Changes in erosion patterns during the Holocene in a currently treeless subalpine catchment inferred from lake sediment geochemistry (Lake Anterne,2063 m a.s.l.,NW French Alps): The role of climate and human activities
Restricted accessOtherFirst published online June, 2011
Changes in erosion patterns during the Holocene in a currently treeless subalpine catchment inferred from lake sediment geochemistry (Lake Anterne,2063 m a.s.l.,NW French Alps): The role of climate and human activities
A high-resolution sedimentological and geochemical study was performed on a 20 m long core from the alpine Lake Anterne (2063 m a.s.l., NW French Alps) spanning the last 10 ka. Sedimentation is mainly of minerogenic origin. The organic matter quantity (TOC%) as well as its quality (hydrogen (HI) and oxygen (OI) indices) both indicate the progressive onset and subsequent stabilization of vegetation cover in the catchment from 9950 to 5550 cal. BP. During this phase, the pedogenic process of carbonate dissolution is marked by a decrease in the calcium content in the sediment record. Between 7850 and 5550 cal. BP, very low manganese concentrations suggest anoxic conditions in the bottom-water of Lake Anterne. These are caused by a relatively high organic matter (terrestrial and lacustrine) content, a low flood frequency and longer summer stratification triggered by warmer conditions. From 5550 cal. BP, a decrease in TOC, stabilization of HI and higher sedimentation rates together reflect increased erosion rates of leptosols and developed soils, probably due to a colder and wetter climate. Then, three periods of important soil destabilization are marked by an increased frequency and thickness of flood deposits during the Bronze Age and by increases in topsoil erosion relative to leptosols (HI increases) during the late Iron Age/Roman period and the Medieval periods. These periods are also characterized by higher sedimentation rates. According to palynological data, human impact (deforestation and/or pasturing activity) probably triggered these periods of increased soil erosion.
Arnaud F., Lignier V., Revel M., Desmet M., Beck C., Pourchet M. et al. (2002) Flood and earthquake disturbance of 210Pb geochronology (Lake Anterne, North French Alps). Terra Nova14: 225-232.
2.
Arnaud F., Revel-Rolland M., Bosch D., Winiarski T., Chapron E., Desmet M. et al. (2004) A reliable 300 years-long history of lead contamination in Northern French Alps from distant lake sediment records. Journal of Environmental Monitoring6(5): 448-456.
3.
Arnaud F., Revel-Rolland M., Chapron E., Desmet M. and Tribovillard N. ( 2005) 7200 years of Rhône river flooding activity recorded in Lake Le Bourget: A high resolution sediment record of NW Alps hydrology . The Holocene15: 420-428.
4.
Arnaud F., Serralongue J., Winiarski T., Desmet M. and Paterne M. ( 2006) Pollution au plomb dans la Savoie antique (II-IIIe s ap J-C) en relation avec une installation métallurgique de la cité de Vienne. Comptes Rendus - Géosciences338: 244-252.
5.
Blarquez O., Carcaillet C., Bremond L., Mourier B. and Radakovitch O. ( 2010). Trees in the subalpine belt since 11 700 cal. BP: Origin, expension and alteration of the modern forest. The Holocene20: 139-146.
6.
Bøe AG, Dahl SO, Lie Ø and Nesje A. ( 2006) Holocene river floods in the upper Glomma catchment, southern Norway: A high-resolution multi-proxy record from lacustrine sediments . The Holocene16: 445-455.
7.
Croudace IW, Rindby A. and Rothwell G. ( 2006) ITRAX: Description and evaluation of a new multi-function X-ray core scanner. In: Rothwell RG (ed.) New Techniques in Sediment Core Analysis. Geological Society of London Special Publication, 51-63.
8.
Dapples F., Lotter AF, van Leeuwen JFN, van der Knapp WO, Dimitriadis S. and Oswald D. ( 2002) Paleolimnological evidence for increased landslide activity due to forest clearing and land-use since 3600 cal BP in the western Swiss Alps. Journal of Paleolimnology27: 239-248.
9.
David F. ( 1997) Holocene tree limit history in the northern French Alps stomata and pollen evidence. Review of Paleobotany and Palynology97: 227-237.
10.
David F. ( 2010a) Expansion of green alder (Alnus alnobetula [Ehrh] K. Koch) in the northern French Alps: A palaeoecological point of view. Compte Rendu de l’Académie des sciences, Biologies333: 424-428. doi:10.1016/j. crvi.2010.01.002.
