Articles | Volume 68, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-189-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-189-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Sep 2019
Research article |
| 04 Sep 2019
| 04 Sep 2019
Chemotaxonomic patterns of vegetation and soils along altitudinal transects of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, and implications for paleovegetation reconstructions – Part II: lignin-derived phenols and leaf-wax-derived n-alkanes
Bruk Lemma
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Soil
Biogeochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120, Halle, Germany
Forest and Rangeland Biodiversity Directorate, Ethiopian Biodiversity Institute,
P.O. Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Betelhem Mekonnen
Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Soil
Biogeochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120, Halle, Germany
Department of Urban Agriculture, Misrak Polytechnic College, P.O. Box
785, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Bruno Glaser
Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Soil
Biogeochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120, Halle, Germany
Wolfgang Zech
Institute of Soil Science and Soil Geography, University of
Bayreuth, Universitätsstrasse 30, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
Sileshi Nemomissa
Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa
University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Tamrat Bekele
Department of Plant Biology and Biodiversity Management, Addis Ababa
University, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Lucas Bittner
Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Soil
Biogeochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120, Halle, Germany
Michael Zech
Institute of Agronomy and Nutritional Sciences, Soil
Biogeochemistry, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg,
Von-Seckendorff-Platz 3, 06120, Halle, Germany
Institute of Geography, Technical University of Dresden,
Helmholtzstrasse 10, 01062, Dresden, Germany
Related authors
Alexander R. Groos, Janik Niederhauser, Bruk Lemma, Mekbib Fekadu, Wolfgang Zech, Falk Hänsel, Luise Wraase, Naki Akçar, and Heinz Veit
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1043–1062, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1043-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1043-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Continuous observations and measurements from high elevations are necessary to monitor recent climate and environmental changes in the tropical mountains of eastern Africa, but meteorological and ground temperature data from above 3000 m are very rare. Here we present a comprehensive ground temperature monitoring network that has been established between 3493 and 4377 m in the Bale Mountains (Ethiopian Highlands) to monitor and study the afro-alpine climate and ecosystem in this region.
Betelhem Mekonnen, Wolfgang Zech, Bruno Glaser, Bruk Lemma, Tobias Bromm, Sileshi Nemomissa, Tamrat Bekele, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 177–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The study evaluates the ability of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and sugar biomarkers to distinguish Erica from the dominant vegetation of the Bale Mountains in order to reconstruct the past extent of Erica on the Sanetti Plateau. No significant differences in stable isotopes are found between the dominant plant species. Although Erica is characterized by quite high (G+M)/(A+X) ratios, it cannot be unambiguously distinguished from other plants due to degradation and soil microbial effects.
Lucas Bittner
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 73, 135–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-135-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-135-2024, 2024
Lucas Bittner, Cindy De Jonge, Graciela Gil-Romera, Henry F. Lamb, James M. Russell, and Michael Zech
Biogeosciences, 19, 5357–5374, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5357-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-5357-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
With regard to global warming, an understanding of past temperature changes is becoming increasingly important. Branched glycerol dialkyl glycerol tetraethers (brGDGTs) are membrane lipids used globally to reconstruct lake water temperatures. In the Bale Mountains lakes, we find a unique composition of brGDGT isomers. We present a modified local calibration and a new high-altitude temperature reconstruction from the Horn of Africa spanning the last 12.5 kyr.
Marcel Lerch, Julia Unkelbach, Florian Schneider, Michael Zech, and Michael Klinge
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 91–110, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-91-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-91-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Charcoals and leaf waxes from vegetation accumulate in the soil and provide information about past vegetation because they are mostly resistant against physical and biological degradation. Analyzing and comparing ratios of both element types helped us to improve the evidence for vegetation reconstruction. We found that the accumulation processes and preservation of these elements depend on different environmental conditions at forest- and steppe-dominated sites in the Mongolian forest–steppe.
Jakob Labahn, Lucas Bittner, Philip Hirschmann, Christopher-Bastian Roettig, Diana Burghardt, Bruno Glaser, Slobodan B. Marković, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 83–90, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-83-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-83-2022, 2022
Alexander R. Groos, Janik Niederhauser, Bruk Lemma, Mekbib Fekadu, Wolfgang Zech, Falk Hänsel, Luise Wraase, Naki Akçar, and Heinz Veit
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 1043–1062, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1043-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-1043-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Continuous observations and measurements from high elevations are necessary to monitor recent climate and environmental changes in the tropical mountains of eastern Africa, but meteorological and ground temperature data from above 3000 m are very rare. Here we present a comprehensive ground temperature monitoring network that has been established between 3493 and 4377 m in the Bale Mountains (Ethiopian Highlands) to monitor and study the afro-alpine climate and ecosystem in this region.
