Application of palaeoecology for peatland conservation at Mossdale Moor, UK

McCarroll, J.; Chambers, F.M.; Webb, J.C.; Thom, T.

Abstract

© 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA In a recent discussion of research priorities for palaeoecology, it was suggested that palaeoecological data can be applied and used to inform nature conservation practice. The present study exemplifies this approach and was conducted on a degraded blanket mire in Yorkshire, UK, in collaboration with a field-based moorland restoration agency. High-resolution, multiproxy palaeoecological analyses on a peat core from Mossdale Moor reconstructed mid to late-Holocene vegetation changes. Humification, pollen, plant macrofossil and charcoal analyses carried out throughout the peat profile show marked changes in species composition and indicate their potential causes. Results suggest that human clearance in the Mesolithic–Neolithic transition may have initiated peat growth at Mossdale Moor, making this landscape ‘semi-natural’ in its origin. Further human-induced changes are identified at 1300 cal years BP, most likely clearance by fire, and between 20 and 0 cm depth where a substantial charcoal increase is interpreted as recent ( < 400 years) management practices using burning to encourage browse on the moor. The long-term ecological history of the moor, derived using palaeoecological techniques, will be used to inform conservation practice and to help set feasible targets for restoration and conservation at Mossdale Moor.

Citation

McCarroll, J., Chambers, F., Webb, J., & Thom, T. (2017). Application of palaeoecology for peatland conservation at Mossdale Moor, UK. Quaternary International, 432, 39-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.12.068

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Jan 24, 2015
• Publication Date: 2017-03
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2018
• Journal: Quaternary International
• Print ISSN: 1040-6182
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 432
• Pages: 39-47
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.12.068
• Keywords: Earth-Surface Processes
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/597010
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S104061821500004X?via%3Dihub
• Related Public URLs: http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/1339/
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Application of palaeoecology for peatland conservation at Mossdale Moor, UK; Journal Title: Quaternary International; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.12.068; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2015 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.