Changes in palaeoproductivity of Genggahai Lake over the past 16 ka in the Gonghe Basin, northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Abstract

Sequential samples of a 7.82-m sediment core from Genggahai Lake in the central Gonghe Basin, controlled with 12 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dates, have been analysed for total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents, carbon isotope of bulk organic matter (δ13Corg), and carbonate content. Plant macrofossils and stem encrustations, derived mainly from the species of P. pectinatus, M. spicatum and Chara spp., were identified, and they dominated the aquatic plant community of the lake. Alternations of plant macrofossils of Chara spp. and the vascular species reflect the changing productivity of the lake over time. In such a shallow lake, the carbonate content is highly related to photosynthesis of aquatic macrophytes and thus indirectly indicates variations in productivity, consistent with a quantitative estimate of palaeoproductivity. Based on these results, the palaeoproductivity history was reconstructed over the past ca. 16 ka. The lake was formed or recharged at 15.3 cal ka BP, as indicated by aeolian sand deposits at the core base. A marked increase in palaeoproductivity occurred from 15.3 to 11.6 cal ka BP. Between 11.6 and 9.2 cal ka BP, a sharply increased water-level, modulated probably by the enhanced Asian summer monsoon, might have exceeded the optimum water depth for macrophyte vegetation, causing a marked decline in coverage of aquatic macrophytes and low palaeoproductivity. The palaeoproductivity appeared to be high in the early stage of the period from 9.2 to 7.4 cal ka BP, and then decreased at approximately 8.6 cal ka BP. The palaeoproductivity sustained an overall high level between 7.4 and 2.1 cal ka BP, and decreased gradually since 2.1 cal ka BP. Our results suggest that the variability of Genggahai Lake palaeoproductivity may be associated with fluctuations of the lake level controlled by the strength of the Asian summer monsoon, probably indicating changes in the Asian summer monsoon.