11.
David F.(2010b) An example of the consequences of human activities on the evolution of the subalpine landscapes. Compte rendus Palevol9: 229-235.
12.
Davison W. ( 1993) Iron and manganese in lakes. Earth Science Reviews34: 119-163.
13.
de Beaulieu J-L., Kostenzer J. and Reich JK ( 1993) Dynamique forestière holocène dans la haute vallée de l’Arve (Haute-Savoie) et migrations de Abies et Picea dans les Alpes occidentales. Dissertaciones Botanicae196: 387-398.
14.
Debret M., Desmet M., Balsam W., Copard Y., Francus P. and Laj C. ( 2006) Spectrophotometer analysis of Holocene sediments from an anoxic fjord: Saanich Inlet, British Columbia, Canada. Marine Geology229: 15-28.
15.
Disnar JR, Guillet B., Keravis D., Di-Giovanni C. and Sebag D. ( 2003) Soil organic matter (SOM) characterization by Rock-Eval pyrolysis: Scope and limitations. Organic Geochemistry34: 327-343.
16.
Disnar JR, Jacob J., Morched-Issa M., Lottier N. and Arnaud F. ( 2008) Assessment of peat quality by molecular and bulk geochemical analysis: Application to the Holocene record of the Chautagne marsh (Haute Savoie, France). Chemical Geology254: 101-112.
17.
Egli M., Wernli M., Kneisel C. and Haeberli W. ( 2006) Melting glaciers and soil development in the proglacial area Morteratsch (Swiss Alps): I. soil type chrosequence. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research38: 499-509.
18.
Egli M., Mirabella A. and Sartori G. ( 2008) The role of climate and vegetation in weathering and clay mineral formation in late Quaternary soils of the Swiss and Italian Alps. Geomorphology102: 307-324.
19.
Engstrom DR and Hansen BCS ( 1985) Postglacial vegetation change and soil development in southeastern Labrador as inferred from pollen and chemical stratigraphy . Canadian Journal of Botany63: 543-561.
20.
Enters D., Lücke A. and Zolitschka B. ( 2006) Effects of land-use change on deposition and composition of organic matter in Frickenhauser See, northern Bavaria, Germany. Science of the Total Environment369: 178-187.
21.
Espitalié J., Deroo G. and Marquis F. ( 1985) La pyrolyse Rock-Eval et ses applications; première partie. Revue de l’Institut Français du Pétrole40: 563-579.
22.
Eusterhues K., Lechterbeck J., Schneider J. and Wolf-Brozio U. ( 2002) Late- and Post-Glacial evolution of Lake Steisslingen (I). Sedimentary history, palynological record and inorganic geochemical indicators . Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology187: 341-371.
23.
Guyard H., Chapron E., St-Onge G., Anselmetti FS, Arnaud F., Magand O. et al. (2007) High-altitude varve records of abrupt environmental changes and mining activity over the last 4000 years in the Western French Alps (Lake Bramant, Grandes Rousses Massif). Quaternary Science Review26: 2644-2660.
24.
Haas JN, Richoz I., Tinner W. and Wick L. ( 1998) Synchronous Holocene climatic oscillations recorded on the Swiss Plateau and at the timberline in the Alps. The Holocene8: 301-309.
25.
Hatfield RG and Maher BA(2009a) Holocene sediment dynamics in an upland temperate lake catchment: Climatic and land-use impacts in the English Lake District. The Holocene19: 427-439.
26.
Hatfield RG and Maher BA ( 2009b) Fingerprinting upland sediment sources: Particle size-specific magnetic linkages between soils, lake sediments and suspended sediments. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms DOI: 10.1002/esp.1824.
27.
Hausmann S., Loter AF, van Leeuwen JFN, Ohlendorf C., Lemcke G., Grönlund E. et al. (2002). Interactions of climate and land-use documented in the varved sediments of Seebergsee in the Swiss Alps. The Holocene12: 279-289.
28.
Heiri O., Wick L., van Leeuwen JFN, van der Knaap WO and Lotter AF ( 2003) Holocene tree immigration and the chironomid fauna of a small Swiss subalpine lake (Hinterburgsee, 1515 m asl). Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology189: 35-53.
