Young Glacial Landscape Research Articles

The record of geochemical changes in the biogenic-calcareous sediments of a kettle-hole in a young glacial landscape (western Kashubian Lakeland, North Poland)

The paper was focused on the reconstruction of past-environmental conditions dynamics based on the geochemical characteristics of sediments filling kettle-hole located in the western part of the Kashubian Lakeland, North Poland). Stratigraphic variability of lithogeochemical constituents and a set of 13 elements (TOC, N, P, Na, Ca, Mg, K, Al, Fe, Mn, Cu, Ni, Zn) were applied for Holocene reconstruction of certain processes and conditions in the studied kettle-hole. The detailed geochemical analysis allowed us to identify 6 phases in its development: Masz-1 stage covering sedimentation of sedge-moss peat over melting dead ice at the turn of the Preboreal and Boreal periods; Masz-2 stage of the initial phase of lake development with deep-water sedimentation; Late Boreal and Atlantic stage Masz-3 related to sedimentation of lacustrine chalk; Subboreal stage Masz-4 representing the beginning of lake terrestrialization; Subatlantic stage Masz-5 of lowland bog, and Masz-6 stage covering final phase of peatland evolution due to human activity. Principle component analysis highlighted the importance of two major factors controlling the geochemical variability of the studied sediments. These are the varied origin of supplying water reflected in the sedimentation of organic-calcareous sediments (PC1), and oxidative-reduction conditions determined by water level fluctuations (PC2).

Palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental responses to abrupt climate changes during the Late Glacial: The unique archive recorded at the Osinki site (NE Poland) and its regional importance

The reconstruction of environmental changes at the termination of the Last Glaciation range in NE Europe during the Late Glacial is hampered by the multiplicity of processes underway at that time and during the Holocene that dynamically modified the Young Glacial landscape. In lake sediments, these changes are recorded in a manner that is almost always incomplete or disturbed. For this reason, the succession that was successfully reconstructed in two profiles from the Osinki site in NE Poland is extremely valuable. Palynological, Cladocera and geochemical analyses, as well as fragmentary malacofauna and diatom analyses, made it possible to trace the changes in the environment that took place in two differently functioning parts of a single lake, in not interrupted periods from the Oldest Dryas to the Younger Dryas. Detailed research results show that despite the proximity of natural environment components, their developments in both cases were conducted in different ways, what they prove to the changes in pollen record, Cladocera, and geochemical composition of sediments. Climate changes affected the changes in the vegetation, the composition of malacofauna, Cladocera and diatoms. They also influenced the erosion processes within the catchment and the oxidation-reduction conditions. On the basis of the research results, changes in water trophy, from oligotrophic to eutrophic, were also observed. In this case, we also observe significant differences between the two analysed profiles. These changes first occurred in Allerød in the shallow part of the lake, and then in its deeper zone in Young Dryas.In addition, Late Weichselian profiles from the Poland–Belarus–Lithuania borderland area were analysed in detail, and the age of the bottom of sediments is usually estimated to the Allerød, and the Bølling. The results of analyses from Osinki and Osinki2 profiles (beginning of sedimentation in the Oldest Dryas) indicate that the reason for this discrepancy is to be found in, among other things, the methodological limitations of the palynological analysis for most of the sites. The above-standard amount of mineral sediment allows the age of the sediment to be established as being much older than if determined using only pollen analysis of organic sediments.

Effect of Soil Agricultural Use on Particle-Size Distribution in Young Glacial Landscape Slopes

