Landscape dynamics and fire regime since 17,550 cal yr BP in the Cantabrian region (La Molina peat bog, Puente Viesgo, Spain)
Sánchez Morales, Marc (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Pèlachs Mañosa, Albert (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Geografia)
Garcia-Codron, Juan Carlos (Universidad de Cantabria. Departamento de Geografía, Urbanismo y Ordenación del Territorio)
Carracedo Martín, Virginia (Universidad de Cantabria. Departamento de Geografía, Urbanismo y Ordenación del Territorio)
Pérez Obiol, Ramon (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Biologia Animal, de Biologia Vegetal i d'Ecologia)

Date:	2022
Abstract:	Our aim with this paper is to provide insight into the landscape dynamics of the Cantabrian region (northern Iberian Peninsula) from the Last Glacial Period to the present. We present a multiproxy approach performed in a sedimentary record from La Molina peat bog, located at 484 m a. s. l. in Puente Viesgo, Cantabria (Latitude: 43. 26° N; Longitude: 3. 97° W), that covers the last c. 17,550 years. Analyses were performed on the organic matter, pollen and sedimentary charcoals, which have been used to characterise the fire regime at a local level. The results revealed a steppe-like formation from the basis of the sequence to the Bølling-Allerød chronozone, when the spread of woody species is detected. The dry and cold conditions of the Younger Dryas caused the decrease of mesophilous taxa until the onset of the Holocene. From that point onwards, a mixed deciduous formation composed of Betula and deciduous Quercus was established in the region. Besides, a series of biomass pulses was detected during the early Holocene, probably linked to intervals of increased rainfall. Fire episodes detected at the 9. 3 and the 8. 2 ka events created forest openings and probably favoured the establishment of Corylus, most likely also helped by a climate shift. There was a lack of fire activity until the Neolithic, when the fire signal increased probably linked to grazing and agricultural practices and triggered deeper changes in the Cantabrian plant landscape structure.
Grants:	Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BES-2016-076641 Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CSO 2015-65216-C2-1-P Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad CSO 2012-39680-C02-02 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2014/SGR-1090 Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca 2017/SGR-00343
Note:	Altres ajuts: acords transformatius de la UAB
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Paleogeography ; Vegetation dynamics ; Last Glacial Period ; Holocene ; Palynology ; Sedimentary charcoal ; Western Europe ; Iberian Peninsula ; Biogeography ; Environmental history
Published in:	Quaternary science reviews, Vol. 278 (February 2022) , art. 107373, ISSN 1873-457X

DOI: 10.1016/j.quascirev.2022.107373

23 p, 5.8 MB

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