Marcel Lerch, Tobias Bromm, Clemens Geitner, Jean Nicolas Haas, Dieter Schäfer, Bruno Glaser, and Michael Zech
Biogeosciences, 19, 1135–1150, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1135-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-19-1135-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Faecal biomarker analyses present a useful tool in geoarcheological research. For a better understanding of the lives of our ancestors in alpine regions, we investigated modern livestock faeces and Holocene soils at the prehistorical encampment site of Ullafelsen in the Fotsch Valley, Stubai Alps, Austria. Initial results show a high input of livestock faeces and a negligible input of human faeces for this archeological site. Future studies will focus on mire archives in the Fotsch Valley.
Johannes Hepp, Christoph Mayr, Kazimierz Rozanski, Imke Kathrin Schäfer, Mario Tuthorn, Bruno Glaser, Dieter Juchelka, Willibald Stichler, Roland Zech, and Michael Zech
Biogeosciences, 18, 5363–5380, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5363-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-18-5363-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Deriving more quantitative climate information like relative air humidity is one of the key challenges in paleostudies. Often only qualitative reconstructions can be done when single-biomarker-isotope data are derived from a climate archive. However, the coupling of hemicellulose-derived sugar with leaf-wax-derived n-alkane isotope results has the potential to overcome this limitation and allow a quantitative relative air humidity reconstruction.
Michael Zech, Marcel Lerch, Marcel Bliedtner, Tobias Bromm, Fabian Seemann, Sönke Szidat, Gary Salazar, Roland Zech, Bruno Glaser, Jean Nicolas Haas, Dieter Schäfer, and Clemens Geitner
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 70, 171–186, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-171-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-171-2021, 2021
Christopher Lüthgens, Daniela Sauer, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 261–262, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-261-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-261-2021, 2021
Johannes Hepp, Imke Kathrin Schäfer, Verena Lanny, Jörg Franke, Marcel Bliedtner, Kazimierz Rozanski, Bruno Glaser, Michael Zech, Timothy Ian Eglinton, and Roland Zech
Biogeosciences, 17, 741–756, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-741-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-17-741-2020, 2020
Christopher Lüthgens, Daniela Sauer, Michael Zech, Becky Briant, Eleanor Brown, Elisabeth Dietze, Markus Fuchs, Nicole Klasen, Sven Lukas, Jan-Hendrik May, Julia Meister, Tony Reimann, Gilles Rixhon, Zsófia Ruszkiczay-Rüdiger, Bernhard Salcher, Tobias Sprafke, Ingmar Unkel, Hans von Suchodoletz, and Christian Zeeden
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 243–244, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-243-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-243-2020, 2020
Johannes Hepp, Bruno Glaser, Dieter Juchelka, Christoph Mayr, Kazimierz Rozanski, Imke Kathrin Schäfer, Willibald Stichler, Mario Tuthorn, Roland Zech, and Michael Zech
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-427, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-2019-427, 2019
Manuscript not accepted for further review
Betelhem Mekonnen, Wolfgang Zech, Bruno Glaser, Bruk Lemma, Tobias Bromm, Sileshi Nemomissa, Tamrat Bekele, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 177–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The study evaluates the ability of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and sugar biomarkers to distinguish Erica from the dominant vegetation of the Bale Mountains in order to reconstruct the past extent of Erica on the Sanetti Plateau. No significant differences in stable isotopes are found between the dominant plant species. Although Erica is characterized by quite high (G+M)/(A+X) ratios, it cannot be unambiguously distinguished from other plants due to degradation and soil microbial effects.
Johannes Hepp, Lorenz Wüthrich, Tobias Bromm, Marcel Bliedtner, Imke Kathrin Schäfer, Bruno Glaser, Kazimierz Rozanski, Frank Sirocko, Roland Zech, and Michael Zech
Clim. Past, 15, 713–733, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-15-713-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-15-713-2019, 2019
Marcel Lerch, Marcel Bliedtner, Christopher-Bastian Roettig, Jan-Uwe Schmidt, Sönke Szidat, Gary Salazar, Roland Zech, Bruno Glaser, Arno Kleber, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 66, 103–108, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-66-103-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-66-103-2018, 2018
Imke K. Schäfer, Verena Lanny, Jörg Franke, Timothy I. Eglinton, Michael Zech, Barbora Vysloužilová, and Roland Zech
SOIL, 2, 551–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-551-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-2-551-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
For this study we systematically investigated the molecular pattern of leaf waxes in litter and topsoils along a European transect to assess their potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Our results show that leaf wax patterns depend on the type of vegetation. The vegetation signal is not only found in the litter; it can also be preserved to some degree in the topsoil.
