Three Millennia of Vegetation, Land-Use, and Climate Change in SE Sicily

• DOI: 10.3390/f13010102
• Publication Date: 2022-01-11T19:05:07Z
• Authors: Fabrizio Michelan...; Federico Di Rita; Alessandra Celant; Nadine Tisnérat-L...; Fabrizio Lirer; Donatella Magri
• Keywords: Present day

This study presents the first Late Holocene marine pollen record (core ND2) from SE Sicily. It encompasses last 3000 years and is one of most detailed records south-central Mediterranean region in terms time resolution. The combined approach palynology historical ecology, supported by independent palaeoclimate proxies, provides an integrated regional reconstruction past vegetational dynamics relation to rapid climatic fluctuations, socio-economic processes, land-use practices, offering new insights into vegetation history Short-term variations sparse tree cover persistently open landscapes reflect hydroclimatic changes practices. Four main phases forest reduction are found 2.8 ka BP event, including Antique Little Ice Age, Medieval Climate Anomaly, respectively. Forest recovery recorded during Hellenistic Roman Republican Periods, Early Middle Ages, century. Agricultural silvicultural as well stock-breeding activities, had a primary role shaping current landscape