Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology最新文献

{"title":"Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum drove palaeoenvironmental fluctuations and organic matter enrichment in lacustrine facies of the Bohai Bay Basin, China","authors":"Yuqi Wu ,&nbsp;Fujie Jiang ,&nbsp;Yunlong Xu ,&nbsp;Jing Guo ,&nbsp;Tianwu Xu ,&nbsp;Tao Hu ,&nbsp;Weibing Shen ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Zheng ,&nbsp;Di Chen ,&nbsp;Qiang Jiang ,&nbsp;Senxiuyuan Yu","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112665","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112665","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO) is a transient warming episode during an interval of long-term Cenozoic cooling that is recorded in deep-sea marine sediments and marine basins; however, the MECO is rarely reported in terrestrial contexts, complicating its comparison with marine settings. In this study, we describe well-dated core samples from the Shahejie Formation, Dongpu Depression, Bohai Bay Basin, China, using thin-section observations, isotope geochemistry, and elemental geochemistry to determine lacustrine MECO records and associated palaeoenvironmental changes. Based on previously published age models, we identified that the MECO event (40.7–40.07 Ma) in the Dongpu Depression occurs at a core depth of 2945–3046 m and we report two δ¹³C_carb excursions and one δ¹⁸O_carb excursion. During the MECO event, the palaeoclimate was warm and humid, characterized by reduced salinity and increased water depth, consistent with contemporaneous marine and lacustrine palaeoenvironmental changes, indicating the global importance of MECO-induced environmental fluctuations. In conjunction with palaeoenvironmental changes, we established models for organic matter (OM) enrichment at our site. OM enrichment was influenced by palaeosalinity and water depth. The warm, humid climate, increased water depth, reduced salinity, and elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations provided favorable conditions for algal growth. Additionally, the anoxic conditions at the bottom of the lake facilitated the preservation of OM. This study provides new insights into palaeoenvironmental changes driven by climatic events and offers perspectives for predicting organic carbon sequestration in modern lakes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"659 ","pages":"Article 112665"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143159397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strengthening the evidence for seasonal intertidal exploitation in Mesolithic Europe and new insights into Early Holocene environmental conditions in the Bay of Biscay from the oxygen isotope composition of Phorcus lineatus (da Costa, 1778) shells","authors":"Asier García-Escárzaga ,&nbsp;Alejandro León-Cristóbal ,&nbsp;Esteban Álvarez-Fernández ,&nbsp;André C. Colonese ,&nbsp;Alvaro Arrizabalaga ,&nbsp;María José Iriarte-Chiapusso ,&nbsp;Eneko Iriarte ,&nbsp;Miguel Ángel Fano","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Marine molluscs have been exploited by human societies since prehistoric times. Such practices have often resulted in large accumulations of shell remains in archaeological sites that offer unique information on biological, ecological and cultural aspects of human interaction with coastal systems in the past. In this study, stable oxygen isotope (δ¹⁸O) analysis was carried out on archaeological shells of <em>Phorcus lineatus</em> (da Costa, 1778) from the Mesolithic shell midden site of J3 (northern Iberian coast) to determine the seasonality of intertidal collection. The results indicate a consistent pattern of winter exploitation, supporting the emerging view that collections were governed by cost-benefit and management principles that are now widespread documented in other coastal Mesolithic sites in Europe. The consistent seasonal collections of <em>P. lineatus</em> during colder months can be taken as evidence of specie-specific management strategy to optimize yield while preserving local populations for future exploitation. Our results reinforce the view that European hunter-gatherers developed ecological knowledge on specific animal resources that persisted over large geographic areas. Additionally, from a palaeoenvironmental perspective, the sea surface temperatures (SST) inferred from δ¹⁸O values derived from mollusc shells (SST_δ18O) indicate that coastal marine waters during the Early Holocene in the southern Bay of Biscay were warmer than those observed today. These environmental conditions are evaluated in relation to changes in insolation and ocean currents over time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"659 ","pages":"Article 112624"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143160294","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Late Eocene to Early Miocene environments, vegetation and climate in Southeastern France documented by palynology","authors":"Jean-Pierre