29.
Higuera PE, Brubaker LB, Anderson PM, Hu FS and Brown TA (2009) Vegetation mediated the impacts of postglacial climate change on fire regimes in the South central Brooks Range, Alaska. Ecological Monographs79: 201-219.
30.
Ivy-Ochs S., Kerschner H., Maisch M., Christl M., Kubik PW and Schlüchter C. ( 2009) Latest Pleistocene and Holocene glacier variations in the European Alps. Quaternary Science Review doi: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2009.03.009.
31.
Jacob J., Disnar J.-R, Boussafir M., Sifeddine A., Turcq B. and Albuquerque ALS ( 2004) Major environmental changes recorded by lacustrine sedimentary organic matter since the Last Glacial Maximum near the Equator (Lagoa do Caço, NE Brazil). Paleogeography, Paleoclimatology, Paleoecology205: 183-197.
32.
Koinig KA, Shotyk W., Lotter AF, Ohlendorf C. and Sturm M. ( 2003) 9000 years of geochemical evolution of lithogenic major and trace elements in the sediment of an alipine lake-the role of climate, vegetation, and land-use history. Journal of Paleolimnology30: 307-320.
33.
Lafargue E., Marquis F. and Pillot D. ( 1998) Rock-Eval 6 applications in Hydrocarbon exploration, poduction, and soil contamination studies. Revue de l’institut français du pétrole53: 422-437.
34.
Larocque-Tobler I., Heiri O. and Wehrli M. ( 2010) Late Glacial and Holocene temperature changes at Egelsee, Switzerland, reconstructed using subfossil chironomids. Journal of Paleolimnology43: 649-666.
35.
Leeman A. and Niessen F. ( 1994) Holocene glacial activity and climatic variations in the Swiss Alps: Reconstructing a continuous record from proglacial lake sediments . The Holocene4: 259-268.
36.
Lotter AF, Heiri O., Hofmann W., van der Knaap WO, van Leeuwen JFN, Walker IR et al. (2006) Holocene timber-line dynamics at Bachalpsee, a lake at 2265 m a.s.l. in the northern Swiss Alps. Vegetation History and Archeobotany15: 295-307.
37.
Magny M. ( 2004) Holocene climate variability as reflected by mid-European lake-level fluctuations and its probable impact on prehistoric human settlements . Quaternary International113: 65-79.
38.
Magny M. and Haas JN ( 2004) A major widespread climatic change around 5300 cal. yr BP at the time of the Alpine Iceman. Journal of Quaternary Science19: 423-430.
39.
Magny M., Leuzinger U., Bortenschlager S. and Haas JN ( 2006) Tripartite climate reversal in Central Europe 5600-5300 years ago. Quaternary Research65: 3-19.
40.
Meyers PA and Lallier-Vergès E. ( 1999) Lacustrine sedimentary organic matter records of Late Quaternary paleoclimates. Journal of Paleolimnology21: 345-372.
41.
Mocci F., Walsh K., Richer S., Court-Picon M., Talon B., Tzortzis S. et al. (2008) Archeology and paleoenvironment in the Southern French Alps: The Late Neolithic to the Roman Period in the Argentiérois, Champsaur and Ubaye high altitude massifs. Cahiers de Paléoenvironnement6: 253-272.
42.
Molinaroli E., Guerzoni S., De Falco G., Sarretta A., Cucco A., Como S. et al. (2009) Relationships between hydrodynamic parameters and grain size in two contrasting transitional environments: The lagoons of Venice and Cabras, Italy. Sedimentary Geology219: 196-207.
43.
Monna F., Petit C., Guillaumet J-P., Jouffroy-Bapicot I., Blanchot C., Dominik J. et al. (2004) History and environmental impact of mining activity in Celtic Aeduan territory recorded in a peat-bog (Morvan France) . Environmental Science and Technology38: 657-673.
44.
Moreno A., Valero-Garcès BL, Gonzàlez-Sampériz P. and Rico M. (2008) Flood response to rainfall variability during 2000 years inferred from the Taravilla Lake record (Central Iberian Range, Spain). Journal of Paleolimnology40: 943-961.
45.
Mourier B., Poulenard J., Chauvel C., Faivre P. and Carcaillet C. ( 2008) Distinguishing subalpine soil types using extractible Al and Fe fractions and REE geochemistry. Geoderma145: 107-120.
