Sphagnum delta C-13 values as indicators of palaeohydrological changes in a peat bog Academic Article

abstract

• Late-Holocene peat stratigraphy of a Canadian boreal peat bog was examined to evaluate the potential of Sphagnum 13C values as surface moisture proxy indicators. Isotopic measurements were compared to testate amoebae-inferred water-table depth reconstructions, plant macrofossil assemblages and past decomposition levels inferred by colorimetric humification. AMS radiocarbon dates were coupled with 210Pb dates to establish peat chronology. Although the mechanisms underlying carbon fractionation processes in peatlands are not well understood, we demonstrate that Sphagnum 13C values have potential for palaeohydrological reconstructions, since variations presented by the isotopic values can generally be correlated with the other proxy records, especially during drier episodes.

authors

• Loisel, Julie

published proceedings

• HOLOCENE

author list (cited authors)

• Loisel, J., Garneau, M., & Helie, J.

citation count

• 49

complete list of authors

• Loisel, Julie||Garneau, Michelle||Helie, Jean-Francois

publication date

• March 2010

publisher

• SAGE Publications  Publisher

published in

• The Holocene: a major interdisciplinary journal focusing on recent environmental change  Journal

keywords

• Canada
• Carbon Isotopes
• Late-holocene
• Peat Bogs
• Sphagnum
• Testate Amoebae

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1177/0959683609350389

start page

• 285

end page

• 291

volume

• 20

issue

• 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0959683609350389