Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Holocene Climate and the Development of a Subarctic Peatland near Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Multi-proxy paleoecological analyses were carried out on cores from a peatland in the continuous permafrost zone, to determine the effect of past climatic change on peatland development. Stratigraphy, bulk density and organic matter content were analyzed for eight cores from Campbell Creek peatland (69°17.3′N, 133°15′W). Detailed pollen and macrofossil analyses were carried out on two cores, and stable isotope analysis on one of those cores. The results indicate a succession, starting at 9000-9500 BP, from an open water mineral wetland with aquatic plants, to a fen dominated by Drepanocladus mosses and sedges, and then a change to a Sphagnum-dominated ombrotrophic vegetation typical of most of the peatland today. The beginning of the latter transition appears to coincide with the end of the early Holocene warm period. The physical stratigraphies of the other six cores indicate that a similar successional sequence occurred across the peatland, with some local variation. The transition to ombrotrophic conditions may be associated with the aggradation of permafrost in the peatland, in response to regional cooling. The effect of climate cooling on the peatland was probably indirect, through the aggradation of permafrost and associated hydrological changes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrew, R.: 1984, A Practical Pollen Guide to the British Flora. Technical Guide No. 1, Cambridge, Quaternary Research Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Artjuschenko, Z., 1990, Organographia Illustrata Plamartum Vasculartum. Academia Scientarium URSS, Institutum Botanicum Nomina V. Komarovii (In Russian).

  • Bengtsson, L. and Enell, M.: 1984, ‘Chemical Analysis’, in Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. B. E. Berglund (ed.). Chichester, Wiley. pp. 423–451.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berggren, G.: 1969, Atlas of Seeds and Small Fruits of Northwest-European Plant Species, with Morphological Descriptions: Part 2. Cyperaceae. Swedish Museum of Natural History.

  • Billings, W. D., Luken, J. O., Mortensen, D. A., and Peterson, K. M.: 1982, ‘Arctic Tundra: A Source or Sink for Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide in a Changing Environment?’ Oecologia 53, 7–11.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, W. D., Luken, J. O., Mortensen, D. A., and Peterson, K. M.: 1983, ‘Increasing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Possible Effects on Arctic Tundra’, Oecologia 58, 286–289.

    Google Scholar 

  • Billings, W. D. and Peterson, K. M.: 1990, ‘Some Possible Effects of Climatic Warming on the Arctic Tundra Ecosystems of the Alaskan North Slope’, in Consequences of the Greenhouse Effect for Biological Diversity. New Haven, Connecticut, Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Burn, C. R.: 1997, ‘Cryostratigraphy, Paleoecology, and Climate Change During the Early Holocene Warm Interval, Western Arctic Coast, Canada’, Can. J. Earth Sci. 34, 912–925.

    Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, M. C., Shepherd, J. J., Rouse, J. D., and Moore, G. R.: 1982, ‘Reduction of Water With Zinc for Hydrogen Isotope Analysis’, Analy. Chem. 54, 993–995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cwynar, L. C., 1982, ‘A Late-Quaternary Climatic and Vegetation History from Hanging Lake, Northern Yukon, Ecol. Monogr. 52, 1–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cwynar, L. C., Burden, E. and McAndrews, J. H.: 1979, ‘An Inexpensive Sieving Method for Concentrating Pollen and Spores from Fine-grained Sediments’, Can. J. Earth Sci. 16, 1115–1120.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean, W. E. Jr.: 1974, ‘Determination of Carbonate and Organic Matter in Calcareous Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks by Loss-on-Ignition: Comparison with Other Methods,’ J. Sed. Petr. 44, 242–248.

    Google Scholar 

  • Emanuel, W., Shugart, H., and Stevenson, M.: 1985, ‘Climatic Change and the Broad-Scale Distribution of Terrestrial Ecosystem Complexes’, Clim. Change 7, 29–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Environment Canada: 1993, ‘Canadian Climate Normals 1961–1990; Vol. 3, Yukon and Northwest Territories’, Downsview, Ontario, Atmospheric Environment Service.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, S., and Mayeda, T. K.: 1953, ‘Variation of 18O Content of Waters from Natural Sources. Geochim. et Cosmochem. Acta 4, 213–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faegri, K., and Iversen, J.: 1989, Textbook of Pollen Analysis, 4th Edition’, (revised by K. Faegri, P. E. Kaland and K. Krzyinski). Chichester, Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibson, J. J., Edwards, T. W. D., and Prowse, T. D.: 1994, ‘Evaporation in the North: Overview of Quantitative Studies Using Stable Isotopes’, in Mackenzie Basin Impact Study(MBIS) Interim Report #2, S. J. Cohen (Ed.), Environment Canada, pp. 138–150.

