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Main Authors: Zhao, Xueqin, Dupont, Lydie M, Cheddadi, Rachid, Kölling, Martin, Reddad, Hanane, Ain-Lhout, Fatima Zohra, Bouimetarhan, Ilham
Format: Dataset Open Access
Language:en
Published: PANGAEA 2018
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.896253
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author Zhao, Xueqin
Dupont, Lydie M
Cheddadi, Rachid
Kölling, Martin
Reddad, Hanane
Ain-Lhout, Fatima Zohra
Bouimetarhan, Ilham
author_facet Zhao, Xueqin
Dupont, Lydie M
Cheddadi, Rachid
Kölling, Martin
Reddad, Hanane
Ain-Lhout, Fatima Zohra
Bouimetarhan, Ilham
collection Datos científicos de ciencias marinas y ambientales
contents Morocco is an area subject to recurrent severe droughts, desertification and an increasing land degradation. It is within a Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity as it harbors many threatened endemic species such as the argan tree (Argania spinosa). In this context, past climate records are needed to analyze the impact of climate variability on the occurrence and future persistence of these endemic species. In order to evaluate the impact of past climate changes on the endemic Argan tree in southern Morocco, we reconstructed its modern range using an extensive pollen dataset. The modern pollen distribution off southwestern Morocco was then utilized to interpret the high-resolution pollen record with complementary micro-charcoal and XRF element records from a marine sediment core GeoB8601-3 off Cape Ghir in southwestern Morocco covering the last three millennia. This multi-proxy study has shown clear evidence of wetter conditions resulting in higher fluvial input which could be correlated with a negative mode of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), in contrast to the published pollen and XRF element records from another nearby core that showed limited effect of climate changes. On the other hand, clear opposite trend between the pollen occurrences of Argania spinosa and the fire frequency was observed throughout our fossil record. The increase of Argania spinosa pollen occurrences, along with herbaceous taxa, and lower fire frequency might suggest an increase in human impact on the landscape leading to a sparse vegetation cover and subsequently increased erosion. The reconstructed pollen-based vegetation, micro-charcoal-based fire activities and geochemical changes in our marine record suggest interplay of climate and anthropogenic effects on the landscape.
format Dataset Open Access
id pangaea_https___doi_org_10_1594_PANGAEA_896253
institution PANGAEA
language en
publishDate 2018
publisher PANGAEA
record_format pangaea
spellingShingle Pollen analysis of river surface sediment samples and marine sediment cores from southwestern Morocco
Zhao, Xueqin
Dupont, Lydie M
Cheddadi, Rachid
Kölling, Martin
Reddad, Hanane
Ain-Lhout, Fatima Zohra
Bouimetarhan, Ilham
Center for Marine Environmental Sciences; MARUM
Morocco is an area subject to recurrent severe droughts, desertification and an increasing land degradation. It is within a Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity as it harbors many threatened endemic species such as the argan tree (Argania spinosa). In this context, past climate records are needed to analyze the impact of climate variability on the occurrence and future persistence of these endemic species. In order to evaluate the impact of past climate changes on the endemic Argan tree in southern Morocco, we reconstructed its modern range using an extensive pollen dataset. The modern pollen distribution off southwestern Morocco was then utilized to interpret the high-resolution pollen record with complementary micro-charcoal and XRF element records from a marine sediment core GeoB8601-3 off Cape Ghir in southwestern Morocco covering the last three millennia. This multi-proxy study has shown clear evidence of wetter conditions resulting in higher fluvial input which could be correlated with a negative mode of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), in contrast to the published pollen and XRF element records from another nearby core that showed limited effect of climate changes. On the other hand, clear opposite trend between the pollen occurrences of Argania spinosa and the fire frequency was observed throughout our fossil record. The increase of Argania spinosa pollen occurrences, along with herbaceous taxa, and lower fire frequency might suggest an increase in human impact on the landscape leading to a sparse vegetation cover and subsequently increased erosion. The reconstructed pollen-based vegetation, micro-charcoal-based fire activities and geochemical changes in our marine record suggest interplay of climate and anthropogenic effects on the landscape.
title Pollen analysis of river surface sediment samples and marine sediment cores from southwestern Morocco
topic Center for Marine Environmental Sciences; MARUM
url https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.896253