Suc ,&nbsp;Séverine Fauquette ,&nbsp;Speranta-Maria Popescu ,&nbsp;Mihaela Carmen Melinte-Dobrinescu ,&nbsp;Bastien Huet ,&nbsp;Philippe Sorrel ,&nbsp;Nazim Semmani ,&nbsp;François Fournier ,&nbsp;Mostefa Bessedik ,&nbsp;Zhuo Zheng ,&nbsp;Georges Truc ,&nbsp;Serge Ferry ,&nbsp;Jean-Loup Rubino ,&nbsp;Vincent Girard ,&nbsp;Michel Séranne","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Eocene–Oligocene Transition (EOT) is crucial for understanding the climate evolution of the Earth but is poorly documented in the terrestrial domains. A pollen record from the early Priabonian to the late Aquitanian encompassing the EOT was produced for thirty-three locations in Southeastern France. Changes in lowland flora and vegetation were documented based on the shift from dense forests with tropical-subtropical plants to open shrublands rich in xeric plants, paving the way for the future Mediterranean landscapes. Cupressaceae, particularly <em>Tetraclinis</em>, and <em>Ephedra</em>, occupied a proeminent place in the newly structured vegetation. Palaeolimatic fluctuations were quantified using the Climatic Amplitude Method, revealing the fact that the EOT was mainly characterized by a decrease of 7–9 °C in winter temperatures and by an increase in overall temperature and rainfall seasonality. Using the climatostratigraphic approach further improved the regional chronostratigraphy. This climate change occurred during a period and in a region marked by an extensive geodynamic upheaval. This work documents the pathways of some influential marine incursions of the Mediterranean Sea earlier than is usually considered. Finally, the deposition of evaporites in lakes is interpreted as the result of a combination of different factors, including the entrance of marine waters in the terrestrial realm, a decrease in regional rainfall, a decrease in the supply of water by rivers and increased seasonality. Palaeoelevations of nearby mountains were also estimated using pollen grains transported from highlands and reconstructed palaeotemperature of the lowlands.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"659 ","pages":"Article 112625"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143160329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-Middle Holocene climate change and its impact on the succession of Neolithic cultures in southern Hangzhou Bay","authors":"Jing Lu,&nbsp;Haiwei Zhang,&nbsp;Rui Zhang,&nbsp;Jiahui Cui,&nbsp;Yanyan Bao,&nbsp;Xiaowen Niu,&nbsp;Yanjun Cai,&nbsp;Hai Cheng","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112652","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112652","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Neolithic culture on the southern flank of Hangzhou Bay, in the lower Yangtze River, is among the earliest Neolithic cultures discovered in eastern China. However, the relationship between the early Neolithic cultural succession, climate change, and sea level fluctuations in this area requires further investigation due to the lack of precise high-resolution hydroclimatic records, particularly in the context of significant sea-level changes during the early Holocene. In this study, we present three high-resolution stalagmite δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O records from Shennong Cave in southeastern China, combined with other records and archaeological data, to examine the relationship between hydroclimatic changes and culture evolutions in the lower Yangtze River during the early and mid-Holocene. The findings indicate that the Shangshan culture was shaped by a combination of climate and sea-level changes, with regional hydroclimate exerting a greater influence than oceanic factors. A warm and humid climate allowed the Shangshan culture to thrive for nearly 1500 years, while its decline corresponds to a prolonged dry period between the 9.2 ka and the 8.2 ka events. Two major pluvial events occurred during the Kuahuqiao culture, from 8171 ± 31 to 7926 ± 47 yr BP and from 7291 ± 60 to 7038 ± 55 yr BP, with the latter coinciding with the culture's decline. Each pluvial event lasted nearly 240 years, supporting the hypothesis that flooding played a key role in the demise of the Kuahuqiao culture. The interruption between the early and late Hemudu culture may have been caused by flood events linked to a persistently wet climate. In the late Hemudu, frequent extreme flood and drought events, particularly the significant flooding event around 5425 ± 33 years BP, likely contributed to the decline of the Hemudu culture, coinciding with the 5.5 ka cooling event. While we do not stress climate determinism, our speleothem record offers a high-resolution account of climate change, providing valuable insights into the early and mid-Holocene Neolithic cultural evolution on the south bank of Hangzhou Bay.