In the literature, mainly particle-size distribution (PSD) analyses in the soil catenas, of e.g., moraine and riverine landscapes were discussed. Analysis and comparison of PSD in moraine (ML) and ice-dammed lakes (ID-LL) landscapes were not studied. Since the landscape of ice-dammed lakes origin has diversified relief and is under intensive agricultural use, the aspects of erosion are of great importance. The changes in PSD were studied in 14 soil catenas (toposequences) of eroding soils at the upper slope (US) as well as colluvial soils at the middle (MS) and lower (LS) slopes and in the depressions (D). The PSD of the fine fractions (<2 mm) was analysed according to the hydrometer method. In order to describe the effect of agricultural use on the variability of PSD in soil surface horizons, sedimentological and granulometric indices were calculated. In the studied moraine landscape, the content of coarse silt fraction was increasing in the catenal sequence from 9.7% in the US to 17.7% in the D. Similar relationships were revealed for the fine silt content. Significant differences were found between the average contents of coarse and fine silt fractions at the US as well as the LS and the D. However, such a relation was not found in the soil catena in the ice-dammed lake landscape. Eroded and colluvial soil materials were very poorly sorted with a standard deviation index of 2.65–3.69. Humus horizons of analysed soils had very fine, fine skewed PSD, mesokurtic and platykurtic distribution (ML), symmetrical, fine skewed and platykurtic distribution (I-DLL). The cluster analysis enabled the separation of two groups of soils: one group in the moraine landscape and the other in the ice-dammed lakes landscape. The PSD in studied soils was similar only among the soils within one type of landscape.

Geoturist Evaluation of Geosites in the Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (N Poland)

The geotourist evaluation of 32 geosites, including mineral deposits occurrence (1), petrological (12), sedimentological (2), and geomorphological (9), as well as hydrological and hydrogeological (8) sites, located in the area of Tuchola Forest Biosphere Reserve (TFBR), has been carried out. The study aims to provide a qualitative assessment of geodiversity via the evaluation of abiotic nature objects, as well as propose modifications in geotourist valuation criteria, for the purpose of applying it to the areas located in the Central European Plains. The evaluated geosites represent both perfect examples of typical features for the physiography of the TFBR, as a young glacial landscape, e.g., erratic boulders, glaciofluvial landforms, postglacial landforms, and lakes or peatbogs, as well as values proving the uniqueness of the area on both regional and international scales, e.g., disused underground lignite mine “Montania”. High scores of geotourist attractiveness (between 36 and 44 points) have been received by 14 evaluated geosites (1 mineral deposits occurrence geosite, 4 petrological geosites, 1 sedimentological geosite, and 5 geomorphological geosites, as well as 3 hydrological and hydrogeological geosites). The remaining 18 geosites have received a medium score (between 25 and 34 points). Three areas of high concentration of geosites, which overlap with the boundaries of Tuchola, Wdecki, and Zaborski (area of the greatest diversity of highly-ranked geosites) landscape parks, were distinguished. The authors proposed geosites that require improving their accessibility to enhance the geotourist attractiveness, recognized the necessity of marking out geotourist trails in the most attractive and diversified areas, and noticed the influence of extreme weather phenomena (whirwinds) on changes in the geotourist attractiveness of some geosites. It is believed that the results of the conducted evaluation may favorably affect the importance, position, and publicity of the whole area by supplementing the well-recognized biodiversity with the geodiversity presented in the study.

Comparison of Topsoil Organic Carbon Stocks on Slopes under Soil-Protecting Forests in Relation to the Adjacent Agricultural Slopes

Soil erosion is one of the major processes degrading the natural environment but also agricultural production areas. Soil erosion may lead to soil organic carbon (SOC) loss, especially from sloping agricultural terrain units. The use of phytomelioration in environmental management, particularly long-term, permanent forest vegetation, is widely recognized as a possible measure for soil erosion protection and mitigation of climate change through carbon sequestration. The aim of this study was to compare of the topsoil organic carbon stocks on the slopes under soil-protecting forests in relation to the adjacent agricultural slopes. The research was conducted in the young glacial landscape of North-Central Poland. The study indicated the significant role of forest management on the increase of soil organic matter content and SOC stock. The results show that land use and slope gradients are important factors controlling soil organic carbon pools in topsoil in young glacial areas. This topic is extremely important particularly as the effects of climate change become more and more visible, and society faces new challenges in preventing these changes.

