Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada
Abstract The poor fens of the Laforge region, northeastern Canada, have developed under subarctic conditions. They are characterized by a microtopography of large pools and low, narrow strings. Paleorecords suggest some of these systems were once ombrotrophic and relatively dry. Taking account of th...
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crcambridgeupr:10.1017/qua.2018.34 2024-09-15T18:37:55+00:00 Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada van Bellen, Simon Garneau, Michelle Baird, Andy Bourgault, Marc-André Quillet, Anne 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.34 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589418000340 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms Quaternary Research volume 90, issue 1, page 83-95 ISSN 0033-5894 1096-0287 journal-article 2018 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.34 2024-07-10T04:04:41Z Abstract The poor fens of the Laforge region, northeastern Canada, have developed under subarctic conditions. They are characterized by a microtopography of large pools and low, narrow strings. Paleorecords suggest some of these systems were once ombrotrophic and relatively dry. Taking account of their current bioclimatic position, we aimed to explore the possible pathways towards the current wet state, a process referred to as “aqualysis”. We combined paleoecological methods applied to a peat core with conceptual modelling to identify factors that might plausibly explain aqualysis. Reconstructions showed the Abeille peatland became minerotrophic with high water tables between 2400 and 2100 cal yr BP. Conceptual modelling, supported by simulations using the numerical DigiBog model, allowed us to identify the effects of cooling and increased precipitation on productivity, decay, peat hydraulic conductivity and vertical peat accumulation. Both cooling and increased precipitation were required for aqualysis to occur and for wet surface conditions to persist to the present day. Increased recharge from the catchment, which also restricted drainage from the peatland center laterally, was likely critical for the development of minerotrophic conditions. The scenario of cooling and wetting in these peatlands is supported by available paleoclimate records for eastern Canada. Article in Journal/Newspaper Subarctic Cambridge University Press Quaternary Research 90 1 83 95 |
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Open Polar |
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Cambridge University Press |
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crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
description |
Abstract The poor fens of the Laforge region, northeastern Canada, have developed under subarctic conditions. They are characterized by a microtopography of large pools and low, narrow strings. Paleorecords suggest some of these systems were once ombrotrophic and relatively dry. Taking account of their current bioclimatic position, we aimed to explore the possible pathways towards the current wet state, a process referred to as “aqualysis”. We combined paleoecological methods applied to a peat core with conceptual modelling to identify factors that might plausibly explain aqualysis. Reconstructions showed the Abeille peatland became minerotrophic with high water tables between 2400 and 2100 cal yr BP. Conceptual modelling, supported by simulations using the numerical DigiBog model, allowed us to identify the effects of cooling and increased precipitation on productivity, decay, peat hydraulic conductivity and vertical peat accumulation. Both cooling and increased precipitation were required for aqualysis to occur and for wet surface conditions to persist to the present day. Increased recharge from the catchment, which also restricted drainage from the peatland center laterally, was likely critical for the development of minerotrophic conditions. The scenario of cooling and wetting in these peatlands is supported by available paleoclimate records for eastern Canada. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
van Bellen, Simon Garneau, Michelle Baird, Andy Bourgault, Marc-André Quillet, Anne |
spellingShingle |
van Bellen, Simon Garneau, Michelle Baird, Andy Bourgault, Marc-André Quillet, Anne Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
author_facet |
van Bellen, Simon Garneau, Michelle Baird, Andy Bourgault, Marc-André Quillet, Anne |
author_sort |
van Bellen, Simon |
title |
Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
title_short |
Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
title_full |
Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
title_fullStr |
Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
title_full_unstemmed |
Exploring pathways to late Holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern Canada |
title_sort |
exploring pathways to late holocene increased surface wetness in subarctic peatlands of eastern canada |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.34 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0033589418000340 |
genre |
Subarctic |
genre_facet |
Subarctic |
op_source |
Quaternary Research volume 90, issue 1, page 83-95 ISSN 0033-5894 1096-0287 |
op_rights |
https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2018.34 |
container_title |
Quaternary Research |
container_volume |
90 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
83 |
op_container_end_page |
95 |
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1810482269736927232 |