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"659 ","pages":"Article 112652"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143159686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Early-middle Miocene deep-water circulation intensity in the South China Sea: Evidence from a sortable silt record of oceanic red beds (IODP Expedition 367 Site U1500)","authors":"Jirawat Deemuenwai ,&nbsp;Zhifei Liu ,&nbsp;Yulong Zhao ,&nbsp;Wei Shu ,&nbsp;Baoqi Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Deep-water circulation is a key process in the Earth system because it transports heat, oxygen, nutrients, and sediments. Understanding deep-water current intensity is challenging due to the lack of accurate data and proxies available for reconstruction. This study demonstrates temporal changes in deep-water current intensity in the South China Sea using the sortable silt proxy of oceanic red beds (ORB) to reconstruct hydrographic evolution. The good correlation between <span><math><mover><mi>SS</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></math></span> (mean size of the sortable silt) and SS% (percentage of the sortable silt), as indicated by the correlation coefficient (<em>r</em> = 0.63), provides the current intensity proxy. The velocity (∆V) data indicate calibration relationships with a sensitivity of 1.36 ± 0.19 cm/s·μm. High <span><math><mover><mi>SS</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover></math></span> values occurred between 23.1 and 20.0 Ma, with an average value of 19.8 μm, indicating that the strong Lower Circumpolar Deep Water (LCDW) intensity implies the occurrence of active erosion processes. Then, <span><math><mover><mi>SS</mi><mo>¯</mo></mover><mspace></mspace></math></span> decreased to 18.1 μm between 20.0 and 16.0 Ma due to the expansion of the deep basin. The South China Sea basin experienced thermal subsidence between 16.0 and 15.0 Ma, which resulted in increased depth and a slight intensification of current strength. The strong current intensity during the period of 15.0–14.5 Ma suggests that more sediments were transported further from continental margins to the deep sea following the cessation of seafloor spreading and South China Sea basin thermal subsidence. Moreover, the increased deep-water current intensity during 12.4–11.6 Ma was triggered by the Luzon arc eruption at 13.2 Ma, in addition to the ongoing narrowing of the Luzon Strait. Our research indicates that understanding the deep-water intensity reconstruction played a key role in the evolution of the South China Sea during the early-middle Miocene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"659 ","pages":"Article 112664"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143159394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Hydroclimate changes in Northern Taiwan during 13.3 cal kyr BP through the Tsui Tsui Valley sediments","authors":"Abdur Rahman ,&nbsp;Liang-Chi Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112775","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112775","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To fill the gap of climate information of the northern Taiwan region before the late Holocene, an attempt has been made through the analysis of two sediment cores from Tsui Tsui Valley (TTV-11 and TTV-17), which together cover the time period from 13.3 cal kyr BP to the present. To achieve this, multiple proxies, including diatoms, micro-XRF, carbon isotopic composition, and elemental carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) concentrations, were analyzed. The diatom data indicated that water levels were high from 11.1 to 8.8 cal kyr BP, suggesting the lacustrine conditions, which likely outburst due to increased runoff conditions during 8.8 cal kyr BP. The Principal Component (PC) Analysis of the micro-XRF records from both cores showed a strong positive correlation between detrital proxy elements (Ti, Fe, K, and Si) and PC2 (PC2_TTV-11 and PC2_TTV-17), indicating higher/lower runoff and wet/dry climate conditions. Overall, in the current study, TTV-11 core records showed a transition from wet to dry conditions during 13.3 to 11.0 cal kyr BP along with drier climate events during 12.9–12.6, 12.4–12.1, and 12.0–11.7 cal kyr BP, which coincided with the timing and duration of Younger Dryas event. After 11.7 cal kyr BP, the climate was transformed to wetter conditions towards 8.0 cal kyr BP, with intermittent drier climate events at 11.0, 10.3, and 8.2 cal kyr BP. In addition, the TTV-17 records showed wet climate conditions during 4.5–3.0, 2.0–1.7, 1.2–0.8, and 0.4–0.2 cal kyr BP. In contrast, dry climate conditions were noticed during 3.0–2.0, 1.7–1.2, and 0.8–0.4 cal kyr BP. The Mn/Fe ratios, inc/coh ratios, C and N contents, and PC2 suggested that organic matter dilution by inorganic (detrital) material during wetter climate conditions. The drier climate conditions occurred between 13.3 and 8.0 cal kyr BP were largely coincided with strong East Asian Winter Monsoon (EAWM) and weak East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM), which driven by Arctic ice sea expansion and low winter insolation, and dry climate conditions