Source-to-mainstream: Hydrochemical water changes in a channel head in the young glacial area (Pomeranian Lakeland, Poland)

A channel head is a zone where hydrological changes occur that shape the chemical features of water, during the final stage of underground flow and the beginning of the surface water cycle. The study aims were as follows: (i) to characterise spatial water chemistry patterns; (ii) to establish the role played by the hyporheic zone in the chemical transformations associated with the groundwater that supplies the first-order stream; and (iii) to identify the factors that control the chemical composition transformations that occur in headwater alcoves. The analysis was performed on three sets of samples taken at the Żarnowo channel head situated in the young glacial landscape of the Parsęta drainage basin (NW Poland).The performed hydrochemical measurements showed that the waters found in the alcoves displayed a mosaic pattern, with spatial variability in the levels of trace metals and nutrients. In turn, geogenic ions featured in the mineralogical-petrographic compositions of deposits found in headwater catchments, such as Ca2+, HCO3−, Mg2+, and Na+, showed low temporal variability and small differences among the various sampled headwater alcoves. These results indicated that the majority of spatial variance associated with the chemical composition of water is driven by the transformation of groundwater discharges in the hyporheic zone. The locations of hydrochemical transformation hotspots can be explained by the influences of critical physical variables, such as the intensity of seepage erosion, sediment texture, bottom microtopography, groundwater discharge characteristics, water temperatures, and the diversity of groundwater-fed vegetation. Hydrochemical studies performed in the ground- and surface-water contact zones within a channel head can identify the underlying causes of changes to water chemistry, which, in turn, can facilitate the protection of water resources against unfavourable changes that may affect the water quality at the headwater catchment.

Palaeosols and their cover sediments of a glacial landscape in northern central Europe: Spatial distribution, pedostratigraphy and evidence on landscape evolution

Knowledge of the distribution, types and properties of buried soils, i.e. palaeosols, is essential in understanding how lowlands in northern central Europe have changed over past millennia. This is an indispensable requirement for evaluating long-term human impact including soil erosion and land-cover dynamics. In the Serrahn area (62 km2), a young glacial landscape representative for northeastern Germany and part of the Müritz National Park, 26 pedosedimentary sections were documented and analysed. To this end, a multiproxy-approach was applied using pedology, micromorphology, geochronology, and palaeoecology. Statistical and spatial analyses of c. 5200 soil profiles, of which 10% contain palaeosols, show that buried soils cover an area of 5.7 km2, i.e. 9% of the area studied. Most palaeosols are Cambisols, Arenosols and Gleysols. Palaeosols are mainly covered by aeolian and colluvial sands, as well as by lacustrine sands and peat. Radiocarbon and luminescence dating together with palynological and anthracological data reveal that former land surfaces were dominantly buried through erosion triggered by human activity in the late Holocene. In addition, but to a clearly smaller extent, Lateglacial/early Holocene palaeosols and cover sediments occur. Following Medieval clear-cutting and intensive land use, the study area is today again widely forested. The high share of buried land surfaces detected here is expected to be representative for the hilly glacial landscapes even in the wider region, i.e. in northern central Europe, and should be considered in soil mapping, soil carbon budgeting and assessments of past human impact.

Exceptional hydrological stability of a Sphagnum-dominated peatland over the late Holocene

Lowering of the water table and substantial drying are observed in peatlands worldwide. A significant drying of European peatlands in the last 200–300 years influenced the vegetation, lowered carbon storage potential in peatlands, and modified microbial diversity. Here, we reconstructed in high resolution hydrological changes, local and extra-local vegetation composition, and fire activity based on a peat core from a Sphagnum-dominated peatland located in a young glacial landscape in Central Eastern Europe, NE Poland. The last ca. 1500 years of history of the Jaczno bog has been supported by a dense accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon (14C) dating resolution: 20 dates per 400 cm of the peat profile. We also investigated changes in the functional and morphological traits of testate amoebae as well as the functional diversity of testate amoeba communities over time. Our reconstruction showed a rare case of hydrological stability in the peatland over the late Holocene, and no dry shifts were recorded during the study period. Relatively stable hydrological conditions and undisturbed Sphagnum growth enabled the bog to maintain notably high peat accumulation rates. Although increasing human impact has been recorded in the last ca. 400 years, we did not reconstruct strong disturbances (e.g., vast deforestations, intensive grazing or farming, fires) influencing the site. Compared with other hydrological records from Europe, the Jaczno bog was one of the few bogs in Central and Eastern Europe that did not experience drying during the Little Ice Age. Moreover, the traits and functional diversity of testate amoebae did not show any critical turnover. In the last 70 years, human impact on the site decreased, and the area became afforested. Unlike most of the European peatlands, the Jaczno bog possesses high water tables up to the present time. Therefore, our data suggest that nature conservation practices, which target high water tables, are essential to maintain peatlands as a sink and not as a source of carbon in the future.

