Macrofossil and Leaf Wax Biomarkers Reveal Vegetational and Climate History of Tamarack Pond, Black Rock Forest, Southeastern New York

Abstract:

Tamarack Pond (41.39500°N 74.02505°W) is located at an elevation of 1305 ft, within the variable topography (Fig. 3) of Black Rock Forest, a 3830-acre oak (Quercus) dominated forest located in the Hudson Highlands Physiographic Province in southeastern New York State. A 7.2 m core retrieved in 4 m of water with a modified Livingstone piston corer was subsampled at 2 and 4-cm intervals from the base of the core through the early Holocene. 

The basal date of 16, 200 cal. yr BP on Dryas integrifolia leaves in inorganic clays demonstrates the pond formation in a landscape of sparse tundra with Salix, Daphnia, and craneflies. Subsequent inorganic layers record Dryas, Salix, Alnus, Polytrichum juniperum, Sphagnum, and bryozoan statoblasts. A dramatic shift to 25% organic matter in the pond records Picea needles and the first record of charcoal. Continued increases in LOI in the pond are correlative with the presence of Abies balsamea and Betula papyrifera appears as the boreal forest develops and tundra disappears. A return to colder conditions is suggested with a slight decline in LOI as Betula glandulosa and Larix laricina are present along with the boreal mixture, and a large increase in Daphnia ephippia. A return to warmer conditions ensues with the decline of the boreal conifers and the presence of Tsuga canadensis. Leaf wax data will be presented along with the macrofossil results.