A multi-proxy paleolimnological reconstruction of Holocene climate conditions in the Great Basin, United States

Scott A. Reinemann; David F. Porinchu; Amy M. Bloom; Bryan G. Mark; Jason E. Box

doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003

A multi-proxy paleolimnological reconstruction of Holocene climate conditions in the Great Basin, United States

Scott A. Reinemann
, David F. Porinchu
, Amy M. Bloom
, Bryan G. Mark
, Jason E. Box

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

48 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A sediment core spanning ∼ 7000 cal yr BP recovered from Stella Lake, a small sub-alpine lake located in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, was analyzed for subfossil chironomids (non-biting midges), diatoms, and organic content (estimated by loss-on-ignition (LOI)). Subfossil chironomid analysis indicates that Stella Lake was characterized by a warm, middle Holocene, followed by a cool "Neoglacial" period, with the last two millennia characterized by a return to warmer conditions. Throughout the majority of the core the Stella Lake diatom-community composition is dominated by small, periphytic taxa which are suggestive of shallow, cool, alkaline, oligotrophic waters with extensive seasonal ice cover. A reconstruction of mean July air temperature (MJAT) was developed by applying a midge-based inference model for MJAT (two-component WA-PLS) consisting of 79 lakes and 54 midge taxa (r_jack² = 0.55, RMSEP = 0.9°C). Comparison of the chironomid-inferred temperature record to existing regional paleoclimate reconstructions suggests that the midge-inferred temperatures correspond well to regional patterns. This multi-proxy record provides valuable insight into regional Holocene climate and environmental conditions by providing a quantitative reconstruction of peak Holocene warmth and aquatic ecosystem response to these changes in the Great Basin, a region projected to experience increased aridity and higher temperatures.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	347-358
Number of pages	12
Journal	Quaternary Research
Volume	72
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003
Publication status	Published - Nov 2009
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 13 Climate Action

Keywords

Alpine
Chironomids
Climate change
Diatoms
Great Basin
Great Basin National Park
Holocene
Paleoclimatology
Paleolimnology
Temperature
western United States

Programme Area

Programme Area 5: Nature and Climate

Access to Document

10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003

Cite this

@article{6af9e76c99134a368fae2b80b107b642,

title = "A multi-proxy paleolimnological reconstruction of Holocene climate conditions in the Great Basin, United States",

abstract = "A sediment core spanning ∼ 7000 cal yr BP recovered from Stella Lake, a small sub-alpine lake located in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, was analyzed for subfossil chironomids (non-biting midges), diatoms, and organic content (estimated by loss-on-ignition (LOI)). Subfossil chironomid analysis indicates that Stella Lake was characterized by a warm, middle Holocene, followed by a cool {"}Neoglacial{"} period, with the last two millennia characterized by a return to warmer conditions. Throughout the majority of the core the Stella Lake diatom-community composition is dominated by small, periphytic taxa which are suggestive of shallow, cool, alkaline, oligotrophic waters with extensive seasonal ice cover. A reconstruction of mean July air temperature (MJAT) was developed by applying a midge-based inference model for MJAT (two-component WA-PLS) consisting of 79 lakes and 54 midge taxa (rjack2 = 0.55, RMSEP = 0.9°C). Comparison of the chironomid-inferred temperature record to existing regional paleoclimate reconstructions suggests that the midge-inferred temperatures correspond well to regional patterns. This multi-proxy record provides valuable insight into regional Holocene climate and environmental conditions by providing a quantitative reconstruction of peak Holocene warmth and aquatic ecosystem response to these changes in the Great Basin, a region projected to experience increased aridity and higher temperatures.",

keywords = "Alpine, Chironomids, Climate change, Diatoms, Great Basin, Great Basin National Park, Holocene, Paleoclimatology, Paleolimnology, Temperature, western United States",

author = "Reinemann, \{Scott A.\} and Porinchu, \{David F.\} and Bloom, \{Amy M.\} and Mark, \{Bryan G.\} and Box, \{Jason E.\}",

note = "Funding Information: We thank Gretchen Baker (Staff Ecologist, Great Basin National Park, GBNP) and Cindy Nielsen (Superintendent, GBNP) for providing access to the research sites and facilitating our research, and Terry and Debbie Steadman for providing logistical support and local knowledge. We also thank Adam Herrington and Jim DeGrand for their unyielding assistance in the field. We would like to thank Jay Quade, Scott Starratt and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments on the original manuscript. We acknowledge The Western National Park Association (WPNA) and the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University for funding this research. ",

year = "2009",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003",

language = "English",

volume = "72",

pages = "347--358",

journal = "Quaternary Research",

issn = "0033-5894",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "3",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - A multi-proxy paleolimnological reconstruction of Holocene climate conditions in the Great Basin, United States

AU - Reinemann, Scott A.

