Paleoclimate, paleoenvironment, and human impact over the last 400 years based on lipid biomarkers from Lake Höglwörth, Germany

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sudip Acharya - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo (Author)
  • Paul Strobel - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Maximilian Prochnow - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)
  • Steffen Taut - , TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Michael Zech - , Heisenberg Chair of Physical Geography with a Focus on Paleoenvironmental Research (Author)
  • Antje Schwalb - , Technical University of Braunschweig (Author)
  • Roland Zech - , Friedrich Schiller University Jena (Author)

Abstract

Lipid biomarkers are valuable proxies for reconstructing paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental changes as well as human impact. However, little attention has been paid on evaluating how the combination of biomarkers can be used to reconstruct various aspects of local paleoenvironmental conditions. This study presents a suite of lipid biomarker records from a sediment core from Lake Höglwörth, southern Germany, covering the past 400 years. Compound-specific hydrogen isotopic compositions (δD) of terrestrial n-alkanes (n-C29-alkane) and n-alkanoic acids (n-C30-acid) indicate minor changes in isotopic composition of precipitation. The δD of n-C22-acid is interpreted to record the isotopic composition of the lake water and evaporative enrichment, which drops after 1700 CE, coinciding with the construction of a mill and the related rerouting of a creek into Lake Höglwörth. The δD of n-C25-alkane is also enriched but decoupled from the reconstructed isotopic composition of precipitation and lake water. Therefore, we suggest that δD of n-C25-alkane reflects the leaf water isotopic composition of Sphagnum, which is present in the catchment and undergoes transpirative enrichment. Both short-chain compounds have become more enriched over the last century, maybe related to increasing temperature associated with anthropogenic climate warming. The faecal biomarkers record the changes in human population, partly related to the history of the local Monastery, the World Wars I and II as well as the intensive farming after the mid-20th century. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) reveal a significant change in combustion activities associated with human activities such as the industrial revolution, biomass burning, and environmental cleanup as well as the implementation of emission standards. Our study demonstrates that the combination of plant wax compounds, faecal biomarkers, and PAHs from lacustrine sediment serves as a valuable tool to reconstruct and distinguish various aspects of paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental changes including human impacts.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number100231
JournalQuaternary Science Advances
Volume15
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2024
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

ORCID /0000-0002-9586-0390/work/170107134

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Combustion activities, Compound specific hydrogen isotopes, Faecal biomarkers, Lake sediments, Leaf waxes, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons