Palaeoecology of Holocene peat deposits from Nordvestø, north-west Greenland

• Published in: Journal of Paleolimnology
• Main Authors: Bennike, Ole, Goodsite, Michael Evan, Heinemeier, Jan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2008
• Subjects: Carey Øer; Greenland; Holocene; Macrofossils; Sea birds; Canada; Nordvestø; fratercula; Fratercula arctica
• Online Access: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/d9d61860-fbed-11dc-86ef-000ea68e967b; https://doi.org/10.1007/s10933-007-9181-3; http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=46249126824&partnerID=8YFLogxK

Two extensive peat deposits on Nordvestø, between Greenland and Canada, were examined for macroscopic remains of plants and animals. One of the peat deposits accumulated during the period from c. 7,100 to 5,100 cal. years BP. This peat is guanogenic and completely dominated by the coprophilous bryophyte Aplodon wormskioldii, and also contains frequent remains of feathers. The peat formed close to a large former sea bird colony, probably a puffin (Fratercula arctica) colony. Puffins are now rare in the region, but the population may have been larger during the mid Holocene, when the sea was ice-free for a longer period than at present. The other peat deposit is dated to c. 9,300-7,400 cal. years BP, it is minerogenic and the macrofossils reflect deposition in a shallow, richly vegetated pond. This peat formed during warmer summers than at present.