Late-Holocene palaeoecology of a polygonal peatland on the south shore of Hudson Strait, northern Québec, Canada

Abstract

In order to document climate fluctuations during the late Holocene in Nunavik (in the Québec Arctic), a 182 cm peat core extracted from a polygonal peatland in the Salluit region was subjected to macrofossil and pollen analysis. Peat accumulation began around 4500 cal. BP in the peatland and 2340 cal. BP in the core site following the formation of frost cracks and ice wedges. Four distinct Holocene climatic changes were identified. Between 1910 and 1100 cal. BP, the climate was clement (similar to today's climate), which favoured the growth of several species of Sphagnum (from poorly minerotrophic to ombrotrophic conditions). Colder and drier conditions starting around 1100 cal. BP are evidenced by the disappearance of Sphagnum and aeolian sedimentation. A short return to more clement conditions occurred around 870 cal. BP and lasted until 670 cal. BP. Subsequently, the climate once again became colder and drier, which induced significant aeolian activity. Late-Holocene local vegetation changes recorded in the peat core were probably induced by permafrost degradation and aggradation, associated with regional warming and a subsequent cooling trend.

Spatiotemporal Variability in Arctic Climates of the Past Millennium: Implications for the Study of Thule Culture on Melville Peninsula, Nunavut

“…Consistent with data from the Salluit region, the paleoecological data at this site shows that the climate became warm and humid between 870 and 670 cal. yr B.P., Sphagnum reappeared on the site, and there was a reduction of eolian activity (Ouzilleau-Samson et al, 2010). The site was also occupied during this 460 year period, as indicated by the presence of Montia fontana.…”

“…yr B.P. and the present (Ouzilleau-Samson et al, 2010). The eolian sand influx greatly increased and Sphagnum disappeared.…”

“…1, part a); specifically, the climate was cold and dry between 1100 to 870 cal. yr B.P., as indicated by the disappearance of Sphagnum (Ouzilleau-Samson et al, 2010), by the growth of ice wedges (Kasper and Allard, 2001), and by the cessation of solifluction processes (Todisco and Bhiry, 2008). During this cold and mildly humid climate phase, the Dorset people occupied several sites in Diana Bay (Plumet, 1989(Plumet, , 1994, including site JfE1-10 (Avataq Cultural Institute, 2003;Lofthouse, 2003Lofthouse, , 2007.…”

The geoarchaeology and traditional knowledge of winter sod houses in eastern Hudson Bay, Canadian Low Arctic

“…Some of the elders said that it was colder for their ancestors than today (Table III). This period probably coincided with the Little Ice Age (LIA), which occurred between A.D. 1600 and 1850 (e.g., Bartley & Matthews, 1969;Kasper & Allard, 2001;Arlen-Pouliot & Bhiry, 2005;Ouzilleau-Samson, Bhiry, & Lavoie, 2010), during which time the elders' ancestors might have changed the placement of their campsites to the more sheltered site in response to colder conditions of the LIA. In fact, Desrosiers et al (2010) surveyed the surrounding area and recorded 58 new Thule/Inuit sites.…”

“…yr B.P. (e.g., Payette & Delwaide, 2004;Bhiry, Payette, & Robert, 2007;Ouzilleau-Samson, Bhiry, & Lavoie, 2010).…”