Holocene environmental change in theSkallingen area, easternNorthGreenland, based on a lacustrine record

Abstract

A lacustrine record from a small lake,LilleSnehaSø, in theSkallingen area indicates that the region was deglaciated in the earlyHolocene, prior to 8000 cal. aBP. Deglaciation was probably triggered by high temperatures, but it took more than 1000 years for the lake and the catchment to stabilize. Chironomids were amongst the first invertebrates to colonize the lake. The fossil chironomid assemblage is fairly rich and comparable to other records from further south inGreenland. The pioneer vegetation in the area consisted of mosses and herbaceous plants. The oldest remains of woody plants (Salix arctica) are dated toc. 7700 cal. aBP, and remains ofDryas integrifoliaappear at around 6700 cal. aBP; these are the only woody plants recorded. Maximum concentrations of chironomids, maximum occurrence of ephippia of the water fleaDaphnia pulex, highest organic matter contents and lowest minerogenic input fromc.7700 to 4400 cal. aBPprobably reflect theHolocene thermal maximum (HTM). The highest temperatures during theHTMare indicated around 7000 cal. aBP, whenSalix arctica, which is considered a warmth‐loving plant, had a maximum. Comparisons withHolocene records fromEast andNorthGreenland show similar immigration histories and similar trends, with theLittleIceAge as the coldest period during theHolocene, culminating about 150 years ago. Subsequent warming does not indicate environmental conditions comparable to theHTMyet at this stage. The occurrence of several warmth‐demanding species particularly in the earlyHolocene sediments indicates redeposition and implies that temperatures in the past, most likely during an interglacial period, were significantly higher than during theHTM.