M. Tuthorn, R. Zech, M. Ruppenthal, Y. Oelmann, A. Kahmen, H. F. del Valle, T. Eglinton, K. Rozanski, and M. Zech
Biogeosciences, 12, 3913–3924, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-3913-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-12-3913-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Stable water isotopes (18O/16O and 2H/1H) are invaluable proxies for paleoclimate research. Here we use a coupled 18O/16O and 2H/1H biomarker approach based on plant-derived sugars and n-alkanes. Applying this innovative approach to a topsoil transect allows for (i) calculating the deuterium-excess of leaf water as a proxy for relative humidity and (ii) calculating the plant source water isotopic composition (~precipitation). The approach is validated by the presented climate transect results.
M. Zech, R. Zech, K. Rozanski, A. Hemp, G. Gleixner, and W. Zech
Biogeosciences Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-11-7823-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/bgd-11-7823-2014, 2014
Preprint withdrawn
Related subject area
Paleo-environments
Diverse phenotypes of Late Glacial–Early Holocene downy birch (Betula pubescens Erh.) and the morphology of early Preboreal tree stands in southern Schleswig-Holstein
Reconstructing the Eemian to Middle Pleniglacial pedosedimentary evolution of the Baix loess–palaeosol sequence (Rhône Rift Valley, southern France) – basic chronostratigraphic framework and palaeosol characterisation
A 1100-year multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental record from Lake Höglwörth, Bavaria, Germany
Palaeoenvironmental research at Hawelti–Melazo (Tigray, northern Ethiopia) – insights from sedimentological and geomorphological analyses
Multi-method study of the Middle Pleistocene loess–palaeosol sequence of Köndringen, SW Germany
Fluvial activity of the late-glacial to Holocene “Bergstraßenneckar” in the Upper Rhine Graben near Heidelberg, Germany – first results
Investigating the loess–palaeosol sequence of Bahlingen-Schönenberg (Kaiserstuhl), southwestern Germany, using a multi-methodological approach
Holocene vegetation reconstruction in the forest–steppe of Mongolia based on leaf waxes and macro-charcoals in soils
Evaluation of geochemical proxies and radiocarbon data from a loess record of the Upper Palaeolithic site Kammern-Grubgraben, Lower Austria
The Quaternary palaeobotany of Madeira and Azores volcanic archipelagos (Portugal): insights into the past diversity, ecology, biogeography and evolution
Local mineral dust transported by varying wind intensities forms the main substrate for loess in Kashmir
Palaeoenvironmental reconstruction on the basis of Quaternary palaeo dune sequences on Fuerteventura
Reconstruction of palaeoenvironmental variability based on an inter-comparison of four lacustrine archives on the Peloponnese (Greece) for the last 5000 years
Anthropogenic and climate signals in late-Holocene peat layers of an ombrotrophic bog in the Styrian Enns valley (Austrian Alps)
The genesis of Yedoma Ice Complex permafrost – grain-size endmember modeling analysis from Siberia and Alaska
Long-term human impact and environmental change in mid-western Ireland, with particular reference to Céide Fields – an overview
Chemotaxonomic patterns of vegetation and soils along altitudinal transects of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, and implications for paleovegetation reconstructions – Part 1: stable isotopes and sugar biomarkers
Coastal lowland and floodplain evolution along the lower reaches of the Supsa River (western Georgia)
Grain-size distribution unmixing using the R package EMMAgeo
6200 years of human activities and environmental change in the northern central Alps
Sascha Krüger
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 73, 23–40, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-23-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-23-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
In reconstructing the living conditions of the late ice age and the early warm periods, archaeologists rely on palaeobotany. Since the 1940s, there has been the common image of a treeless tundra, which changes to a light birch forest within only a few years at the transition between the periods. By using environmental data, it is demonstrated that this image must be refined, and examples are given for a better understanding of palaeobotanical data and their use in archaeological reconstructions.
Nora Pfaffner, Annette Kadereit, Volker Karius, Thomas Kolb, Sebastian Kreutzer, and Daniela Sauer
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 73, 1–22, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-1-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-73-1-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We present results of the Baix loess–palaeosol sequence, SE France. Reconstructed intense soil formation under warm, moist conditions before and into the last ice age and less intense soil formations in warm (temporarily moist) phases during the generally cold, dry ice age were validated with laboratory and dating techniques. This is particularly relevant as Baix is located in the temperate–Mediterranean climate transition zone, a sensitive zone that is susceptible to future climate changes.
Sudip Acharya, Maximilian Prochnow, Thomas Kasper, Linda Langhans, Peter Frenzel, Paul Strobel, Marcel Bliedtner, Gerhard Daut, Christopher Berndt, Sönke Szidat, Gary Salazar, Antje Schwalb, and Roland Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 219–234, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-219-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-219-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a palaeoenvironmental record from Lake Höglwörth, Bavaria, Germany. Before 870 CE peat deposits existed. Erosion increased from 1240 to 1380 CE, followed by aquatic productivity and anoxia from 1310 to 1470 CE. Increased allochthonous input and a substantial shift in the aquatic community in 1701 were caused by construction of a mill. Recent anoxia has been observed since the 1960s.