which occurred between 4.5 cal kyr BP to present, were response of negative Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) and El Niño-Southern Oscillation. On the other hand, wet climate conditions observed in the current study were the response to strong EASM, a response to La-Niña conditions in the Pacific Ocean, and weak EAWM due to positive AMOC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"663 ","pages":"Article 112775"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143312218","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial preface to the special issue: Palaeoecology and taphonomy of small mammals: Implications for Quaternary human occupations and environmental reconstruction","authors":"Iván Rey-Rodríguez ,&nbsp;Elisa Luzi ,&nbsp;Sara E. Rhodes ,&nbsp;Angel Blanco-Lapaz","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112787","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112787","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This Virtual Special Issue (VSI) presents research on the taxonomy, paleoecology and taphonomy of micromammals (also referred to as small mammals), with a focus on their role in understanding Quaternary environmental changes and human occupation. Micromammals, due to their sensitivity to climate and habitat shifts, serve as critical indicators of past environments, offering valuable insights into landscape evolution and human interactions with ecosystems, fauna, and changing environmental conditions. The articles in this VSI derive from the 4th Microvertebrate Working Group Meeting, held at the University of Tübingen, Germany in 2022. The VSI covers a wide range of topics, including biochronology, paleobiogeography, paleoecology, and taphonomy. Studies from Armenia, Italy, Argentina, Belgium, and the Iberian Peninsula, among other areas, focus on reconstructing past environments using micromammal assemblages, and employ a variety of methods and techniques such as geometric morphometrics, stable isotope analysis, and paleoclimatic models. These reconstructions offer new perspectives on key periods of environmental and climatic change during the Pleistocene and Holocene, including human dispersals, resource exploitation strategies, and faunal adaptations to climate shifts. In addition, several papers address taphonomic processes, including the role of predators in shaping fossil assemblages and the preservation of environmental signals in the archaeological record. This VSI highlights the significance of micromammal studies in broadening our understanding of Quaternary ecosystems and human prehistory, while also contributing to methodological advances in paleoecological and taphonomic research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"663 ","pages":"Article 112787"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143312216","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Neogene sedimentary evolution of biogenic reefs on an isolated volcanic cone in the southern South China Sea","authors":"Shiyi Rao ,&nbsp;Gang Li ,&nbsp;Xiaowei Zhu ,&nbsp;Wen Yan","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112784","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112784","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Shallow-water reefal carbonates have been widely distributed in the southern South China Sea (SCS) since the Oligocene. However, the Neogene evolution history of biogenic reefs of south SCS is still rarely known due to the lack of well-dated stratigraphic records, except for limited biostratigraphic data of some petroleum boreholes on the continental margin. One scientific borehole (NK1) was drilled on one isolated volcanic cone and Cenozoic reefal carbonate strata were uncovered in the southern SCS. In this study, the previous chronological framework since the Late Miocene was renewed by cyclostratigraphic analysis of gamma ray (GR) series. The sedimentary noise modeling identified six sea-level cycles since the Late Miocene in the southern SCS, consistent with other regional and global eustatic changes. The ∼1.2 Myr periodicity of sea-level fluctuations in Well NK1 corresponds well with the obliquity cycle, indicating that orbital cycles have dominated sea-level fluctuations in southern SCS. The correlation coefficient analysis based on Monte Carlo simulations found that carbonate accumulation rates were the lowest on the Meiji Atoll when the sea-level rose to the highest position during the Pliocene. Biogenic reefs were more prosperous in the Late Miocene and Pleistocene. This study reveals astronomical forces dominated the Neogene evolution of biogenic reefs on a carbonate island in the southern SCS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"662 ","pages":"Article 112784"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143148618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Biomarker evidence on Early Paleolithic human-environment interactions from loess records in Tajikistan, Central Asia","authors":"Aljasil