Postglacial Development of Vegetation in the Vicinity of the Wigry Lake
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GEOCHRONOMETRIA 27 (2007), pp 53-66 DOI 10.2478/v10003-007-0018-x Available online at versita.metapress.com and www.geochronometria.pl POSTGLACIAL DEVELOPMENT OF VEGETATION IN THE VICINITY OF THE WIGRY LAKE MIROSŁAWA KUPRYJANOWICZ Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, University of Białystok, Świerkowa 20b, 15-950 Białystok, Poland Received 3 January 2007 Accepted 1 April 2007 Abstract: The Late Glacial and Holocene development of vegetation in the vicinity of the Wigry Lake is reconstructed using pollen analysis. The Late Glacial sediments include the Allerød and Younger Dryas chronozones. The Holocene section is complete. Pollen data combined with archaeo- logical evidence and radiocarbon dating permit the recognition and characterisation of human influ- ence on the local plant cover caused by settlers of Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures, by west Balts, by Grand Dukes of Lithuania and by Cameldolites order. On the basis of pollen analysis the development of aquatic and mire vegetation in the Wigry Lake is described. Keywords: pollen analysis, palaeoecological reconstruction, vegetation history, human impact, Late Glacial, Holocene, Lake Wigry, north-eastern Poland. 1. INTRODUCTION disciplinary project elaborated by Professor Jacek Rut- kowski contained numerous radiocarbon (Piotrowska and Attempts to reconstruct vegetation history in Suwałki Hajdas, 2006; Piotrowska et al., 2007) and lead region after retreat of the last glaciation were undertaken (Gąsiorowski and Hercman, unpublished) dating, pollen repeatedly (Fig. 1). The first report concerning these analysis (Kupryjanowicz, 2004a; 2006a; 2006b and Ku- problems was published in the middle thirties of the pre- pryjanowicz and Piotrowska, 2005), Cladocera analysis vious century (Bremówna and Sobolewska, 1934). Later (Zawisza and Szeroczyńska, 2006 and 2007), diatom the synthetic palaeobotanical study based on results of analysis and lithological and chemical analyses (Rut- pollen analysis from several lakes and mire was prepared kowski et al., 2002a; 2002b; 2006a; 2006b; 2007; Rut- by Ołtuszewski (1937). Unfortunately due to obsolete kowski and Król, 2006 and Osadczuk et al., 2006) of methods, nowadays both of these studies are unimportant examined profiles. It created an exceptional chance for for palaeobotanical reconstructions. The latest paly- modern detailed paleoecological reconstruction. nological data descend from the middle sixties and the The main objective of the palynological work pre- beginning of seventies (Stasiak 1963; 1965 and 1971). sented below was to recognise the stages of vegetation The lack of radiocarbon dating in analysed deposits is development in the Wigry region after the last glacial a big drawback of these studies. It causes that in none of period. the both latest synthetic studies showing vegetation de- velopment in Poland during the Late Glacial and Holo- 2. STUDY SITE cene, the Suwałki region is not represented by any local- ity (Ralska-Jasiewiczowa, 1989a and Ralska- The Wigry Lake is one of the biggest and deepest Jasiewiczowa et al., 2004a). lakes in Poland (area 21.2 km2, max. depth 73 m). The The latest borings at Słupiańska Bay of the Wigry different basins separated by islands and peninsulas, lead Lake supply several new profiles of bottom deposits and to isolation of water masses and habitat differences. make possible new undertaking of these problems. Inter- About 90% of the shoreline down to the depth of 1.5 m is bordered by emerged vegetation dominated by Phrag- mites. Submerged macrophytes occur down to the depth Corresponding author: M. Kupryjanowicz of 4.5 m and cover about 13% of the lake bottom. Due to e-mail: [email protected] the reduction of water transparency, some heliophilous ISSN 1897-1695 (online) © 2007 GADAM Centre, Institute of Physics, Silesian University of Technology. All rights reserved. POSTGLACIAL DEVELOPMENT OF VEGETATION IN THE VICINITY OF THE WIGRY LAKE Estonia limit of the Wigry Sweden National Park Russia Os in ki I Osinki II Latvia Osowa e e S 18 c lti 19 a B 17 Lithuania Suchar near 16 Krzywe Lake Russia 5 7 15 3 6 WZS Belarus 4 8 9 11 10 12 14 Such ar D em- 2 13 bowskich Lake 1 WZ S igry Poland L. W K rusznik Za kąty Ukraine 0 5km Fig. 1. Location of the studied site (WZS) and other localities cited in the text: 1 – Gniezno (Makohonienko, 2000), 2 – Lake Gościąż (Ralska- Jasiewiczowa et al., 1998c), 3 – Lake Miłki (Wacnik, 2003), 4 – Lake Mikołajki (Ralska-Jasiewiczwa, 1966 and 1989b), 5 – Osinki I and Osinki II (Ołtuszewski, 1937), 6 – Osowa (Stasiak, 1971), 7 – suchar near Krzywe Lake (Ołtuszewski, 1937), 8 – Suchar Dembowskich Lake (Ołtuszewski, 1937), 9 – Krusznik (Stasiak, 1971), 10 – Zakąty (Ołtuszewski, 1937), 11 – Kładkowe Bagno (Kupryjanowicz, 2004b), 12 – Maliszewo (Balwierz and Żurek, 1989), 13 – Stare Biele (Kupryjanowicz, 2000), 14 – Ozernoe 1 (Kryval'cevič and Simakova, 2004), 15 – Lakes Dūba and Pelesa (Stančikaitė et al., 2002), 16 – Biržulis Lake (Antanaitis-Jacobs