Jacob Hardt, Nadav Nir, Christopher Lüthgens, Thomas M. Menn, and Brigitta Schütt
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 37–55, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-37-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-37-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the geomorphological and geological characteristics of the archaeological sites Hawelti–Melazo and the surroundings. We performed sedimentological analyses, as well as direct (luminescence) and indirect (radiocarbon) sediment dating, to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental conditions, which we integrated into the wider context of Tigray.
Lea Schwahn, Tabea Schulze, Alexander Fülling, Christian Zeeden, Frank Preusser, and Tobias Sprafke
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 72, 1–21, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-1-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-72-1-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The loess sequence of Köndringen, Upper Rhine Graben, comprises several glacial–interglacial cycles. It has been investigated using a multi-method approach including the measurement of colour, grain size, organic matter, and carbonate content. The analyses reveal that the sequence comprises several fossil soils and layers of reworked soil material. According to luminescence dating, it reaches back more than 500 000 years.
Max Engel, Felix Henselowsky, Fabian Roth, Annette Kadereit, Manuel Herzog, Stefan Hecht, Susanne Lindauer, Olaf Bubenzer, and Gerd Schukraft
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 213–226, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-213-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-213-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The late-glacial Bergstraßenneckar is a former course of the Neckar River in the Upper Rhine Graben of southwest Germany at a time when the confluence with the Rhine river was 50 km further to the north. The former river bends are still visible in topographic maps and satellite imagery. Sediment cores and geophysical measurements from the former river channels let us reconstruct the shift from a running river to silting-up meanders and permit us to date this to ca. 11 000 to 10 500 years ago.
Tabea Schulze, Lea Schwahn, Alexander Fülling, Christian Zeeden, Frank Preusser, and Tobias Sprafke
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 145–162, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-145-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-145-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
A loess sequence in SW Germany was investigated using a high-resolution multi-method approach. It dates to 34–27 ka and comprises layers of initial soil formation. Drier conditions and a different atmospheric circulation pattern during the time of deposition are expected as the soil layers are less strongly developed compared to similar horizons further north. Dust accumulation predates the last advance of Alpine glaciers, and no loess deposition is recorded for the time of maximum ice extent.
Marcel Lerch, Julia Unkelbach, Florian Schneider, Michael Zech, and Michael Klinge
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 91–110, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-91-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-91-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Charcoals and leaf waxes from vegetation accumulate in the soil and provide information about past vegetation because they are mostly resistant against physical and biological degradation. Analyzing and comparing ratios of both element types helped us to improve the evidence for vegetation reconstruction. We found that the accumulation processes and preservation of these elements depend on different environmental conditions at forest- and steppe-dominated sites in the Mongolian forest–steppe.
Lilian Reiss, Christian Stüwe, Thomas Einwögerer, Marc Händel, Andreas Maier, Stefan Meng, Kerstin Pasda, Ulrich Simon, Bernd Zolitschka, and Christoph Mayr
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 71, 23–43, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-23-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-71-23-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We aim at testing and evaluating geochemical proxies and material for radiocarbon dating for their reliability and consistency at the Palaeolithic site Kammern-Grubgraben (Lower Austria). While carbonate and organic carbon contents are interpreted in terms of palaeoclimate variability, pedogenic carbonates turned out to be of Holocene age. As a consequence, the proxy data assessed here are differentially suitable for environmental reconstructions.
Carlos A. Góis-Marques
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 70, 197–199, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-197-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-197-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Palaeobotanical research on oceanic islands has been largely ignored despite its importance for providing empirical proofs to disentangle insular plant diversity, evolution, ecology and biogeography. Here we explore the oceanic archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores to demonstrate the existence of well-preserved and palaeobiologically informative plant fossils.
Christian Zeeden, Jehangeer Ahmad Mir, Mathias Vinnepand, Christian Laag, Christian Rolf, and Reyaz Ahmad Dar
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 70, 191–195, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-191-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-70-191-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate two loess–palaeosol sequences in Kashmir. Magnetic enhancement of the loess was strong during stadial phases. Besides classical magnetic enhancement, wind vigour suggests partly strong winds. Grain sizes are dominantly in the silt range and comparable to data from central Asia, which do not suggest transport over high mountain ranges as required for non-local sources in Kashmir. Therefore, we suggest that the Kashmir loess is predominantly of local origin.
