Middle-Holocene alluvial forests and associated fluvial environments: A multi-proxy reconstruction from the lower Scheldt, N Belgium

• DOI: 10.1177/0959683614544059
• Publication Date: 2014-08-22T05:19:08Z
• Authors: Koen Deforce; Annelies Storme; Jan Bastiaens; Sofie Debruyne; Luc Denys; Anton Ervynck; Erwin Meylemans; Herman Stieperaere; Wim Van Neer; Philippe Crombé
• Keywords: Macrofossil; Subfossil; Alluvial plain; Paleoecology

Analyses of pollen, plant macrofossils (seeds, fruits, wood and mosses), molluscs, diatoms vertebrate (mainly fish) remains allowed a detailed reconstruction middle-Holocene alluvial forest its associated hydrological conditions. The use multiple proxies resulted in taxonomically more environmentally comprehensive understanding terrestrial as well aquatic habitats. results demonstrate possible biases palaeoecological reconstructions estuarine environments drawn from single proxies. Many locally occurring woody taxa were underrepresented or remained undetected by pollen analyses. Seeds fruits also proved to be inadequate detect several important taxa, such Ulmus Hedera helix. Apparently brackish conditions inferred diatoms, other microfossils conflicted strikingly with the evidence fish bones botanical macroremains which suggest freshwater environment. Brackish sediment (and microfossil indicators) is likely have been deposited during spring tides storm surges, when waters penetrated inland than usual. Despite reworking deposition saltmarsh above tidal node at events, local salinity levels largely unaffected.