46.
Mourier B., Poulenard J., Carcaillet C and Williamson D (2010) Soil evolution and subalpine ecosystem changes in the French Alps inferred from geochemical analysis of lacustrine sediments. Journal of Paleolimnology44: 571-587.
47.
Muller SD, Nakagawa T., de Beaulieu J-L., Court Picon M., Fauquette S. and Genries A. ( 2006) Paléostructures de végétation à la limite supérieure des forêts dans les Alpes françaises internes. Compte Rendu de l’Académie des sciences, Biologies329: 502-511.
48.
Nicolussi K., Kaufmann M., Patzelt G., van der Plicht J. and Thurner A. ( 2005) Holocene tree-line variability in the Kauner Valley, Central Eastern Alps, indicated by dendrochronological analysis of living trees and subfossil logs. Vegetation History and Archaeobotany14: 221-234.
49.
Noël H. ( 2001) Caractérisation et calibration des flux organiques sédimentaires dérivant du bassin versant et de la production aquatique (Annecy, Le Petit Lac). Rôles respectifs de l’Homme et du Climat sur l’évolution des flux organiques au cours des 6000 dernières années (2001). Thèse de doctorat. http://tel.ccsd.cnrs.fr/documents/archives0/00/00/16/35/index.html
50.
Ohlendorf C., Sturm M. and Hausmann S. ( 2003) Natural environmental changes and human impact reflected in sediments of a high alpine lake in Switzerland. Journal of Paleolimnology30: 297-306.
51.
Parris AS, Bierman PR, Noren AJ, Prins MA and Lini A. ( 2009) Holocene paleostorms identified by particle size signatures in lake sediments from the northeastern United States. Journal of Paleolimnology DOI 10.1007/ s10933-009-9311-1.
52.
Poulenard J. and Podwojewski P. ( 2006) Alpine soils. In: Lal R (ed.) Encyclopedia of Soil Science. New York: Marcel Dekker, 75-79.
53.
Reimer PJ, Baillie MGL, Bard E., Bayliss A., Beck JW, Blackwell PG et al. (2009) IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0-50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon51: 1111-1150.
54.
Rey PJ, Treffort JM, Moulin B., Oberlin C. and André I. ( 2008) History of human settlement from the Neolithic to the early Middle Age at the Alpine pass of Petit-St-Bernard (ca 2000 m asl). Cahiers de Paléoenvironnement6: 209-224.
55.
Schmidt R., Koining KA, Thompson R. and Kamenik C. ( 2002) A multi proxy core study of the last 7000 years of climate and alpine land-use impacts on an Austrian mountain lake (Unter Landschitzsee, Niedere Tauern. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology187: 101-120.
56.
Schmidt R., Roth M., Tessadri R. and Weckström K. ( 2008) Disentangling late-Holocene climate and land-use impacts on an Austrian alpine lake using seasonal temperature anomalies, ice-cover, sedimentology, and pollen tracers. Journal of Paleolimnology40: 453-469.
57.
Shotyk W. ( 2002) The chronology of anthropogenic, atmospheric Pb deposition recorded by peat cores in three minerogenic peat deposits from Switzerland . The Science of the Total Environment292: 19-31.
58.
Slaymaker O., Souch C., Menounos B. and Filippelli C. ( 2003) Advances in Holocene mountain geomorphology inspired by sediment budget methodology. Geomorphology55: 305-316.
59.
Stuiver M. and Reimer PJ ( 1993) Extended 14C database and revised Calib 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon35: 215-230.
60.
Tinner W., Amman B. and Germann P. ( 1996) Treeline fluctuations recorded for 12,500 years by soil profiles, pollen, and plant macrofossils in the Central Swiss Alps . Arctic and Alpine Research28(2): 131-147.
61.
Weltje GJ and Tjallingii R. ( 2008) Calibration of XRF core scanners for quantitative geochemical logging of sediment cores: Theory and application. Earth and Planetary Science Letters274: 423-438.
62.
Wick L., van Leeuwen JFN, van der Knaap WO and Lotter AF ( 2003) Holocene vegetation development in the catchment of Sägistalsee (1935 m asl), a small lake in the Swiss Alps. Journal of Paleolimnology30: 261-272.
63.
WRB (2006) World Reference Base for Soil Resources, Vol 103. Rome: FAO.