Chirakkal ,&nbsp;Calin Constantin Stiendal ,&nbsp;Jago Jonathan Birk ,&nbsp;Gábor Újvári ,&nbsp;David K. Wright","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112786","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112786","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The loess-paleosol sequences of Khovaling, southern Tajikistan preserve signatures of prehistoric human settlement during the Early Paleolithic. Archaeological finds excavated from Early Paleolithic sites located adjacent to the Obi-Mazar River indicate this part of Central Asia served as an early hominin migration corridor between Africa and destinations further east. The region has been reinvestigated by the “Timing and ecology of the Human Occupation of Central Asia” (THOCA) project since 2021, and &gt; 2000 lithic artifacts have been recovered in pedocomplexes (PCs) 4, 5, and 6 with ages spanning ∼600–400 thousand years before present (ka). This is the first study to analyze novel biomarkers preserved in the loess-paleosol samples collected from on-site, near-site, and off-site contexts on the Khovaling Loess Plateau (KLP) to study early human occupation in Central Asia. Average chain length (ACL) of straight chain alkanes (<em>n</em>-alkanes) and wood/grass proxies reveal wetter climates with more trees during interglacial periods and drier climates with more grass vegetation during glacial periods. High abundances of total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and high molecular weight PAHs (HMW PAHs) were also found during the interglacial periods of Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 11, 13, and 15 suggesting landscape-scale fires occurred during ∼600–400 ka. Based on our results in conjunction with lithic artifacts excavated from Early Paleolithic sites in Khovaling, Tajikistan, we suggest early hominin occupation and existence of pyrotechnology among early groups of hominins in this territory.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"663 ","pages":"Article 112786"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143098202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Holocene erosion processes dominated by the East Asian Summer Monsoon: Evidence from the radiocarbon age offset of lacustrine sediments in Gonghai Lake, Chinese Loess Plateau","authors":"Zhiping Zhang ,&nbsp;Shengqian Chen ,&nbsp;Jianbao Liu ,&nbsp;Jianhui Chen ,&nbsp;Zongli Wang ,&nbsp;Fahu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112768","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.112768","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil and water loss due to erosion in the Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP) has been a persistent ecological issue of significant concern to both the government and society. However, the limited timespan of existing measurements has resulted in a poor understanding of the long-term processes and mechanisms underlying erosion in the region. Changes in the ¹⁴C reservoir age in enclosed lacustrine sediments are linked to the input of old carbon into lakes due to erosion. These changes can, to some extent, reflect the intensity of erosion within the surrounding catchment. In this study, we analyzed a sediment core GH09B from the central part of Gonghai Lake, a hydrologically closed alpine lake located on the northeastern margin of the CLP. The core provides a high-precision chronological framework spanning approximately the last 14.7 ka, based on 25 AMS ¹⁴C dates of terrestrial plant remains. To complement this, we obtained 24 AMS ¹⁴C dates of bulk samples within the same core (GH09B). By comparing the ¹⁴C ages of the bulk samples with those of terrestrial plant remains at corresponding depths, we reconstructed changes in the ¹⁴C reservoir age of Gonghai Lake on a millennial timescale during the Holocene. The results reveal that the ¹⁴C reservoir age was more pronounced during the early and late Holocene, while it was comparatively smaller during the middle Holocene. Drawing on high-resolution paleoclimate data from Gonghai Lake, we propose that during the middle Holocene, a relatively stronger East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) fostered greater vegetation coverage, which enhanced soil and water conservation, mitigated erosion, and, a result, reduced the carbon reservoir effect. In contrast, the weaker EASM during the early and late Holocene, coupled with lower vegetation coverage, led to increased erosion intensity and stronger carbon reservoir effect. Changes in vegetation coverage, primarily driven by fluctuations in the EASM, were the primary factor influencing catchment erosion intensity in the CLP during the Holocene.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":19928,"journal":{"name":"Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology","volume":"663 ","pages":"Article 112768"},"PeriodicalIF":2.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143312306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}