Christopher-Bastian Roettig
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 161–163, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-161-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-161-2020, 2020
Joana Seguin, Pavlos Avramidis, Annette Haug, Torben Kessler, Arndt Schimmelmann, and Ingmar Unkel
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 165–186, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-165-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-165-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present two new palaeolake archives of Pheneos and Kaisari, Peloponnese, and compare them with records from Stymphalia and Asea by applying the same set of analyses to all sites. We focus on different spatial scales to estimate the validity range of the proxy signals. Geochemical ratios depict hydrological variation and environmental changes over the last 5000 years. They indicate drier phases, but timing and duration vary, which may be explained by site-specific ecosystem responses.
Wolfgang Knierzinger, Ruth Drescher-Schneider, Klaus-Holger Knorr, Simon Drollinger, Andreas Limbeck, Lukas Brunnbauer, Felix Horak, Daniela Festi, and Michael Wagreich
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 121–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-121-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-121-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present multi-proxy analyses of a 14C-dated peat core covering the past ⁓5000 years from the ombrotrophic Pürgschachen Moor. Pronounced increases in cultural indicators suggest significant human activity in the Bronze Age and in the period of the late La Tène culture. We found strong, climate-controlled interrelations between the pollen record, the humification degree and the ash content. Human activity is reflected in the pollen record and by heavy metals.
Lutz Schirrmeister, Elisabeth Dietze, Heidrun Matthes, Guido Grosse, Jens Strauss, Sebastian Laboor, Mathias Ulrich, Frank Kienast, and Sebastian Wetterich
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 33–53, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-33-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-33-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Late Pleistocene Yedoma deposits of Siberia and Alaska are prone to degradation with warming temperatures.
Multimodal grain-size distributions of >700 samples indicate varieties of sediment production, transport, and deposition.
These processes were disentangled using robust endmember modeling analysis.
Nine robust grain-size endmembers characterize these deposits.
The data set was finally classified using cluster analysis.
The polygenetic Yedoma origin is proved.
Michael O'Connell, Karen Molloy, and Eneda Jennings
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 1–32, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-1-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-1-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Long-term environmental change in Co. Mayo, on the mid-Atlantic seaboard of Ireland, is discussed. Pollen diagrams and bog pine, dated by 14C and dendrochronology, provide evidence for woodlands, farming and climate change. Intensive farming is dated to the early Neolithic (3800–3400 BC) prior to wide-scale spread of blanket bog. Construction of the peat-covered, stone-wall field system at Céide Fields occurred at this time which is unexpectedly early. Bronze and Iron Age activity is detailed.
Betelhem Mekonnen, Wolfgang Zech, Bruno Glaser, Bruk Lemma, Tobias Bromm, Sileshi Nemomissa, Tamrat Bekele, and Michael Zech
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 177–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-177-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The study evaluates the ability of stable isotopes (δ13C and δ15N) and sugar biomarkers to distinguish Erica from the dominant vegetation of the Bale Mountains in order to reconstruct the past extent of Erica on the Sanetti Plateau. No significant differences in stable isotopes are found between the dominant plant species. Although Erica is characterized by quite high (G+M)/(A+X) ratios, it cannot be unambiguously distinguished from other plants due to degradation and soil microbial effects.
Hannes Laermanns, Simon Matthias May, Daniel Kelterbaum, Giorgi Kirkitadze, Stephan Opitz, Levan Navrozashvili, Mikheil Elashvili, and Helmut Brückner
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 119–139, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-119-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-119-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The landscape on the Black Sea coast of Georgia has changed significantly during the last few millennia. By using granulometric and geochemical analyses, we reconstructed significant sea level, coastline and palaeoenvironmental changes that have taken place in the surroundings of the Supsa fan since at least 4000 BCE.
Elisabeth Dietze and Michael Dietze
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 29–46, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-29-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-29-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Sedimentary deposits provide insights into past Earth surface dynamics via the size distribution of mineral grains documenting the erosion, transport and deposition history. This study introduces structured procedures to decipher the distinct grain-size distributions of sediment samples that were mixed during/after deposition, using the free statistical tool EMMAgeo. Compared with other algorithms, EMMAgeo is unique as it provides uncertainty estimates and allows expert knowledge to be included.
Clemens von Scheffer, Annika Lange, François De Vleeschouwer, Joachim Schrautzer, and Ingmar Unkel
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 68, 13–28, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-13-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-13-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
By using geochemical and pollen data, this study wanted to close knowledge gaps on the interconnection of climate, environment and human impact in the Kleinwalser Valley (Kleinwalsertal, northern central Alps) over the past 6200 years. For a long time, the Walser people were believed to be the first settlers, who cultivated the valley. However, humans have recurrently used and modified the landscape for at least 5500 years by burning or cutting down forests and practicing pasture management.
Cited articles
Amelung, W., Zech, W., and Flach, K. W.: Climatic effects on soil organic
matter composition in the Great Plains, Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 61, 115–123, 1997.
Amelung, W., Martius, C., Bandeira, A. G., Garcia, M. V., and Zech, W.:
Lignin characteristics and density fractions of termite nests in an
Amazonian rain forest–indicators of termite feeding guilds, Soil Biol. Biochem., 34, 367–372, 2002.