  • Gorham, E.: 1988, ‘Canada's Peatlands: Their Importance for the Global Carbon Cycle and Possible Effects of “Greenhouse” Climatic Warming’, Trans. Royal Soc. Canada 3, 21–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorham, E.: 1990, ‘Biotic Impoverishment in the Northern Peatlands’, in The Earth in Transition: Patterns and Processes of Biotic Impoverishment, G. H. Woodwell (Ed.), New York, Cambridge University Press. Pp. 65–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorham, E.: 1991, ‘Northern Peatlands: Role in the Carbon Cycle and Probable Response to Climatic Warming’, Ecol. Applications 1, 182–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gorham, E. and Janssens, J. A.: 1992, ‘The Paleorecord of Geochemistry and Hydrology in Northern Peatlands and its Relation to Global Change’, Suo 43, 117–126.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groffman, P. and Taylor, M.: 1996, ‘Non-tidal Wetlands’, in Climate Change 1995, R. T. Watson, M. C. Zinyowera, R. H. Moss and D. Dokken (eds.). Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, pp. 217–239.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hansen, J. and Lebedeff, S.: 1987, ‘Global Trends of Measured Surface Air Temperatures’, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 13345–13372.

    Google Scholar 

  • Houghton, J. T., Jenkins, G. J. and Ephraums, J. J. (eds.): 1990, Climate Change: The IPCC Scientific Assessment. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Janssen, J. A.: 1989, Ecology of Peatland Bryophytes and Paleoenvironmental Reconstruction of peatlands Using Fossil Bryophytes, University of Minnesota, Limnological Research Center Contribution No. 346.

  • Levésque, P. E. M., Dinel, H. and Larouche, A.: 1988, Guide to the Identification of Plant Macrofossils in Canadian Peatlands, Research Branch, Agriculture Canada Publications No. 1817. Land Resource Centre, Ottawa.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacCracken, M., Hecht, A., Budenko, M. and Israel, Y.: 1990, Prospects for Future Climate. New York, Lewis.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, G. M., Edwards, T. W. D., Moser, K. T., Peinitz, R. and Smol, J. P.: 1993, ‘Rapid response of treeline vegetation and lakes to past climate warming. Nature, 361, 243–246.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, J. R.: 1993, ‘Air Temperature, Snow Cover, Creep of Frozen Ground and the Time of Ice-Wedge Cracking, Western Arctic Coast’, Can. J. Earth Sci. 30, 1720–1729.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mackay, J. R. and Terasmae, J.: 1963, ‘Pollen Diagrams in the Mackenzie Delta Area, N.W.T.’, Arctic 16, 229–238.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A. C. and Barkley, W. D.: 1961, Seed Identification Manual, Berkley and Los Angeles, University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Maxwell, B.: 1992, ‘Arctic Climate: Potential for Change Under Global Warming’, in Arctic Ecosystems in a Changing Climate: An Ecophysiological Perspective, F.S. Chapin III, R.L. Jeffries, J.F. Reynolds, G.S. Shaver and J. Svoboda (eds.), New York, Academic Press. pp. 11–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAndrews, J. H., Berti, A. A., Norris, G.: 1973, Key to the Quaternary Pollen and Spores of the Great Lakes Region, Life Sciences Miscellaneous Publication, Royal Ontario Museum. Toronto, University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michel, F. A., and Fritz, P.: 1980, ‘Laboratory and Field Studies to Investigate Isotope Effects Occurring During the Formation of Permafrost, Part II’, Waterloo Research Institute, University of Waterloo and Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Earth Physics Branch, Open File 80-11, 139 p.

  • Michel, F. A., and Fritz, P.: 1981, ‘Laboratory and Field Studies to Investigate Isotope Effects Occurring During the Formation of Permafrost, Part III’, Waterloo Research Institute, University of Waterloo and Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Earth Physics Branch, Open File 81-5. 57 p.

  • Miller, P. C. (Ed.): 1981, Carbon Balance in Northern Ecosystems and the Potential Effect of Carbon Dioxide Induced Climatic Change. United States Department of Energy (CONF-8003118), Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Montgomery, F. H.: 1977, Seeds and Fruits of Plants of Eastern Canada and the Northeastern United States, Toronto, University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, P. D., Webb, J. A. and Collinson, M. E.: 1991, Pollen Analysis, 2nd Edition. Blackwell Scientific, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Wetlands Working Group: 1988, Wetlands of Canada, Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 24. Sustainable Development Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa, Ontario and Polyscience Publications, Montreal, Quebec. 452 p.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, H.: 1974, ‘Arctic North American Palcoecology: The Recent History of Vegetation and Climate Deduced from Pollen Analysis’, in Arctic and Alpine Environments, J. D. Ives and R. G. Barry (Ed.), London, Methuen. pp. 637–667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nichols, H.: 1975, Palynological and Paleoclimatic Study of the Late Quaternary Displacement of the Boreal Forest-Tundra Ecotone in Keewatin and Mackenzie, N.W.T. Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research Occasional Paper 15. Boulder, University of Colorado.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ovenden, L.: 1982, ‘Vegetation History of a Polygonal Peatland, Northern Yukon (Canada)’, Boreas 11, 209–224.