AU - Porinchu, David F.

AU - Bloom, Amy M.

AU - Mark, Bryan G.

AU - Box, Jason E.

N1 - Funding Information: We thank Gretchen Baker (Staff Ecologist, Great Basin National Park, GBNP) and Cindy Nielsen (Superintendent, GBNP) for providing access to the research sites and facilitating our research, and Terry and Debbie Steadman for providing logistical support and local knowledge. We also thank Adam Herrington and Jim DeGrand for their unyielding assistance in the field. We would like to thank Jay Quade, Scott Starratt and an anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments on the original manuscript. We acknowledge The Western National Park Association (WPNA) and the Department of Geography at The Ohio State University for funding this research.

PY - 2009/11

Y1 - 2009/11

N2 - A sediment core spanning ∼ 7000 cal yr BP recovered from Stella Lake, a small sub-alpine lake located in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, was analyzed for subfossil chironomids (non-biting midges), diatoms, and organic content (estimated by loss-on-ignition (LOI)). Subfossil chironomid analysis indicates that Stella Lake was characterized by a warm, middle Holocene, followed by a cool "Neoglacial" period, with the last two millennia characterized by a return to warmer conditions. Throughout the majority of the core the Stella Lake diatom-community composition is dominated by small, periphytic taxa which are suggestive of shallow, cool, alkaline, oligotrophic waters with extensive seasonal ice cover. A reconstruction of mean July air temperature (MJAT) was developed by applying a midge-based inference model for MJAT (two-component WA-PLS) consisting of 79 lakes and 54 midge taxa (rjack2 = 0.55, RMSEP = 0.9°C). Comparison of the chironomid-inferred temperature record to existing regional paleoclimate reconstructions suggests that the midge-inferred temperatures correspond well to regional patterns. This multi-proxy record provides valuable insight into regional Holocene climate and environmental conditions by providing a quantitative reconstruction of peak Holocene warmth and aquatic ecosystem response to these changes in the Great Basin, a region projected to experience increased aridity and higher temperatures.

AB - A sediment core spanning ∼ 7000 cal yr BP recovered from Stella Lake, a small sub-alpine lake located in Great Basin National Park, Nevada, was analyzed for subfossil chironomids (non-biting midges), diatoms, and organic content (estimated by loss-on-ignition (LOI)). Subfossil chironomid analysis indicates that Stella Lake was characterized by a warm, middle Holocene, followed by a cool "Neoglacial" period, with the last two millennia characterized by a return to warmer conditions. Throughout the majority of the core the Stella Lake diatom-community composition is dominated by small, periphytic taxa which are suggestive of shallow, cool, alkaline, oligotrophic waters with extensive seasonal ice cover. A reconstruction of mean July air temperature (MJAT) was developed by applying a midge-based inference model for MJAT (two-component WA-PLS) consisting of 79 lakes and 54 midge taxa (rjack2 = 0.55, RMSEP = 0.9°C). Comparison of the chironomid-inferred temperature record to existing regional paleoclimate reconstructions suggests that the midge-inferred temperatures correspond well to regional patterns. This multi-proxy record provides valuable insight into regional Holocene climate and environmental conditions by providing a quantitative reconstruction of peak Holocene warmth and aquatic ecosystem response to these changes in the Great Basin, a region projected to experience increased aridity and higher temperatures.

KW - Alpine

KW - Chironomids

KW - Climate change

KW - Diatoms

KW - Great Basin

KW - Great Basin National Park

KW - Holocene

KW - Paleoclimatology

KW - Paleolimnology

KW - Temperature

KW - western United States

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/70349976259

U2 - 10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003

DO - 10.1016/j.yqres.2009.06.003

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:70349976259

SN - 0033-5894

VL - 72

SP - 347

EP - 358

JO - Quaternary Research

JF - Quaternary Research

IS - 3

ER -

A multi-proxy paleolimnological reconstruction of Holocene climate conditions in the Great Basin, United States

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Programme Area

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