A multi-proxy analysis of hydroclimate trends in an ombrotrophic bog over the last millennium in the Eastern Carpathians of Romania

Abstract

We describe an ombrotrophic bog profile from Tinovul Mohoş, Eastern Carpathians, Romania to quantitatively reconstruct the hydroclimate and the palaeoecological evolution over the past 1000 years. Findings are based on high-resolution analyses of testate amoebae, plant macrofossils, pollen, micro- and macrocharcoal, δ13C stable carbon isotopes, organic matter content and bulk density, supported by AMS radiocarbon dating. We identify five major hydroclimatic intervals. Between AD 1050 and 1300, a wet period occurred associated with a time of reduced human population. Between AD 1300 and 1600, wet conditions continued to prevail, but with tendency towards drier mire settings. The third period from AD 1600–1680 revealed two abrupt disturbances in the local hydrology (strong dry-wet shifts). The fourth period, from AD 1680–1950, showed intermediate moist conditions with an increased humidity. After AD 1950, mire conditions became dry and there was an intensification in disturbances activity (forest clearance, fire and peatland drainage). Our multi-proxy reconstruction represents one of the few studies of the hydroclimate and palaeoecological evolution of the last millennium in the central-eastern Europe. Findings show good agreement with other hydroclimate reconstructions from this region, but not with records from north-western Europe. More high-resolution multi-proxy studies are needed to improve our understanding of the feedback mechanisms in peatlands and the factors behind these changes.