15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation
δ 15 N signatures of fossil peat were used to interpret past ecosystem processes on tectonically active subantarctic Macquarie Island. By comparing past vegetation reconstructed from the fossil record with present-day vegetation analogues, our evidence strongly suggests that changes in the δ 15 N si...
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ftmacquarieunicr:oai:https://researchers.mq.edu.au:publications/f2a989da-187c-4867-be29-058a08dece48 2024-09-15T17:48:37+00:00 15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation Bergstrom, Dana M. Stewart, George R. Selkirk, Patricia M. Schmidt, Susanne 2002 https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/f2a989da-187c-4867-be29-058a08dece48 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036933929&partnerID=8YFLogxK eng eng info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Bergstrom , D M , Stewart , G R , Selkirk , P M & Schmidt , S 2002 , ' 15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation ' , Oecologia , vol. 130 , no. 2 , pp. 309-314 . N natural abundance Holocene Macquarie Island Peat Subantarctic article 2002 ftmacquarieunicr 2024-09-04T23:52:01Z δ 15 N signatures of fossil peat were used to interpret past ecosystem processes on tectonically active subantarctic Macquarie Island. By comparing past vegetation reconstructed from the fossil record with present-day vegetation analogues, our evidence strongly suggests that changes in the δ 15 N signatures of fossil peat at this location reflect mainly past changes in the proportion of plant nitrogen derived from animal sources. Associated with uplift above sea level over the past 8,500 years, fossil records in two peat deposits on the island chronicle a change from coastal vegetation with fur and elephant seal disturbance to the existing inland herbfield. Coupled with this change are synchronous changes in the δ 15 N signatures of peat layers. At two sites 15 N-enriched peat δ 15 N signatures of up to +17‰ were associated with a high abundance of pollen of the nitrophile Callitriche antarctica (Callitrichaceae). At one site fossil seal hair was also associated with enriched peat δ 15 N. Less 15 N enriched δ 15 N signatures (e.g. -1.9‰ to +3.9‰) were measured in peat layers which lacked animal associated C. antarctica and Acaena spp. Interpretation of a third peat profile indicates continual occupation of a ridge site by burrowing petrels for most of the Holocene. We suggest that 15 N signatures of fossil peat remained relatively stable with time once deposited, providing a significant new tool for interpreting the palaeoecology. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seal Macquarie Island Macquarie University Research Portal |
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Open Polar |
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Macquarie University Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftmacquarieunicr |
language |
English |
topic |
N natural abundance Holocene Macquarie Island Peat Subantarctic |
spellingShingle |
N natural abundance Holocene Macquarie Island Peat Subantarctic Bergstrom, Dana M. Stewart, George R. Selkirk, Patricia M. Schmidt, Susanne 15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
topic_facet |
N natural abundance Holocene Macquarie Island Peat Subantarctic |
description |
δ 15 N signatures of fossil peat were used to interpret past ecosystem processes on tectonically active subantarctic Macquarie Island. By comparing past vegetation reconstructed from the fossil record with present-day vegetation analogues, our evidence strongly suggests that changes in the δ 15 N signatures of fossil peat at this location reflect mainly past changes in the proportion of plant nitrogen derived from animal sources. Associated with uplift above sea level over the past 8,500 years, fossil records in two peat deposits on the island chronicle a change from coastal vegetation with fur and elephant seal disturbance to the existing inland herbfield. Coupled with this change are synchronous changes in the δ 15 N signatures of peat layers. At two sites 15 N-enriched peat δ 15 N signatures of up to +17‰ were associated with a high abundance of pollen of the nitrophile Callitriche antarctica (Callitrichaceae). At one site fossil seal hair was also associated with enriched peat δ 15 N. Less 15 N enriched δ 15 N signatures (e.g. -1.9‰ to +3.9‰) were measured in peat layers which lacked animal associated C. antarctica and Acaena spp. Interpretation of a third peat profile indicates continual occupation of a ridge site by burrowing petrels for most of the Holocene. We suggest that 15 N signatures of fossil peat remained relatively stable with time once deposited, providing a significant new tool for interpreting the palaeoecology. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bergstrom, Dana M. Stewart, George R. Selkirk, Patricia M. Schmidt, Susanne |
author_facet |
Bergstrom, Dana M. Stewart, George R. Selkirk, Patricia M. Schmidt, Susanne |
author_sort |
Bergstrom, Dana M. |
title |
15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
title_short |
15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
title_full |
15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
title_fullStr |
15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
title_full_unstemmed |
15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
title_sort |
15 n natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation |
publishDate |
2002 |
url |
https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/f2a989da-187c-4867-be29-058a08dece48 http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036933929&partnerID=8YFLogxK |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seal Macquarie Island |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica Elephant Seal Macquarie Island |
op_source |
Bergstrom , D M , Stewart , G R , Selkirk , P M & Schmidt , S 2002 , ' 15 N natural abundance of fossil peat reflects the influence of animal-derived nitrogen on vegetation ' , Oecologia , vol. 130 , no. 2 , pp. 309-314 . |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
_version_ |
1810290048449380352 |