Belanger, E., Lucotte, M., Gregoire, B., Moingt, M., Paquet, S., Davidson,
R., Mertens, F., Passos, C. J. S., and Romana, C.: Lignin signatures of
vegetation and soils in tropical environments, Adv. Enviro. Res., 4, 247–262, 2015.
Billi, P.: Geomorphological landscapes of Ethiopia, in: Landscapes and
landforms of Ethiopia, edited by: Billi, P., Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands,
3–32, 2015.
Bonnefille, R. and Hamilton, A.: Quaternary and late Tertiary history of
Ethiopian vegetation, Symb. Bot. Ups, 26, 48–63, 1986.
Bonnefille, R. and Mohammed, U.: Pollen-inferred climatic fluctuations in
Ethiopia during the last 3000 years, Palaeogeogr. Palaeocl., 109, 331–343, 1994.
Bush, R. T. and McInerney, F. A.: Leaf wax n-alkane distributions in and
across modern plants: implications for paleoecology and chemotaxonomy,
Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 117, 161–179, 2013.
Castañeda, I. S., Werne, J. P., Johnson, T. C., and Filley, T. R.: Late
Quaternary vegetation history of southeast Africa: the molecular isotopic
record from Lake Malawi, Palaeogeogr. Palaeocl.,
275, 100–112, 2009.
Diefendorf, A. F., Freeman, K. H., Wing, S. L., and Graham, H. V.: Production
of n-alkyl lipids in living plants and implications for the geologic past,
Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 75, 7472–7485, 2011.
Eglinton, G. and Hamilton, R. J.: Leaf epicuticular waxes, Science,
156, 1322–1335, 1967.
Eglinton, T. I. and Eglinton, G.: Molecular proxies for paleoclimatology,
Earth Planet. Sc. Lett., 275, 1–16, 2008.
Ertel, J. R. and Hedges, J. I.: The lignin component of humic substances:
distribution among soil and sedimentary humic, fulvic, and base-insoluble
fractions, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 48, 2065–2074, 1984.
Feakins, S. J., Peters, T., Wu, M. S., Shenkin, A., Salinas, N., Girardin,
C. A., Bentley, L. P., Blonder, B., Enquist, B. J., and Martin, R. E.:
Production of leaf wax n-alkanes across a tropical forest elevation
transect, Org. Geochem., 100, 89–100, 2016.
Friis, I.: Zonation of Forest Vegetation on the South Slope of Bale
Mountains, South Ethiopia, Sinet-an Ethiopian Journal of Science, 29–44,
1986.
Glaser, B. and Zech, W.: Reconstruction of climate and landscape changes in
a high mountain lake catchment in the Gorkha Himal, Nepal during the Late
Glacial and Holocene as deduced from radiocarbon and compound-specific
stable isotope analysis of terrestrial, aquatic and microbial biomarkers,
Org. Geochem., 36, 1086–1098, 2005.
Goñi, M. A. and Hedges, J. I.: Lignin dimers: Structures, distribution,
and potential geochemical applications, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac.,
56, 4025–4043, 1992.
Guo, N., Gao, J., He, Y., Zhang, Z. and Guo, Y.: Variations in leaf
epicuticular n-alkanes in some Broussonetia, Ficus and Humulus species,
Biochem. Syst. Ecol., 54, 150–156, 2014.
Häggi, C., Zech, R., McIntyre, C., Zech, M., and Eglinton, T. I.: On the stratigraphic integrity of leaf-wax biomarkers in loess paleosols, Biogeosciences, 11, 2455–2463, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-11-2455-2014, 2014.
Hamilton, A. C.: Environmental history of East Africa: a study of the
Quaternary, Academic Press, London, UK, 328 pp., 1982.
Hedberg, O.: Features of afroalpine plant ecology, Swedish Science Press,
Uppsala, Sweden, 148 pp., 1964.
Hedges, J. I. and Ertel, J. R.: Characterization of lignin by gas capillary
chromatography of cupric oxide oxidation products, Anal. Chem.,
54, 174–178, 1982.
Hedges, J. I. and Mann, D. C.: The characterization of plant tissues by
their lignin oxidation products, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 43,
1803–1807, 1979.
Hedges, J. I., Clark, W. A., Quay, P. D., Richey, J. E., Devol, A. H., and
Santos, M.: Compositions and fluxes of particulate organic material in the
Amazon River1, Limnol. Oceanogr., 31, 717–738, 1986.
Hedges, J. I., Blanchette, R. A., Weliky, K., and Devol, A. H.: Effects of
fungal degradation on the CuO oxidation products of lignin: a controlled
laboratory study, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 52, 2717–2726, 1988.