Geoheritage of Postglacial Areas in Northern Poland\u2014Prospects for Geotourism

This study aims to identify potential geosites and show existing geosites in a young glacial landscape in northern Poland through a qualitative assessment of the local geoheritage. Three areas of diversified morphology and geology located within the extent of the last Scandinavian Ice Sheet have been selected as the research polygons: the north-eastern part of the Dobrzyń Lake District, the Lower Vistula Valley and the Kashubian Lake District. Three basic abiotic components of the environment have been analysed: geology, terrain relief and hydrology. This research is based on some specific materials including maps and photographs. Methodology of this research includes the inventory, characterization and assessment of selected areas. The final results are proposals for geosites of high educational value in each of the three investigated regions. For the north-eastern part of the Dobrzyń Lake District, the creation of a geopark has been proposed, and the geosites of the Lower Vistula Valley provide the potential for a geotourist footpath to be designed. The Kashubian Lake District is characterised by the occurrence of numerous glacial landforms and sediments as well as high denivelations and a concentration of erratic boulders. Therefore, this region also has the potential to be selected for valuable geosites and the designing of a geotourist footpath.

The role of soil-protecting forests in reducing soil erosion in young glacial landscapes of Northern-Central Poland

The use of phytomelioration in environmental management, particularly in case of long-term, permanent forest vegetation, is one of the most natural and effective ways to mitigate the effects of soil erosion. Forests in general have a very effective protective function. The paper identifies differences in the basic soil properties along slope surfaces, in relation to the land use. Moreover, the role of soil-protecting forests in reducing the intensity and effects of soil erosion processes was assessed. The research was conducted in the young glacial landscape of north-central Poland. Analysis of soil catenas along the slopes and of material collected from the soil pits revealed that the forests highly protect against the degradation of soil cover, especially, in limiting, among others, loss of humus and the reduction of upper soil horizons. On the slopes under forests, clear changes in particle size distribution in relation to the adjacent slopes used for agricultural purposes were observed.

Determinants of a traditional agricultural landscape

The study aim was to define the landscape determinants as certificates of natural and cultural heritage which identify the young glacial landscape under traditional agricultural management. These studies were conducted in the upper Parsęta basin (Pomerania, Poland) covered by the many annual environmental monitoring programs since 1994. The aim of this monitoring is to observe changes in geoecosystems of the temperate climate zone. The parameters of the abiotic landscape subsystem have been monitored in a wide range of terms, whereas biotic elements and cultural resources only in a very limited way. This was the reason for undertaking complementary studies. The paper presents the so-called “zero-state” for 2014, which will be a reference point from which to track the direction of landscape changes in the future. The abiotic, geobotanical, and cultural determinants of this state chosen have been characterized on the basis of field mapping data and the available literature. They were chosen based on the methodology of landscape audit to define the specificity of the traditional agricultural landscape. They were selected on the basis of assessment criteria for landscape structure: complexity (diversification of land use and cover), naturalness (syngenesis of plant communities, hydrochemical properties of surface waters), coherence of composition with natural conditions, stewardship (intensity of use, crop weeds, ecological succession, fallows, anthropogenic denudation), aesthetic and visual perception, historicity (continuity of natural landscape elements, continuation of traditional agricultural use, architectural objects), and disharmonious elements.

SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN HEADWATER STREAM CHEMISTRY IN THE YOUNG-GLACIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUTHERN BALTIC COASTAL ZONE

SPATIOTEMPORAL VARIABILITY IN HEADWATER STREAM CHEMISTRY IN THE YOUNG-GLACIAL LANDSCAPE OF THE SOUTHERN BALTIC COASTAL ZONE

Differentiation of soils and land use changes in the vicinity of the disappeared Gardeja lake (Northern Poland)

Abstract The aims of the study were to characterize shoreline soil development and evolution and to determine land use changes (19th to 20th centuries) in the direct catchment of the completely vanished Gardeja lake. The study was based on pedological research and analysis of cartographic materials. The main factor determining the current development of shoreline zone soil cover at the former Gardeja lake was human activity (lake dewatering, further drainage and human-induced erosion). Studied soil profiles were developed from mineral, non-lacustrine materials (upper parts of the slopes) and lacustrine sediments covered with colluvium. The analyzed soil catenas are representative for the undulated young glacial landscape of Northern Poland. The biggest changes of the land use were observed for the class of grasslands that is combined with shrubs (increase of cover area).

