Molecular marker records of land use change

Fisher, E, Oldfield, F, Wake, R, Boyle, J ORCID: 0000-0002-1172-1079, Appleby, P ORCID: 0000-0002-6945-1841 and Wolff, GA ORCID: 0000-0002-9380-1039 (2003) Molecular marker records of land use change ORGANIC GEOCHEMISTRY, 34 (1). pp. 105-119. ISSN 0146-6380, 1873-5290

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Abstract

Evidence of a changing environment in the catchment area of a small lake (Gormire, Yorkshire, UK) over the past 3000 years is provided by the mean carbon number of n-alkanes and the ratio of lignin thermochemolysis products, together with pollen analysis and bulk organic geochemistry. Periods of deforestation, which commenced at ∼600 BC and AD 1200, display a significant decrease in organic carbon contents of the lake sediments, which probably reflects dilution by enhanced influx of clastic material. The mean carbon number of waxy (C<inf>27</inf>-C<inf>31</inf>) n-alkanes closely corresponds with the percentage of pollen derived from grass in the sediments. A higher-plant derived triterpenoid, tentatively identified from its mass spectrum as 28-carboxyursen-12-enol, appears exclusively in samples where tree and shrub-derived pollen is dominant. Thermochemolysis of lignin confirms that there was a significant change in the nature of material deposited in the lake sediments from woody to grass dominated. Changes in both the sedimentary C/N ratios and yields of lignin-derived phenols suggest that deforestation events led to enhanced aquatic productivity, initially through the development of reed-swamp vegetation. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Evidence of a changing environment in the catchment area of a small lake (Gormire, Yorkshire, UK) over the past 3000 years is provided by the mean carbon number of n-alkanes and the ratio of lignin thermochemolysis products, together with pollen analysis and bulk organic geochemistry. Periods of deforestation, which commenced at similar to600 BC and AD 1200, display a significant decrease in organic carbon contents of the lake sediments, which probably reflects dilution by enhanced influx of clastic material. The mean carbon number of waxy (C-27-C-31) n-alkanes closely corresponds with the percentage of pollen derived from grass in the sediments. A higher-plant derived triterpenoid, tentatively identified from its mass spectrum as 28-carboxyursen-12-enol, appears exclusively in samples where tree and shrub-derived pollen is dominant. Thermochemolysis of lignin confirms that there was a significant change in the nature of material deposited in the lake sediments from woody to grass dominated. Changes in both the sedimentary C/N ratios and yields of lignin-derived phenols suggest that deforestation events led to enhanced aquatic productivity, initially through the development of reed-swamp vegetation. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved. ## TULIP Type: Articles/Papers (Journal) ## issn: ISI:000180824400008
Uncontrolled Keywords:	37 Earth Sciences, 3709 Physical Geography and Environmental Geoscience, 3703 Geochemistry, 3705 Geology, 15 Life on Land
Subjects:	?? GA ?? ?? GE ?? ?? QD ??
Divisions:	Faculty of Science & Engineering > School of Environmental Sciences
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	12 Oct 2010 15:36
Last Modified:	22 May 2026 23:07
DOI:	10.1016/S0146-6380(02)00145-6
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/1196
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