The potential of chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) larvae in archaeological investigations of floodplain and lake settlements

Ruiz, Zoe; Brown, A. G.; Langdon, Peter G.

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2005.05.015

Cited by 37 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 48 publications

(50 reference statements)

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“…This robust macrophyte population appears to have been a significant feature of the lake's recent history, at least back to 1946. After this point and through to 2007, the chironomid record is dominated by Paratanytarsus penicillatus-type and Cricotopus sylvestris-type, two taxa that are known to have a close association with aquatic plants (Brodersen et al 2001;O'Brien et al 2005;Ruiz et al 2006;Langdon et al 2010). Prior to this point (Zone LG1), the chironomid fauna is dominated by Microchironomus, Paratanytarsus penicillatus-type and Polypedilum nubeculosum-type, indicating that Longgan Lake had relatively clear water conditions with a reasonable macrophyte density.…”

Section: Longgan Lakementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Europe, chironomid-total phosphorus (TP) inference models have been successfully constructed for the Swiss Alps (Lotter et al 1998) and for the English Midlands and Wales . A chlorophyll inference model has also been established for Danish mesohypertrophic lakes by Brodersen and Lindegaard (1999) and studies have been undertaken that test both TP and Chl-a models Ruiz et al 2006). In Asia, a chironomid-TP inference model has been developed for the lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China (Zhang et al 2006).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Alternate trajectories in historic trophic change from two lakes in the same catchment, Huayang Basin, middle reach of Yangtze River, China

et al. 2012

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In order to assess how best to manage impacted lake systems, one needs to understand the trophic functioning of the lake system and the recent states through which the lake may have transitioned. Lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze have been heavily impacted over recent decades. In order to understand recent changes in functional status, we examined sediment cores covering the last 120 years from two lakes in the same catchment with differing status: one algal-dominated (Taibai Lake) and the other macrophyte-dominated (Longgan Lake). Chironomid head capsules were identified from both sites and an expanded chironomid-total phosphorus (TP) transfer function (21 sites were added to the 30-lake model previously developed by Zhang et al. 2006) was used to assess the lakes' response to recent anthropogenic change. Quantitative chironomidinferred TP (CI-TP) reconstructions showed that Taibai Lake experienced clear changes in trophic status since the 1860s. Before the 1950s, the CI-TP concentration was relatively stable around 50-80 lg L -1 , while it reached to 80-130 lg L -1 in the latter period. CI-TP for Longgan Lake, however, showed a relative decline from the range of 50-75 lg L -1 since the 1880s to 30-40 lg L -1 in recent years, accompanied by strong evidence from the chironomids for increased macrophyte biomass as TP levels declined. Both reconstructions agreed with diatom inferences of TP from the same lakes. The stark difference between these two sites is thought to reflect a function of macrophyte development, with Taibai Lake losing its plants through increased nutrient levels and internal recycling, whereas Longgan Lake, which is much bigger in area and hence potentially more resilient to change, was able to develop macrophyte communities over the same time period. The positive feedbacks associated with abundant macrophytes retained the clear water state of Longgan Lake, but a further increase in nutrients might lead to decrease in resilience of the relatively stable macrophyte state and loss of benthic pathways of primary production, which would push the lake towards eutrophication. Unless nutrient inputs to Longgan are controlled, Longgan Lake might lose macrophyte communities and follow a developmental pathway similar to that observed in Taibai Lake.

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Section: Longgan Lakementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Alternate trajectories in historic trophic change from two lakes in the same catchment, Huayang Basin, middle reach of Yangtze River, China

et al. 2012

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“…These genera are typical of clear water (high transparency) and are macrophyte-inhabiting chironomid taxa (Brodersen et al, 2001;Ruiz et al, 2006) in standing water. Midge components (e.g., C. sylvestris-type) also respond positively to the flourishing macrophytesdominated microhabitat in Taihu Lake (Fig.…”

Section: Transparencymentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of subfossil Chironomidae in surface sediments of a large, shallow and hypertrophic lake (Taihu, SE China)

et al. 2012

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“…Buckland et al 1996;Robinson 2000;Ruiz et al 2006), recent Holocene studies have been concerned with "natural" deposits. These include deposits not directly associated with archaeological features, but which carry a record of ecosystem processes, the wider environment, as well as human impact on the landscape.…”

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confidence: 99%

Fossil insects and ecosystem dynamics in wetlands: implications for biodiversity and conservation

et al. 2008

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We review the uses of fossil insects, particularly Coleoptera (beetles) and Chironomidae (non-biting midges) from ancient deposits to inform the study of wetland ecosystems and their ecological and restoration processes. In particular, we focus on two contrasting ecosystems, drawing upon research undertaken by us on British raised mire peats and shallow lake systems, one an essentially terrestrial ecosystem, the other aquatic, but in which wetland insects play an important and integral part. The study of raised mire peats suggests that faunal stability is a characteristic of these wetland systems, over what appear to be extensive periods of time (up to several millennia), whilst studies of shallow lake ecosystems over recent timescales indicates that faunal instability appears to be more common, usually driven by increasing eutrophication. Drawing upon a series of fossil Coleoptera records spanning several thousand years from HatWeld Moors, south Yorkshire, we reconstruct in some detail the mire's ontogeny and Xuctuations in site hydrology and vegetation cover, illustrating the intimate association between substrate, topography and peat development. A comparison between fossil and modern beetle populations indicates that the faunal characteristics of this mire and its adjacent neighbour, Thorne Moors, become established during the early phases of peat development, including its rare endemics, and that the faunal biodiversity on the sites today is dictated by complex site histories. The over-riding characteristic of these faunas is of stability over several thousand years, which has important implications for the restoration of degraded sites, especially those where refugial areas are limited. In contrast, analyses of fossil Chironomidae from shallow 1 C lakes allow researchers to track changes in limnological status and while attempts have been made to reconstruct changes in nutrient levels quantitatively, the chironomids respond indirectly to such changes, typically mediated through complex ecosystem dynamics such as changes in Wsh and/or macrophyte communities. These changes are illustrated via historic chironomid stratigraphies and diversity indices from a range of shallow lakes located across Britain: Slapton Ley, Frensham Great Pond, Fleet Pond, Kyre Pool and Barnes Loch. These sites have shown varying degrees of eutrophication over recent timescales which tends to be associated with a decline in chironomid diversity. While complex functional processes exist within these ecosystems, our evidence suggests that one of the key drivers in the loss of shallow lake chironomid diversity appears to be the loss of aquatic macrophytes. Overall, while chironomids do show a clear response to altered nutrient regimes, multi-proxy reconstructions are recommended for a clear interpretation of past change. We conclude that if we are to have a better understanding of biota at the ecosystem level we need to know more of the complex interactions between diVerent insect groups as well as with other animal and plant communities....

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The potential of chironomid (Insecta: Diptera) larvae in archaeological investigations of floodplain and lake settlements

Cited by 37 publications

References 48 publications

Alternate trajectories in historic trophic change from two lakes in the same catchment, Huayang Basin, middle reach of Yangtze River, China

Alternate trajectories in historic trophic change from two lakes in the same catchment, Huayang Basin, middle reach of Yangtze River, China

Spatial distribution of subfossil Chironomidae in surface sediments of a large, shallow and hypertrophic lake (Taihu, SE China)

Fossil insects and ecosystem dynamics in wetlands: implications for biodiversity and conservation

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