and Stančikaitė, 2004), 17 – Kebeliai-2 (Antanaitis-Jacobs and Stančikaitė, 2004), 18 – Kasuciai Lake (Kisielienė et al., 2005), 19 – Grūda Lake (Kabailienė et al., 1997) species, such as Chara, decrease in number whereas a boreal character (Sokołowski, 1999). The most con- shade toleranting species increase (e.g. Fontinalis, Cera- spicuous differences in comparison with forests in other tophyllum). Plants are often covered with calcareous parts of Poland are the absence of beech (Fagus silva- encrustations. tica), fir (Abies alba) and broad-leaved linden (Tilia Detailed description of the Wigry Lake is comprised platyphyllos), and the abundance of spruce (Picea abies), in paper of Rutkowski et al., 2007. which occurs in almost all forest communities. Various topographic features, differentiation of soil 3. PRESENT-DAY CONDITIONS OF THE ENVI- fertility and moisture cause that nearly all forest commu- RONMENT IN THE STUDY AREA nities typical of north-eastern Poland may be found in the park. 112 plant associations occur here (Sokołowski, According to the regional division of Poland made for 1988 and 1999). Forest communities dominate and cover palaeobotanical studies, the Wigry Lake region belongs above 62% of the park. The most extensive area is occu- to the Suwałki-Augustów Lake District (P-y), which is pied by mixed forests, which are represented by 5 asso- the most north-eastern part of the larger unit – the Lake ciations: Calamagrostio-Piceetum, Calamagrostio- Districts (Ralska-Jasiewiczowa, 1989a). In the physical- Pinetum, Pino-Quercetum, Querco-Piceetum and Betulo geographical division it is assigned to two mezoregions – pubescentis-Piceetum. In northern and central part of the East Suwałki Lake District and Augustów Upland that are park Corylo-Piceetum dominates. The raised shores of parts of the Lithuania Lake District (Kondracki, 1994). lakes are overgrown mainly by Aceri-Tilietum. Alder The relief of the area was modelled by the Vistula woods, mostly Circaeo-Alnetum, more seldom Stellario- Glaciation (e.g. Ber, 2000; Marks, 2002). Alnetum and Piceo-Alnetum, are present along water- The Suwałki region with its continental climate is the course and in places of ground-water exudation. Ribo coldest region of Poland (Woś, 1995). The mean annual nigri-Alnetum dominates in sunken depressions, in which temperature there is equal to 5.3ºC (Krzysztofiak and also Sphagno squarrosi-Alnetum and Sphagno-Betuletum Olszewski, 1999). The growing season is exceptionally pubescentis may occur. Vaccinio uliginosi-Pinetum occu- short. It begins in the middle of April and lasts until the pies without-outflow depressions and shores of dys- middle of October – it is over one month shorter than in trophic lakes. Sphagno girgensohnii-Piceetum grows in central Poland. small areas in the vicinity of these lakes. At sandy dry The Wigry Lake lies in the central part of the Wigry soils Vaccinio vitis-idaeae-Pinetum is present. Here and National Park. The forests of the park constitute the there shrub communities such as Salicetum pentandro- northern part of the Augustów Primeval Forest, which cinereae and Salici-Sphagnetum accompany forests. covers almost 1 150 km2 and is one of the largest forest Deforested areas are occupied by cereal and root-plants complexes in Poland. The severe climate of north-eastern cultures, and grasslands, mainly by slightly moist mead- Poland results in the occurrence of forest communities of ows (Arrhenatheretum elatioris and Lolio-Cynosuretum). 54 M. Kupryjanowicz Large areas are overgrown by mire communities – of Table 1. Description of the deposits from WZS/03 core according to rised-bogs (Sphagnetum magellanici), of transitional Troels-Smith's system (Troels-Smith, 1955). mires (11 associations) and of lowland mires (tall-sedges Layer Depth Description Troels-Smith formula and typical rushes represented by numerous associations). (m) Isolated hills are covered by xerothermic communities, 1 5.26-5.00 Dark lacustrine sandy (As+Ag)3, Lc1, Ld+, mainly by Hieracio-Thymetum pulegioidis and Arc- mud with a low amount of Dg+, Dh+, Gg(min.)+, tostaphylo-Callunetum. carbonates and organic nig.2, elas.0, strf.0, The oldest archaeological findings proving man habi- matter sicc.3 tation around the Wigry Lake date back to the Late Pa- 2 5.00-4.20 Dark-grey calcareous Lc3, Ld1, Dg+, Dh+, laeolithic Age, that is more than 12 000 years ago. During gyttja (As+Ag)+, Gg(min.)+, the Mesolithic Wigry region was under the influence of nig.2, elas.1, strf.0, sicc.3 the Kunda cultures (Ambrosiewicz et al., 1997; Brzo- 3 4.20-0.86 White-beige lacustrine Lc4, Ld+, Dg+, Dh+, zowski and Siemaszko, 1993 and Brzozowski 1999). The chalk, very fine-grained (As+Ag)+, nig.0, elas.0, Neolithic settlements were associated with para-Neolithic and plastic strf.0, sicc.3 forest cultures. At the beginning of the Neolithic areas 4 0.86-0.10 White-beige lacustrine Lc4, Ld+, Dg+, Dh+, surrounding the Wigry Lake were also under the influ- chalk with increasing (As+Ag)+, nig.0, elas.0, ence of the Globular Amphore culture and later of the content of water, jellylike strf.0, sicc.2 Corded Ware culture.