Late Holocene palaeohydrological changes in a Sphagnum peat bog from NW Romania based on testate amoebae

Abstract

Abstract. This paper investigates the possibility of reconstructing the palaeohydrological changes in an active Sphagnum peat bog from north-western Romania using testate amoebae fauna and organic matter content determined by loss on ignition (LOI). In total 28 taxa of testate amoebae were identified of which 11 were frequent enough to present a remarkable ecological significance. Based on the relative abundance of these taxa nine zones were identified, crossing from very wet to dry climate conditions. The wet periods identified are characterized by taxa like Centropyxis cassis, Amphitrema flavum and Hyalosphenia papilio, while in the dry periods Difflugia pulex and Nebela militaris thrive. We showed that combining qualitative information regarding hydrological preferences with the quantitative percentage data from the fossil record it is possible to obtain information regarding major surface moisture changes from the peat bog surface. Furthermore we identified a link between distribution of testate amoebae assemblages, organic matter variation and minerogenic material.

General comment on reviewer's report

“…This discrepancy could be indicative of the eastwest (Davis et al, 2003;Mauri et al, 2015;Roberts et al, 2012) and north-south (Magny et al, 2013) hydroclimatic gradients in Europe throughout the Holocene. As other studies indicate, south-eastern Europe was mostly disconnected (in terms of both precipitation and temperature) from the rest of Europe in the early mid-Holocene (Davis et al, 2003;Drȃguşin et al, 2014), clearly indicated by the trend in the Mohos Ti-derived dust record. Since the Sahara had not undergone significant desertification by this time, no clear correlation with western records may be made, hinting at a more local source for the earliest five dust events identified within the Mohos record (Fig.…”

“…This may be seen in the intensity of the dust deposition at this time (dust flux > 3 g m −2 yr −1 ). D10, from 75 cal yr BP to present, is certainly linked to such human influences, with the TA record echoing local studies, which display anthropogenically altered conditions and intensive agriculture Diaconu et al, 2016;Giosan et al, 2012;Magyari et al, 2009Magyari et al, , 2013Morellón et al, 2016;Schnitchen et al, 2006; Fig. 7).…”

Periodic input of dust over the Eastern Carpathians during the Holocene linked with Saharan desertification and human impact

“…This may be seen in the intensity of the dust deposition at this time (dust flux > 3 g m −2 yr −1 ). D10, from 75 cal yr BP to present, is certainly linked to such human influences, with the TA record echoing local studies, which display anthropogenically altered conditions and intensive agriculture Diaconu et al, 2016;Giosan et al, 2012;Magyari et al, 2009Magyari et al, , 2013Morellón et al, 2016;Schnitchen et al, 2006; Fig. 7).…”

Periodic input of dust over the Eastern Carpathians during the Holocene linked with Saharan desertification and human impact

“…This may be seen in the intensity of the dust deposition at this time (dust flux >3 g m -2 yr -1 ). D10, from 75 cal yr BP to present is certainly linked to such human influences, with the TA record echoing local studies, which display anthropogenically-altered conditions and intensive agriculture (Buczkó et al, 2013;Diaconu et al, 2016;Giosan et al, 2012;Magyari et al, 2009Magyari et al, , 2013Morellón et al, 2016;Schnitchen et al, 2006, Fig. 7).…”