Some physical properties of mursh developed on limnic limestones in NW Poland

AbstractPost-bog soils developed on carbonate sediments are closely related to a young-glacial landscape and postglacial lakes. Drainage of biogenic accumulation area leads to a series of transformations in accumulated formations, including the process of decession. The studies conducted in the years 2009–2012 were focused on post-bog soils near lakes: Strzeszowskie, Sitno and Drawskie in Western Pomerania. The examined soils belong to murshic soils and gleysols (The classification of Polish soils). Mursh horizons contained from 0.2 to 43.3% of carbonate and from 27.2 to 77.6% of non-carbonates fractions (Ncf), and varying amount of organic matter depending on the degree of mineralisation. Specific density of surface horizons was in the range from 1.76 to 2.33 Mg·m−3, and bulk density from 0.28 to 0.68 Mg·m−3. Higher porosity was found in mursh organic soils in comparison to gleysols. The studies showed that the content of carbonate fraction was related with specific density, bulk density, porosity and water capacity. Obtained results of physical and physico-chemical analysis indicate that dewatering depth of post-bog soils developed on limnic limestone are reflected in worsened water retention properties and reduced capillary ascent in the upper layers of carbonate formations of gleysols.

Mapping ecosystem services – a new approach in regional scale

Identifying the potential of ecosystems to provide ecosystem services (ES) is largely dependent on the detail and completeness of the base ecosystem map. The existing guidelines for the construction of this type of map include only a few basic types of ecosystems that work only at a national or international scale and are insufficient to identify the full potential of ecosystem services at local or regional scales. The aim of the study was to develop a comprehensive map of ecosystem types for mapping ecosystem services at a local and regional scale in three selected communes located within young glacial landscape (NE Poland). As a result, a detailed map of ecosystems has been constructed containing 42 ecosystem types including age and habitat categories. This original map is the first detailed cartographic work that can be successfully used to determine the potential for ecosystem services to be provided by areas analysed in large scales. The proposed approach has a universal character and can be also applied to any area analysed at similar spatial scales.

Effect of slope position on soil particle-size distribution in young glacial landscape (Łyna River valley, NE Poland)

AbstractThe aim of this paper was to characterize soil particle-size distribution (PSD) of in the middle part of young glacial Łyna River valley in relation to parent materials, soil forming processes and slope position. The study comprised rusty soils, arenosols, clay-illuvial soils, colluvial and alluvial soils located in four slope position: summit / midslope, footslope / toeslope, upper and lower part of floodplain. In order to describe the sedimentological environment and possible heterogenity of the soil formations, sedimentological and granulometric indices were calculated. The relationships between soil fractions in A horizons and environmental variables (slope position and depth of A horizon) were determined using principal component analysis (PCA).The studied soils were poorly sorted with various values of skewness of granulometric distribution (symmetrical, fine and very fine skewed) and kurtosis (mainly very leptokurtic). The value of mean grain diameter was decreasing with slope position which may suggest high dynamics and energy of sedimentological environment in the middle part of Łyna River valley. The analysis of granulometric indices revealed that colluvial deposits were the most homogenous and alluvial formations were the most heterogenous. The results of the statistical analysis showed a positive correlation of the amounts of clay and silt fractions with depth of A horizons. The factor responsible for variability of these fractions was the position on the slope. The A horizons in soils located at the summit and footslope had the highest amounts of sand fractions. While significant increase in the share of finer fractions in soils located in the floodplain was noted.

