Niemann, H. & Behling, H. (2009): <b>Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental change inferred from the Cocha Caranga sediment and soil records in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes</b>. <i>Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology</i> <b>276</b>, 1-14.
Resource Description
Title:
Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental change inferred from the Cocha Caranga sediment and soil records in the southeastern Ecuadorian Andes
FOR816dw ID:
452
Publication Date:
2009-05-15
License and Usage Rights:
Resource Owner(s):
Individual:
Holger Niemann
Contact:
email:
webmaster <at> tropicalmountainforest.com
Individual:
Hermann Behling
Contact:
email:
Hermann.Behling <at> bio.uni-goettingen.de
Department of Palynology and Climate Dynamics
Albrecht-von-Haller-Institute for Plant Sciences
University of Göttingen
Untere Karspüle 2
37073 Göttingen
Germany
Abstract:
Late Pleistocene and Holocene vegetation, climate and fire dynamics of mountain forest and paramo<br/>
ecosystems, as well as human impact, are presented from the Cocha Caranga area, at 2710 m elevation in the<br/>
Podocarpus National Park, southeastern Ecuadorian Andes. Palaeoenvironmental changes, inferred from two<br/>
sediment cores and a soil core were investigated by pollen, spore, algae and charcoal analyses.<br/>
During the transition from late Pleistocene to early Holocene between ca. 14,500 to 9700 cal yr BP upper<br/>
mountain forest vegetation expanded, suggesting increasing temperature and moisture. This expansion<br/>
abruptly stopped with increasing fires at ca. 9700 cal yr BP and open grassy vegetation became established.<br/>
The period from ca. 9700 to 1300 cal yr BP of strong fire intensity indicate that vegetation components,<br/>
mainly Weinmannia and Myrica, react sensitively to past, probably human caused fires. During the last few<br/>
centuries modern vegetation established, characterised by open grassy areas with forest patches and small<br/>
mires.<br/>
The green algae Botryococcus braunii, Isoetes and Cyperaceae were used to identify lake level fluctuation to<br/>
reconstruct Holocene wet/dry phases. Drier climatic conditions occurred from ca. 9700 to 6900 cal yr BP and<br/>
from ca. 4200 to 1300 cal yr BP. From ca. 6900 to 4200 cal yr BP and from ca. 1300 cal yr BP to modern times,<br/>
wetter climatic conditions occurred.
Literature type specific fields:
ARTICLE
Journal:
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology
Volume:
276
Page Range:
1-14
Metadata Provider:
Individual:
Corinna Brunschön
Contact:
email:
Corinna.Brunschoen <at> biologie.uni-goettingen.de
A.v.H.-Inst. für Pflanzenwiss., Abt. Palynologie u. Klimadynamik, Untere Karspüle 2, 37073 Göttingen
37073 Göttingen