Hicks, S.: When no pollen does not mean no trees, Veg. Hist. Archaeobot., 15, 253–261, 2006.
Hillman, J. C.: Conservation in Bale mountains national park, Ethiopia,
Oryx, 20, 89–94, 1986.
Hillman, J. C.: The Bale Mountains National Park area, southeast Ethiopia,
and its management, Mountain Research and Development, 253–258, 1988.
Hoefs, M. J., Rijpstra, W. I. C., and Damsté, J. S. S.: The influence of
oxic degradation on the sedimentary biomarker record I: Evidence from
Madeira Abyssal Plain turbidites, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 66,
2719–2735, 2002.
Hoffmann, B., Kahmen, A., Cernusak, L. A., Arndt, S. K., and Sachse, D.:
Abundance and distribution of leaf wax n-alkanes in leaves of Acacia and
Eucalyptus trees along a strong humidity gradient in northern Australia,
Org. Geochem., 62, 62–67, 2013.
Jansen, B., van Loon, E. E., Hooghiemstra, H., and Verstraten, J. M.:
Improved reconstruction of palaeo-environments through unravelling of
preserved vegetation biomarker patterns, Palaeogeogr. Palaeocl., 285, 119–130, 2010.
Kidane, Y., Stahlmann, R., and Beierkuhnlein, C.: Vegetation dynamics, and
land use and land cover change in the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia,
Environ. Monit. Assess., 184, 7473–7489, 2012.
Koch, K., Bhushan, B., and Barthlott, W.: Multifunctional surface structures
of plants: an inspiration for biomimetics, Prog. Mater. Sci.,
54, 137–178, 2009.
Kolattukudy, P. E.: Plant waxes, Lipids, 5, 259–275, 1970.
Maffei, M.: Chemotaxonomic significance of leaf wax alkanes in the
Gramineae, Biochem. Syst. Ecol., 24, 53–64, 1996.
Maffei, M., Badino, S., and Bossi, S.: Chemotaxonomic significance of leaf
wax n-alkanes in the Pinales (Coniferales), J. Biol. Res.,
1, 3–19, 2004.
Mekonnen, B., Zech, W., Glaser, B., Lemma, B., Bromm, T., Nemomissa, S., Bekele, T., and Zech, M.:
Chemotaxonomic patterns of vegetation and soils along altitudinal transects of the Bale Mountains,
Ethiopia, and implications for paleovegetation reconstructions – Part 1: stable isotopes and sugar
biomarkers, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 177–188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-177-2019, 2019.
Miehe, S. and Miehe, G.: Ericaceous forest and heath land in Bale Mountains
of South Ethiopia, Ecology and Man's Impact, Hamburg, Stiftung Walderhaltung
in Africa Hamburg, Germany, 1994.
Möller, A., Kaiser, K., and Zech, W.: Lignin, carbohydrate, and amino
sugar distribution and transformation in the tropical highland soils of
northern Thailand under cabbage cultivation, Pinus reforestation, secondary
forest, and primary forest, Soil Res., 40, 977–998, 2002.
Ortu, E., Brewer, S., and Peyron, O.: Pollen-inferred palaeoclimate
reconstructions in mountain areas: problems and perspectives, J. Quaternary Sci., 21, 615–627, 2006.
Osmaston, H. A., Mitchell, W. A., and Osmaston, J. N.: Quaternary glaciation
of the Bale Mountains, Ethiopia, J. Quaternary Sci., 20, 593–606, 2005.
Poynter, J. G., Farrimond, P., Robinson, N., and Eglinton, G.:
Aeolian-derived higher plant lipids in the marine sedimentary record: Links
with palaeoclimate, in Paleoclimatology and paleometeorology: modern and
past patterns of global atmospheric transport, Springer, 435–462, 1989.
Rommerskirchen, F., Plader, A., Eglinton, G., Chikaraishi, Y., and
Rullkötter, J.: Chemotaxonomic significance of distribution and stable
carbon isotopic composition of long-chain alkanes and alkan-1-ols in C4
grass waxes, Org. Geochem., 37, 1303–1332, 2006.
Schäfer, I. K., Lanny, V., Franke, J., Eglinton, T. I., Zech, M.,
Vysloužilová, B., and Zech, R.: Leaf waxes in litter and topsoils
along a European transect, Soil, 2, 551–564, 2016.
Street-Perrott, F. A., Ficken, K. J., Huang, Y. and Eglinton, G.: Late
Quaternary changes in carbon cycling on Mt. Kenya, East Africa: an overview
of the δ13C record in lacustrine organic matter, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 23, 861–879, 2004.
Tareq, S. M., Tanaka, N., and Ohta, K.: Biomarker signature in tropical
wetland: lignin phenol vegetation index (LPVI) and its implications for
reconstructing the paleoenvironment, Sci. Tot. Environ.,
324, 91–103, 2004.