Comparing quartz silt surface microstructures in two sandy soils in young-glacial landscape of northern Poland

AbstractThe studies on quartz silt surface microstructures using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed in Brunic Arenosol and Gleyic Ortsteinic Podzol, as major components of soil cover of the lower supra-flood terrace of the Słupia River, N Poland. Brunic Arenosols have developed from coarse- and medium-grained fluvioglacial sands, whereas Podzols from aeolian sands of mid-Holocene age, which in some places were covered with younger aeolian deposits. A group of at least 100 randomly selected grains from each soil horizon have been analyzed. The grains were classified into one of the following groups: fresh (type A), grains with the features of chemical weathering (type B), grains coated with scaly-grain incrustations (type C), grains coated with bulbous incrustations (type D), and cracked grains (type E). Parent materials of the investigated soils did not differ significantly in terms of contribution of grain types and type C predominated in both soils. Significant differences were noted in soil solums. Grains covered by scaly-grained incrustations predominated in Brunic Arenosol, which constituted 62–89%. In the profile of Gleyic Ortsteinic Podzol grains type B predominated in AE and E horizons (65–82%), whereas in the remaining horizons grains type C (54–77%).

The use of kettle holes for reconstructing former soil cover in different types of land use

The aim of the study was to identify and examine main directions of soil patterns, typology, SOC (Soil Organic Carbon) and Nt (Total Nitrogen) content in the topsoil changes that have occurred in kettle holes as an effect of soil erosion and anthropogenic denudation. Varied in the type of land use, three closed basins located in young glacial landscape in north-western Poland were investigated. According to the type of land use, the total area of soils with untransformed or moderately transformed morphology is different. Significant modifications have been taking place not only in mineral soils, which are located on slopes, but especially in soils of the bottom of sedimentary basins. In fact, most of primary soil properties and morphology have been replaced by new characteristics. The most intensive modifications of soil morphology and soil chemical properties occurs within croplands. Total area of colluvial soils can be treated as indicator of soil erosion processes intensity.

Environmental changes of a shallow kettle lake catchment in a young glacial landscape (Sumowskie Lake catchment), North-Central Poland

On the basis of detailed analysis (sedimentological, palynological, macroremains, geochemical and GIS analysis) the development of the Sumowskie Paleolake was reconstructed. Obtained results led to distinguish three main stages of the evolution of the basin and its catchment during the Late Glacial and the Holocene: the lacustrine stage, the lake overgrowth stage and the post lacustrine stage. Study site is located in the western part of the Brodnica Lakeland, North-Eastern Poland, within the former Sumowskie Lake bottom. Multidisciplinary research was conducted for two cores (sedimentological, palynological, plant macroremains): SUM A (149 cm) and SUM C (51 cm) and the soil profile – SUM 3 (sedimentological, geochemical). GIS analyses (land cover and water level changes) were carried out for the nowadays Sumowskie Lakes catchment. It was confirmed, that climate was the most important factor influencing the evolution of the lake and its surrounding. Although the role of this factor decreased in the Neo-Holocene period in favor of rapidly growing human impact. Changes of the water level were much more abrupt and lasted longer (e.g. 9500? – 5000? BP hiatus caused by the water level decrease) than in other described basins of the region due to the specific geomorphologic situation. Shallow kettle basins could alternately act as lakes and wetlands. As they are well-spread in the young glacial area, the strong influence of this abrupt and long term events should be reconsidered.

The role of melting dead ice on landscape transformation in the early Holocene in Tuchola Pinewoods, North Poland

On the basis of macrofossil and pollen analyses, AMS 14C-dating, and geomorphological investigations, we reconstructed the development of hydrological changes during the Lateglacial to early Holocene transition in Tuchola Pinewoods (Bory Tucholskie) in northern Poland. In this region, the Wda River flows in polygenetic valleys, typical for the young glacial landscape of the northern central European lowlands. The middle section of this river provides a suitable setting to demonstrate the environmental and hydrological changes in the Late Glacial and early Holocene, because (1) it is a small and well-defined area and (2) the existence of a morphologically preserved river valley from late glacial period. In this study, we focused on a short terrestrial sediment core (48 cm) that represents four phases of landscape evolution during the early Holocene: telmatic, lacustrine, lacustrine-fluvial and alluvial. Abrupt changes in lithology and sediment structures exhibit rapid changes and threshold processes in environmental conditions. The AMS 14C dating of terrestrial plant remains revealed an age for the basal sediments of 11 223 ± 23 cal BP and thus falls within the Preboreal biozone. Plant macrofossil indicators provide evidence of water level and edaphic changes in the basin. The results of our study demonstrate a strong influence of melting buried ice blocks on the geomorphological development, hydrological changes in the catchment, and the biotic environment in the early Holocene.