@article{AichnerOttSlowinskietal.2018, author = {Aichner, Bernhard and Ott, Florian and Slowinski, Michal and Norygkiewicz, Agnieszka M. and Brauer, Achim and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Leaf wax n-alkane distributions record ecological changes during the Younger Dryas at Trzechowskie paleolake (northern Poland) without temporal delay}, series = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, volume = {14}, journal = {Climate of the past : an interactive open access journal of the European Geosciences Union}, number = {11}, publisher = {Copernicus}, address = {G{\"o}ttingen}, issn = {1814-9324}, doi = {10.5194/cp-14-1607-2018}, pages = {1607 -- 1624}, year = {2018}, abstract = {While of higher plant origin, a specific source assignment of sedimentary leaf wax n-alkanes remains difficult. In addition, it is unknown how fast a changing catchment vegetation would be reflected in sedimentary leaf wax archives. In particular, for a quantitative interpretation of n-alkane C and H isotope ratios in terms of paleohydrological and paleoecological changes, a better understanding of transfer times and dominant sedimentary sources of leaf wax n-alkanes is required. In this study we tested to what extent compositional changes in leaf wax n-alkanes can be linked to known vegetation changes by comparison with high-resolution palynological data from the same archive. We analyzed leaf wax n-alkane concentrations and distributions in decadal resolution from a sedimentary record from Trzechowskie paleolake (TRZ, northern Poland), covering the Late Glacial to early Holocene (13 360-9940 yr BP). As an additional source indicator of targeted n-alkanes, compound-specific carbon isotopic data have been generated in lower time resolution. The results indicated rapid responses of n-alkane distribution patterns coinciding with major climatic and paleoecological transitions. We found a shift towards higher average chain length (ACL) values at the Allerod-Younger Dryas (YD) transition between 12 680 and 12 600 yr BP, co-evaled with a decreasing contribution of arboreal pollen (mainly Pinus and Betula) and a subsequently higher abundance of pollen derived from herbaceous plants (Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Artemisia), shrubs, and dwarf shrubs (Juniperus and Salix). The termination of the YD was characterized by a successive increase in n-alkane concentrations coinciding with a sharp decrease in ACL values between 11 580 and 11 490 yr BP, reflecting the expansion of woodland vegetation at the YD-Holocene transition. A gradual reversal to longer chain lengths after 11 200 yr BP, together with decreasing n-alkane concentrations, most likely reflects the early Holocene vegetation succession with a decline of Betula. These results show that n-alkane distributions reflect vegetation changes and that a fast (i.e., subdecadal) signal transfer occurred. However, our data also indicate that a standard interpretation of directional changes in biomarker ratios remains difficult. Instead, responses such as changes in ACL need to be discussed in the context of other proxy data. In addition, we find that organic geochemical data integrate different ecological information compared to pollen, since some gymnosperm genera, such as Pinus, produce only a very low amount of n-alkanes and for this reason their contribution may be largely absent from biomarker records. Our results demonstrate that a combination of palynological and n-alkane data can be used to infer the major sedimentary leaf wax sources and constrain leaf wax transport times from the plant source to the sedimentary sink and thus pave the way towards quantitative interpretation of compound-specific hydrogen isotope ratios for paleohydrological reconstructions.}, language = {en} } @article{MeeseBookhagenOlenetal.2018, author = {Meese, Bernd and Bookhagen, Bodo and Olen, Stephanie M. and Barthold, Frauke Katrin and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {The effect of Indian Summer Monsoon rainfall on surface water delta D values in the central Himalaya}, series = {Hydrological processes}, volume = {32}, journal = {Hydrological processes}, number = {24}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0885-6087}, doi = {10.1002/hyp.13281}, pages = {3662 -- 3674}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Stable isotope proxy records, such as speleothems, plant-wax biomarker records, and ice cores, are suitable archives for the reconstruction of regional palaeohydrologic conditions. But the interpretation of these records in the tropics, especially in the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) domain, is difficult due to differing moisture and water sources: precipitation from the ISM and Winter Westerlies, as well as snow- and glacial meltwater. In this study, we use interannual differences in ISM strength (2011-2012) to understand the stable isotopic composition of surface water in the Arun River catchment in eastern Nepal. We sampled main stem and tributary water (n = 204) for stable hydrogen and oxygen isotope analysis in the postmonsoon phase of two subsequent years with significantly distinct ISM intensities. In addition to the 2011/2012 sampling campaigns, we collected a 12-month time series of main