The palaeoenvironmental development of the northeastern Vietnamese Mekong River Delta since the mid Holocene
Date
2010
Authors
Proske, Ulrike
Hanebuth, Till J.J.
Behling, Hermann
Nguyen, Van Lap
Oanh Ta, Thi Kim
Diem, Bui Phat
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Volume Title
Publisher
Sage Publications Inc
Abstract
Three radiocarbon-dated sediment cores from the northeastern Vietnamese Mekong River Delta have been analysed with a multiproxy approach (grain size, pollen and spores, macro-charcoal, carbon content) to unravel the palaeoenvironmental history of the region since the mid Holocene. During the mid-Holocene sea-level highstand a diverse, zoned and widespread mangrove belt (dominated by Rhizophora) covered the extended tidal flats. The subsequent regression and coeval delta progradation led to the rapid development of a back-mangrove community dominated by Ceriops and Bruguiera but also represented locally by e.g. Kandelia, Excoecaria and Phoenix. Along rivers this community seems to have endured even when the adjoining floodplain had already shifted to freshwater vegetation. Generally this freshwater vegetation has a strong swamp signature but locally Arecaceae, Fabaceae, Moraceae/ Urticaceae and Myrsinaceae are important and mirror the geomorphological diversity of the delta plain. The macro-charcoal record implies that natural burning of vegetation occurred throughout the records, however, the occurrence of the highest amounts of macro-charcoal particles is linked with modern human activity.
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Keywords
Keywords: anthropogenic effect; biomass burning; charcoal; delta; floodplain; geomorphological response; grain size; highstand; Holocene; legume; mangrove; Miocene; paleoclimate; paleoecology; paleoenvironment; palynology; radiocarbon dating; sea level change; sedi Holocene; macro-charcoal; modern human impact; palaeoenvironment; pollen; Vietnamese Mekong River Delta
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Source
Holocene
Type
Journal article
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2037-12-31
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