forest vegetation typical of the submontane zone.

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“…This is due either to the assumed low flammability of the vegetation or to past weather and climatic conditions not being conducive to ignition and spread of fire (Adámek et al, 2015). Meanwhile, more and more studies show that fire has been an integral part of the vegetation transitions and was involved in shaping European ecosystems throughout the Holocene (Bonk et al, 2022;Carter et al, 2018;Dietze et al, 2018Dietze et al, , 2019Kołaczek et al, 2016Kołaczek et al, , 2020Marcisz et al, 2015Marcisz et al, , 2017. This is because of frequent droughts and dominating air masses during the early Holocene and accelerated human evolution after 8500 cal.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human-induced fires and land-use change in Lubusz Land (western Poland) derived from Lake Lubińskie sedimentary record

Bonk,

Makohonienko,

Tylmann

2023

The Holocene

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Sediments of Lake Lubińskie were investigated to track human-induced vegetation and fire activity changes in Lubusz Land (western Poland). Geochemical data, as well as pollen, macrocharcoal, and statistical analyses (CONISS, CharAnalysis, PCA, BINCOR) allowed us to recognize the major phases of the human impact. At the beginning of the investigation period, 3000 years ago, the area had already experienced disturbances from humans caused by the Lusatian and Przeworsk cultures, followed by western Slavs, and modern society. Land cover changes were mostly related to deforestation and gaining arable lands. The forest communities shrank substantially also due to timber demand from the growing society. However, the pollen record shows that within the last ~50 years the area experienced forest regeneration. Wildfires played an important role in shaping the landscape in the area of Lake Lubińskie. Overall, 23 fires were identified within the profile showing relatively high fire frequencies (up to 4.8 fires per 500 years) between 600 −38/+36 BCE and 1 ± 206 CE as well as between 1065 ± 98 CE and 1380 ± 92 CE. The highest fire frequency was observed between the 1000s and mid-1400s, showing decreased fire return interval (FRI) and increased charcoal flux as well as progressive deforestation. These changes were related to the establishment of villages (e.g., Lubin village) and the presence of the Joannites. Fire was most commonly used as a land management tool to gain patches of land for agrarian purposes. PCA and BINOCR analyses suggest that most of the fires were set by humans, but natural causes of ignition cannot be excluded. The land-use changes affected the vegetation in the region, causing increased erosion and shifts in the geochemistry of the lake reflected in better bottom waters ventilation and progressive eutrophication.

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Interplay of climate-human-vegetation on the north-eastern edge of the Carpathians (Western Ukraine) between 7500 and 3500 calibrated years BP

Cited by 15 publications

References 76 publications

Biogeography of the Carpathians: evolutionary and spatial facets of biodiversity

Biogeography of the Carpathians: evolutionary and spatial facets of biodiversity

Development and degradation of a submontane forest in the Beskid Wyspowy Mountains (Polish Western Carpathians) during the Holocene

Human-induced fires and land-use change in Lubusz Land (western Poland) derived from Lake Lubińskie sedimentary record

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