stem waters (2012/2013, n = 105) in order to better quantify seasonal effects on the variability of surface water delta O-18/delta D. Furthermore, remotely sensed satellite data of rainfall, snow cover, glacial coverage, and evapotranspiration was evaluated. The comparison of datasets from both years revealed that surface waters of the main stem Arun and its tributaries were D-enriched by similar to 15 parts per thousand when ISM rainfall decreased by 20\%. This strong response emphasizes the importance of the ISM for surface water run-off in the central Himalaya. However, further spatio-temporal analysis of remote sensing data in combination with stream water d-excess revealed that most high-altitude tributaries and the Tibetan part of the Arun receive high portions of glacial melt water and likely Winter Westerly Disturbances precipitation. We make the following two implications: First, palaeohydrologic archives found in high-altitude tributaries and on the southern Tibetan Plateau record a mixture of past precipitation delta D values and variable amounts of additional water sources. Second, surface water isotope ratios of lower elevated tributaries strongly reflect the isotopic composition of ISM rainfall implying a suitable region for the analysis of potential delta D value proxy records.}, language = {en} } @article{GarcinDeschampsMenotetal.2018, author = {Garcin, Yannick and Deschamps, Pierre and Menot, Guillemette and de Saulieu, Geoffroy and Schefuss, Enno and Sebag, David and Dupont, Lydie M. and Oslisly, Richard and Brademann, Brian and Mbusnum, Kevin G. and Onana, Jean-Michel and Ako, Andrew A. and Epp, Laura Saskia and Tjallingii, Rik and Strecker, Manfred and Brauer, Achim and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Early anthropogenic impact on Western Central African rainforests 2,600 y ago}, series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {13}, publisher = {National Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1715336115}, pages = {3261 -- 3266}, year = {2018}, abstract = {A potential human footprint on Western Central African rainforests before the Common Era has become the focus of an ongoing controversy. Between 3,000 y ago and 2,000 y ago, regional pollen sequences indicate a replacement of mature rainforests by a forest-savannah mosaic including pioneer trees. Although some studies suggested an anthropogenic influence on this forest fragmentation, current interpretations based on pollen data attribute the "rainforest crisis" to climate change toward a drier, more seasonal climate. A rigorous test of this hypothesis, however, requires climate proxies independent of vegetation changes. Here we resolve this controversy through a continuous 10,500-y record of both vegetation and hydrological changes from Lake Barombi in Southwest Cameroon based on changes in carbon and hydrogen isotope compositions of plant waxes. delta C-13-inferred vegetation changes confirm a prominent and abrupt appearance of C-4 plants in the Lake Barombi catchment, at 2,600 calendar years before AD 1950 (cal y BP), followed by an equally sudden return to rainforest vegetation at 2,020 cal y BP. delta D values from the same plant wax compounds, however, show no simultaneous hydrological change. Based on the combination of these data with a comprehensive regional archaeological database we provide evidence that humans triggered the rainforest fragmentation 2,600 y ago. Our findings suggest that technological developments, including agricultural practices and iron metallurgy, possibly related to the large-scale Bantu expansion, significantly impacted the ecosystems before the Common Era.}, language = {en} } @misc{GarcinDeschampsMenotetal.2018, author = {Garcin, Yannick and Deschamps, Pierre and Menot, Guillemette and de Saulieu, Geoffroy and Schefuss, Enno and Sebag, David and Dupont, Lydie M. and Oslisly, Richard and Brademann, Brian and Mbusnum, Kevin G. and Onana, Jean-Michel and Ako, Andrew A. and Epp, Laura Saskia and Tjallingii, Rik and Strecker, Manfred and Brauer, Achim and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {No evidence for climate variability during the late Holocene rainforest crisis in Western Central Africa REPLY}, series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {29}, publisher = {National Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1808481115}, pages = {E6674 -- E6675}, year = {2018}, language = {en} } @misc{GarcinDeschampsMenotetal.2018, author = {Garcin, Yannick and Deschamps, Pierre and Menot, Guillemette and de Saulieu, Geoffroy and Schefuss, Enno and Sebag, David and Dupont, Lydie M. and Oslisly, Richard and Brademann, Brian and Mbusnum, Kevin G. and Onana, Jean-Michel and Ako, Andrew A. and Epp, Laura Saskia and Tjallingii, Rik and Strecker, Manfred and Brauer, Achim and Sachse, Dirk}, title = {Human activity is the most probable trigger of the late Holocene rainforest crisis in Western Central Africa Reply}, series = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, volume = {115}, journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America}, number = {21}, publisher = {National Acad. of Sciences}, address = {Washington}, issn = {0027-8424}, doi = {10.1073/pnas.1805582115}, pages = {E4735 -- E4736}, year = {2018}, language = {en} }