Development of Rich Fen on the SE Baltic Coast, Latvia, during the Last 7500 Years, Using Paleoecological Proxies: Implications for Plant Community Development and Paleoclimatic Research

Mariusz Gałka,Angelica Feurdean,Liene Aunina,Kazimierz Tobolski

doi:10.1007/s13157-016-0779-y

Abstract

We present the paleoecological development of a rich fen located in the dune area on the SE Baltic coast, during the last 7500 years. The Apsuciems Mire hosts rare and endangered plant communities in Europe, such as Schoenus ferrugineus and Cladium mariscus. Analysis at high-resolution of plant macroremains in two peat cores was carried out to reconstruct local vegetation succession and fluctuations in moisture availability on the peatland, while a pollen record was developed to reconstruct plant succession, moisture variability and human activity at the regional scale. Based on the presence or the absence of macroremains of plants that occur in wet habitat e.g. Cladium mariscus, Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, Alisma plantago-aquatica and Botrycoccocus we distinguished four wet periods ca. 6000, 2000, 1750–1550, 1200–150 cal yr. BP and four dry periods (ca. 7000, 4600–4200, 1800–1750, 1550–1200 cal yr. BP) in the peatland’s development. A water level increase at 1200 cal yr. BP triggered the development of plant communities containing Chara sp., Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani, then Cladium mariscus. Our study shows a link between climate change at the regional scale and vegetation development in Apsuciems Mire. We showed that changes in vegetation structure during last 150 years was caused by drainage and human activity.

Highlights

Rich fens are one of the most important wetland ecosystems due to their high species-richness and unique species composition (Grootjans et al 2006)
The Apšuciems Mire developed in a depression in the coastal dune area probably after the position of water level on the mire increased at ca. 7500 cal yr
We show that the development of local vegetation at Apšuciems Mire was primarily related to changes in the climate conditions in this region

Summary

Introduction

Rich fens are one of the most important wetland ecosystems due to their high species-richness and unique species composition (Grootjans et al 2006). The development of rich fens depends on minerotrophic water; these ecosystems receive nutrients from the soil, rock and groundwater as well as from rainfall. Many former fens have been drained and converted for agricultural use (Joosten and Clarke 2002). Many of these peatlands are being restored with modern management methods (Keddy 2010; van Diggelen et al 2015). Knowledge of the history of rich fens is important for the development of effective management strategies to protect or restore these habitats, as well for prediction of the impact of ongoing climate change on vulnerable plant communities (Pakalne and Kalnina 2005). In the evaluation of the status of the protected areas, questions such as Bwhat is natural?^, Bwhich species are native?^ and Bhow do we protect these ecosystems? ^(Feurdean et al 2009; Willis and Bhagwat

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