Tareq, S. M., Handa, N., and Tanoue, E.: A lignin phenol proxy record of mid
Holocene paleovegetation changes at Lake DaBuSu, northeast China, J. Geochem. Explor., 88, 445–449, 2006.
Tareq, S. M., Kitagawa, H., and Ohta, K.: Lignin biomarker and isotopic
records of paleovegetation and climate changes from Lake Erhai, southwest
China, since 18.5 ka BP, Quatern. Int., 229, 47–56, 2011.
Thevenot, M., Dignac, M.-F., and Rumpel, C.: Fate of lignins in soils: a
review, Soil Biol. Biochem., 42, 1200–1211, 2010.
Tiercelin, J.-J., Gibert, E., Umer, M., Bonnefille, R., Disnar, J.-R.,
Lézine, A.-M., Hureau-Mazaudier, D., Travi, Y., Kéravis, D., and
Lamb, H. F.: High-resolution sedimentary record of the last deglaciation
from a high-altitude lake in Ethiopia, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 27,
449–467, 2008.
Umer, M., Kebede, S., and Osmaston, H.: Quaternary glacial activity on the
Ethiopian Mountains, Developments in Quaternary Sciences, 2, 171–174, 2004.
Umer, M., Lamb, H. F., Bonnefille, R., Lézine, A.-M., Tiercelin, J.-J.,
Gibert, E., Cazet, J.-P., and Watrin, J.: Late pleistocene and holocene
vegetation history of the bale mountains, Ethiopia, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 26, 2229–2246, 2007.
Woldu, Z., Feoli, E., and Nigatu, L.: Partitioning an elevation gradient of
vegetation from Southeastern Ethiopia by probabilistic methods, Plateau, 81,
189–198, 1989.
Yimer, F., Ledin, S., and Abdelkadir, A.: Soil organic carbon and total
nitrogen stocks as affected by topographic aspect and vegetation in the Bale
Mountains, Ethiopia, Geoderma, 135, 335–344, 2006.
Zech, M.: Evidence for Late Pleistocene climate changes from buried soils on
the southern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Palaeogeogr. Palaeocl., 242, 303–312, 2006.
Zech, M.: Reconstructing Quaternary vegetation history in the Carpathian
Basin, SE Europe, using n-alkane biomarkers as molecular fossils: problems
and possible solutions, potential and limitations, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 58, 148–155, 2009.
Zech, M. and Glaser, B.: Improved compound-specific δ13C analysis of
n-alkanes for application in palaeoenvironmental studies, Rapid
Commun. Mass Sp., 22, 135–142, 2008.
Zech, M., Pedentchouk, N., Buggle, B., Leiber, K., Kalbitz, K.,
Marković, S. B., and Glaser, B.: Effect of leaf litter degradation and
seasonality on D/H isotope ratios of n-alkane biomarkers, Geochim. Cosmochim. Ac., 75, 4917–4928, 2011a.
Zech, M., Leiber, K., Zech, W., Poetsch, T., and Hemp, A.: Late Quaternary
soil genesis and vegetation history on the northern slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro, East Africa, Quaternary Int., 243, 327–336, 2011b.
Zech, M., Zech, R., Buggle, B., and Zöller, L.: Novel methodological approaches in loess research – interrogating biomarkers and compound-specific stable isotopes, E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 60, 13, https://doi.org/10.3285/eg.60.1.12, 2011c.
Zech, M., Krause, T., Meszner, S., and Faust, D.: Incorrect when uncorrected:
reconstructing vegetation history using n-alkane biomarkers in
loess-paleosol sequences – a case study from the Saxonian loess region,
Germany, Quaternary Int., 296, 108–116, 2013.
Zech, M., Kreutzer, S., Zech, R., Goslar, T., Meszner, S., McIntyre, C.,
Häggi, C., Eglinton, T., Faust, D., and Fuchs, M.: Comparative 14C and
OSL dating of loess-paleosol sequences to evaluate post-depositional
contamination of n-alkane biomarkers, Quaternary Res., 87, 180–189,
2017.
Ziegler, F., Kögel, I. and Zech, W.: Alteration of gymnosperm and
angiosperm lignin during decomposition in forest humus layers, Z. Planz. Bodenkunde, 149, 323–331, 1986.
Short summary
Chemotaxonomic identification of keystone plant species in the Bale Mountains are possible using lignin phenols. However, Erica could not be differentiated chemotaxonomically from all other investigated plants using n-alkanes. Unambiguous characteristic patterns of lignin phenols reflected in the plant samples were not sustained in the organic layers and mineral topsoils. This is due to degradation and organic matter inputs by roots. Therefore, the past extent of Erica is still speculative.
Chemotaxonomic identification of keystone plant species in the Bale Mountains are possible using...
