Early to Mid-Holocene Palaeoenvironment Change and Sedimentary Evolution in the Xianghu Area, Zhejiang
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Study Area
3. Materials and Methods
3.1. TOC and δ13C Tests
3.2. Diatom Analysis
3.3. Grain Size Analysis
3.4. Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) 14C Dating
4. Results
4.1. Principal Component Analysis of Diatom Taxa
4.2. TOC Contents and δ13C of Core XH-2
5. Discussion
5.1. 9300–8200 cal a BP
5.2. 8200–7500 cal a BP
5.3. 7500–6600 cal a BP
6. Conclusions
- (1)
- Principal components analysis of diatom taxa exhibiting sample score on axis 1 can represent the strength of marine influence on the Xianghu area, suggesting a gradual increase in marine influence between 9000 and 8300 cal a BP in the study area.
- (2)
- The TOC contents in core XH-2 were evidently influenced by grain size, but its correlation with δ13C was quite complex.
- (3)
- Relatively high TOC contents and low δ13C values during 9300–8200 cal a BP reflected calmer waters and humid climate in the Xianghu area. During 8200–7500 cal a BP, a slight rise in TOC contents and remarkable increase in δ13C values indicated that the climate in the Xianghu area was arid. Diatom abundance decreased as the Xianghu area was gradually exposed, until becoming a land area. At approximately 7500 cal a BP, TOC contents and δ13C values declined, and the proportion of clay and silt also recorded obvious changes, suggesting the climate in the Xianghu area was humid accompanied by a relatively high sea level, and the Kuahuqiao site became obsolete. Thus, this study provides a basis for future work on Neolithic cultures in China.
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
Appendix A. Taxonomy
ORDER | Coscinodiscales |
---|---|
Family | Hemidiscaceae |
Genus | Actinocyclus Ehrenberg, 1837 |
Actinocyclus octonarius Ehrenberg 1838 | |
Genus | Coscinodiscus Ehrenberg, 1839 |
Coscinodiscus argus Ehrenberg 1839 | |
Coscinodiscus blandus A.W.F. Schmidt 1878 | |
Coscinodiscus ellipticus Grunow, 1867 (1870) | |
Coscinodiscus lacustris Grunow 1880 | |
Coscinodiscus radiatus Ehrenberg 1840 | |
Family | Heliopeltaceae |
Genus | Actinoptychus senarius Ehrenberg 1843 |
ORDER | Paraliales |
Family | Paraliaceae |
Genus | Paralia Heiberg, 1863 |
Paralia sulcata (Ehrenberg) Cleve 1873 | |
ORDER | Stephanodiscales |
Family | Stephanodiscaceae |
Genus | Cyclotella (Kützing) Brébisson, 1838 |
Cyclotella striata Cleve and Grunow 1880 | |
ORDER | Mastogloiales |
Family | Achnanthaceae |
Genus | Achnanthes Bory, 1822 |
Achnanthes minutissima Kützing 1833 | |
ORDER | Aulacoseirales |
Family | Aulacoseiraceae |
Genus | Aulacoseira Thwaites, 1848 |
Aulacoseira granulate (Ehrenberg) Simonsen 1979 | |
ORDER | Naviculales |
Family | Diploneidaceae |
Genus | Diploneis Ehrenberg ex Cleve, 1894 |
Diploneis smithii (de brébisson) Cleve 1894 | |
ORDER | Bacillariales |
Family | Bacillariaceae |
Genus | Nitzschia Hassall, 1845 |
Nitzschia granulata Grunow 1880 | |
Nitzschia levidensis (W.Smith) Grunow 1881 | |
ORDER | Thalassionematales |
Family | Thalassionemataceae |
Genus | Thalassionema (Grunow) Mereschkowsky 1902 |
Thalassionema nitzschioides (Grunow) Mereschkowsky 1902 |
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Test Index | Sample Information |
---|---|
Diatom | 24 samples (with~100 cm sampling resolution) |
Grain size | 113 samples (with~20 cm sampling resolution) |
TOC | 113 samples (with~20 cm sampling resolution) |
δ13C | 113 samples (with~20 cm sampling resolution) |
Laboratory Number | Depth (cm) | Dated Materials | 14C Age (a BP) | Calibrated Age (cal a BP) |
---|---|---|---|---|
BETA430702 | 269 | Plant fragment | 5850 ± 30 | 6678.5 ± 63.5 |
BETA424911 | 475 | Plant fragment | 5950 ± 30 | 6745 ± 65 |
BETA416010 | 595 | Organic-rich sediment | 11,190 ± 40 | 13,060.5 ± 72.5 |
BETA430703 | 1253 | Plant fragment | 7470 ± 30 | 8319 ± 47 |
BETA416704 | 1851 | Plant fragment | 7950 ± 40 | 8815 ± 168 |
BETA416011 | 2520 | Plant fragment | 8320 ± 30 | 9349 ± 92 |
Time Interval (cal a BP) | Clay (%) | Silt (%) | δ13C (‰) |
---|---|---|---|
9300–6600 | 0.55 | −0.54 | −0.37 |
9300–8200 | −0.11 * | 0.13 * | −0.44 |
8200–7500 | 0.61 | −0.42 | 0.53 |
7500–6600 | 0.73 | −0.71 | −0.82 |
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Sha, L.; Li, X.; Tang, J.; Shu, J.; Wang, W.; Li, D. Early to Mid-Holocene Palaeoenvironment Change and Sedimentary Evolution in the Xianghu Area, Zhejiang. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 7099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197099
Sha L, Li X, Tang J, Shu J, Wang W, Li D. Early to Mid-Holocene Palaeoenvironment Change and Sedimentary Evolution in the Xianghu Area, Zhejiang. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17(19):7099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197099
Chicago/Turabian StyleSha, Longbin, Xianfu Li, Jiabing Tang, Junwu Shu, Weiming Wang, and Dongling Li. 2020. "Early to Mid-Holocene Palaeoenvironment Change and Sedimentary Evolution in the Xianghu Area, Zhejiang" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 19: 7099. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197099