Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers
Paleoenvironmental studies previously performed on Lake Igaliku revealed two agropastoral phases in south Greenland: the Norse settlement from AD 986 to ca. AD 1450 and the recent installation of sheep farmers, since the 1920s. To improve the knowledge of the timing and magnitude of the Greenlandic...
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683616675811 |
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fteawag:oai:dora:eawag_15142 2023-05-15T16:28:46+02:00 Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers Guillemot, Typhaine Bichet, Vincent Gauthier, Emilie Zocatelli, Renata Massa, Charly Richard, Herve 2017 https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683616675811 eng eng Sage Holocene--Holocene--0959-6836--1477-0911--journals:1222 eawag:15142 doi:10.1177/0959683616675811 issn: 0959-6836 e-issn: 1477-0911 journal id: journals:1222 ut: 000402888300001 scopus: 2-s2.0-85016731739 agropastoral activities ecosystem responses lake sediments molecular biomarkers Norse south Greenland Journal Article 2017 fteawag https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683616675811 2023-04-09T04:46:24Z Paleoenvironmental studies previously performed on Lake Igaliku revealed two agropastoral phases in south Greenland: the Norse settlement from AD 986 to ca. AD 1450 and the recent installation of sheep farmers, since the 1920s. To improve the knowledge of the timing and magnitude of the Greenlandic agropastoral activities, a lipid inventory was realized and compared with biological and geochemical data. During the 12th century, a major increase in deoxycholic acid (DOC) and coprophilous fungal spores revealed a maximum of herbivores. Synchronously, a minimum of the n-C 29 /n-C 31 alkane ratio and tree and shrub pollen and a maximum of triterpenyl acetates showed a reduction in the tree and shrub cover, because of grazing activities. Lupanone, produced by angiosperms, appeared simultaneously in the molecular content, probably revealing an introduction of plant species by the Norse, as it has been the case for Rumex spp. No major erosion was recorded by trimethyl-tetrahydrocrysenes (TTHCs) and titanium (Ti) fluxes. No massive algal production, identified by the n-C 17 /total n-alkane ratio and mesotrophic diatoms, was either revealed. After the Norse abandon (around AD 1450), a return of the vegetation to quasi-pristine conditions was observed in the molecular content. Finally, a re-introduction of sheep in the 1920s provoked major impacts between the 1970s and the 1990s. A major decrease in the n-C 29 /n-C 31 alkane ratio and tree and shrub pollen associated with maxima of triterpenyl acetates, TTHCs, Ti fluxes, and mesotrophic diatoms highlighted a reduction in the tree and shrub cover, a strong soil mobilization, and algal blooms, probably linking to the recent mechanized creation of hay fields and the massive use of fertilizers. In this study, molecular biomarkers revealed two periods of major impacts: the 12th century and between the 1970s and the 1990s, separated by centuries without agropastoral practices, allowing a quasi-resilience of the vegetation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland greenlandic Igaliku DORA Eawag Greenland Igaliku ENVELOPE(-45.421,-45.421,60.988,60.988) The Holocene 27 6 783 795 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
DORA Eawag |
op_collection_id |
fteawag |
language |
English |
topic |
agropastoral activities ecosystem responses lake sediments molecular biomarkers Norse south Greenland |
spellingShingle |
agropastoral activities ecosystem responses lake sediments molecular biomarkers Norse south Greenland Guillemot, Typhaine Bichet, Vincent Gauthier, Emilie Zocatelli, Renata Massa, Charly Richard, Herve Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
topic_facet |
agropastoral activities ecosystem responses lake sediments molecular biomarkers Norse south Greenland |
description |
Paleoenvironmental studies previously performed on Lake Igaliku revealed two agropastoral phases in south Greenland: the Norse settlement from AD 986 to ca. AD 1450 and the recent installation of sheep farmers, since the 1920s. To improve the knowledge of the timing and magnitude of the Greenlandic agropastoral activities, a lipid inventory was realized and compared with biological and geochemical data. During the 12th century, a major increase in deoxycholic acid (DOC) and coprophilous fungal spores revealed a maximum of herbivores. Synchronously, a minimum of the n-C 29 /n-C 31 alkane ratio and tree and shrub pollen and a maximum of triterpenyl acetates showed a reduction in the tree and shrub cover, because of grazing activities. Lupanone, produced by angiosperms, appeared simultaneously in the molecular content, probably revealing an introduction of plant species by the Norse, as it has been the case for Rumex spp. No major erosion was recorded by trimethyl-tetrahydrocrysenes (TTHCs) and titanium (Ti) fluxes. No massive algal production, identified by the n-C 17 /total n-alkane ratio and mesotrophic diatoms, was either revealed. After the Norse abandon (around AD 1450), a return of the vegetation to quasi-pristine conditions was observed in the molecular content. Finally, a re-introduction of sheep in the 1920s provoked major impacts between the 1970s and the 1990s. A major decrease in the n-C 29 /n-C 31 alkane ratio and tree and shrub pollen associated with maxima of triterpenyl acetates, TTHCs, Ti fluxes, and mesotrophic diatoms highlighted a reduction in the tree and shrub cover, a strong soil mobilization, and algal blooms, probably linking to the recent mechanized creation of hay fields and the massive use of fertilizers. In this study, molecular biomarkers revealed two periods of major impacts: the 12th century and between the 1970s and the 1990s, separated by centuries without agropastoral practices, allowing a quasi-resilience of the vegetation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Guillemot, Typhaine Bichet, Vincent Gauthier, Emilie Zocatelli, Renata Massa, Charly Richard, Herve |
author_facet |
Guillemot, Typhaine Bichet, Vincent Gauthier, Emilie Zocatelli, Renata Massa, Charly Richard, Herve |
author_sort |
Guillemot, Typhaine |
title |
Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
title_short |
Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
title_full |
Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
title_fullStr |
Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
title_full_unstemmed |
Environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south Greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
title_sort |
environmental responses of past and recent agropastoral activities on south greenlandic ecosystems through molecular biomarkers |
publisher |
Sage |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683616675811 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-45.421,-45.421,60.988,60.988) |
geographic |
Greenland Igaliku |
geographic_facet |
Greenland Igaliku |
genre |
Greenland greenlandic Igaliku |
genre_facet |
Greenland greenlandic Igaliku |
op_relation |
Holocene--Holocene--0959-6836--1477-0911--journals:1222 eawag:15142 doi:10.1177/0959683616675811 issn: 0959-6836 e-issn: 1477-0911 journal id: journals:1222 ut: 000402888300001 scopus: 2-s2.0-85016731739 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0959683616675811 |
container_title |
The Holocene |
container_volume |
27 |
container_issue |
6 |
container_start_page |
783 |
op_container_end_page |
795 |
_version_ |
1766018451022807040 |