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Late Holocene Environmental Change at Aqualate Mere Staffordshire, UK Ledger, P

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Late Holocene Environmental Change at Aqualate Mere Staffordshire, UK Ledger, P Late Holocene environmental change at Aqualate Mere Staffordshire, UK Ledger, P. Submitted version deposited in CURVE April 2011 Original citation: Ledger, P. (2010). Late Holocene environmental change at Aqualate Mere Staffordshire, UK. Unpublished MSc by Research Thesis. Coventry: Coventry University. Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. One map has been removed for copyright reasons. The unabridged version of the thesis can be viewed at the Lanchester Library, Coventry University. CURVE is the Institutional Repository for Coventry University http://curve.coventry.ac.uk/open 0 Late Holocene Environmental Change at Aqualate Mere, Staffordshire, U.K. P. M. Ledger A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the University’s requirements for the Degree of Master of Research 2010 Coventry University 1 Abstract Palaeoecologial reconstruction of the last 3000 years was undertaken on a core from Aqualate Mere, Staffordshire, U.K. Diatom analysis was the main tool used for reconstruction and the data were analysed in conjunction with previously acquired pollen and environmental magnetics data. Core chronology is provided by 14C and SCP measurements, also taken from previous work by Pittam (2006). The findings of the investigation point to a mixture of direct climatic forcing, human mediated climatic forcing, and direct anthropogenic forcing on palaeoecology. Evidence for the impact of Bond Event 2 ca. 850 B.C., firstly mediated through human populations, and secondly, more directly on the mere, is suggested. Investigation of past eutrophic history of the mere suggests a strongly meso-eutrophic system through the time period represented by this core. An intensely eutrophic system is identified between ca. 400±145 B.C. and 50±105 A.D. This is attributed to natural conditions, perhaps exacerbated, but not directly linked to human activity. Evidence of high human impact appears through the Roman Period with indications of a major palaeoecological perturbation dated to between ca. 415±75 and 530±70 A.D. This is linked to deforestation and catchment erosion. Indications are that this episode led to a major shift in palaeoecology and the establishment of a clear, shallow, macrophyte dominated system. 2 Acknowledgments First and foremost I would like to acknowledge the financial support that I received from the Sir Richard Stapley Educational Trust, which allowed me to pursue this Masters degree. Secondly I would like to thank Dr Jason Jordan and Professor Ian Foster who have supervised and supported me throughout this work. Additionally I would like to thank Dr Timothy Mighall of Aberdeen University for additional support and insight. I would also like to acknowledge the work of Nathan Pittam who carried out the ‘hard’ work of collecting and preparing the sediments used in this project. The depth and quality of analysis of this thesis would not have been possible, in the timescales allowed, if it were not for the work carried out as part of Nathan’s PhD thesis. Finally I would like to acknowledge the support of my family through this sometimes taxing period. Dad, Mum, Mark and Katie thanks for your help and support! 3 Contents List of Figures .............................................................................................................................. 7 List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... 9 Project Context & Aims ........................................................................................................... 10 1.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 10 1.1 Aqualate Mere............................................................................................................. 11 1.2 Project Aims ................................................................................................................ 12 1.3 Thesis Structure ........................................................................................................... 13 Literature Review ..................................................................................................................... 14 2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 Lakes as Archives and Sensors of Environmental Change........................................... 14 2.1.1 Palaeolimnology .................................................................................................. 15 2.1.2 Climatic Sensors .................................................................................................. 18 2.1.3 Anthropogenic Influences ................................................................................... 19 2.2 Unlocking & Reading Sedimentary Archives ............................................................... 19 2.2.1 Establishing a Chronology ................................................................................... 20 2.2.2 Radiocarbon (14C) Dating ..................................................................................... 21 2.2.3 Spheroidal Carbonaceous Particles ..................................................................... 23 2.2.4 Reading Archives: Diatoms .................................................................................. 23 2.2.5 Taxonomy ............................................................................................................ 24 2.2.6 Environmental Reconstruction ............................................................................ 25 2.2.7 Lake Level Reconstruction ................................................................................... 27 2.2.8 Diatoms and Climate ........................................................................................... 28 2.3 Climate and Vegetational Change ............................................................................... 29 2.3.1 Climate Cycles & Associated Events .................................................................... 30 2.3.2 Late Holocene Environmental Change (ca. 3500 B.P. to present) ...................... 31 2.3.3 Environmental Change in the English Midlands .................................................. 36 2.4 Chapter Summary........................................................................................................ 39 Site Setting ................................................................................................................................ 40 3.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 40 3.1 Aqualate Mere............................................................................................................. 40 4 3.1.1 Context ................................................................................................................ 40 3.1.2 Site Setting .......................................................................................................... 40 3.13 Geological Context .................................................................................................. 43 3.1.4 Lake & Catchment Morphology .......................................................................... 43 3.1.5 Previous Studies .................................................................................................. 44 Methodology .............................................................................................................................. 45 4.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 45 4.1 Field Work ................................................................................................................... 45 4.1.1 Site Walkover ...................................................................................................... 45 4.2 Palaeoecological Laboratory Methods ........................................................................ 46 4.2.1 Microfossil Preparation ....................................................................................... 46 4.2.2 Microfossil Counts ............................................................................................... 47 4.2.3 Sampling Strategy ................................................................................................ 48 4.3 Data Representation ................................................................................................... 49 4.3.1 Ecological Indices ................................................................................................ 49 4.3.2 Indices ................................................................................................................. 50 4.4 Previous Analyses ........................................................................................................ 51 4.4.1 Core Chronology .................................................................................................. 51 Results Analysis
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