    Google Scholar 

  • Payette, S.: 1988, ‘Late-Holocene Development of Subarctic Ombrotrophic Peatlands: Allogenic and Autogenic Succession.’ Ecology 69, 516–531.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rampton, V. N.: 1988, ‘Surficial Geology of the Tuktoyaktuk Coastlands, N.W.T.’, Geological Survey of Canada Memoir 423 and Map 1647A, 1:500,000.

  • Ritchie, J. C.: 1960, ‘The Vegetation of Northern Manitoba III; Studies in the Subarctic,’ Arctic Institute of North America, Technical Paper No. 3. 56 p.

  • Ritchie, J. C.: 1977, ‘The Modern and Late-quaternary Vegetation of the Campbell-Dolomite Uplands Near Inuvik, N.W.T., Canada’, Ecol. Mono. 47, 401–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C.: 1984, Past and Present Vegetation of the Far Northwest of Canada. Toronto, University of Toronto Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C.: 1985, ‘Late Quaternary Climatic and Vegetational Change in the Lower Mackenzie Basin, Northwest Canada’, Ecology 66, 612–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C., Cwynar, L. C. and Spear, R.W.: 1983, ‘Evidence from North-West Canada for an Early Holocene Milankovitch Thermal Maximum’, Nature 305, 126–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C. and Hare, F. K.: 1971, ‘Late-Quaternary Vegetation and Climate Near the Arctic Treeline of Northwestern North America’, Quat. Res. 1, 331–342.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritchie, J. C. and Harrison, S. P.: 1993, ‘Vegetation, Lake Levels and Climate in Western Canada During the Holocene’, in H. E. Wright, Jr., J. E. Kutzbach, T. Webb III, W. F. Ruddiman, F. A. Street Perrott, and P. J. Bartlein (eds.), Global Climates Since the Last Glacial Maximum, Minneapolis, University of Minnesota Press, pp. 401–414.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rizzo, B. and Wilken, E.: 1992, ‘Assessing the Sensitivity of Canada's Ecosystems to Climatic Change’, Clim. Change 21, 37–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoch, W. H., Pawlik, B. and Schweingruber, F. H.: 1988, Botanical Macroremains. Berne and Stuttgart, Paul Haupt.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stockmarr, J.: 1971, ‘Tablets with Spores used in Absolute Pollen Analysis’, Pollen et Spores 13, 615–621.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tarnocai, C., Kettles, I. M., and Ballard, M.: 1995, Peatlands of Canada, Geological Survey of Canada Open File 3152.

  • Tarnocai, C. and Zoltai, S. C.: 1988, ‘Wetlands of Arctic Canada’, in Wetlands of Canada, National Wetlands Working Group. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 24, Sustainable Development Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa Ontario, Montreal, Polyscience pp. 27–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vardy, S. R., Warner, B. G. and Aravena, R.: 1997, ‘Holocene Climate Effects on the Development of a Peatland on the Tuktoyaktuk Peninsula, Northwest Territories’, Quat. Res. 47, 90–104.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veillette, J. J. and Nixon, F. M.: 1980, ‘Portable Drilling Equipment for Shallow Permafrost Sampling’, Geological Survey of Canada Paper 79-21.

  • Zoltai, S. C.: 1988, ‘Wetland Environments and Classification’, in Wetlands of Canada, National Wetlands Working Group. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 24, Sustainable Development Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa Ontario. Polyscience, Montreal. pp. 3–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoltai, S. C.: 1995, ‘Regional Variations in Peatland Ecosystems of West-Central Canada Through Time’, Gunneria 70, 35–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoltai, S. C. and Pettapiece, W. W.: 1973, ‘Terrain, Vegetation and Permafrost Relationships in the Northern Part of the Mackenzie Valley and Northern Yukon’, Environmental-Social Committee, Northern Pipelines. Task Force on Northern Oil Development. report NO. 73-4. 105 p.

  • Zoltai, S. C. and Tarnocai, C.: 1975, ‘Perennially Frozen Peatlands in the Western Arctic and Subarctic of Canada’, Can. J. Earth Sci. 12, 28–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zoltai, S. C., Tarnocai, C., Mills, G. F., and Veldhuis, H.: 1988, ‘Wetlands of Subarctic Canada’, in Wetlands of Canada, National Wetlands Working Group. Ecological Land Classification Series, No. 24, Sustainable Development Branch, Environment Canada, Ottawa Ontario. Polyscience, Montreal. pp. 55–96.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Sheila R. Vardy & Barry G. Warner

  2. Department of Earth Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Ramon Aravena

Authors
  1. Sheila R. Vardy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Barry G. Warner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ramon Aravena
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vardy, S.R., Warner, B.G. & Aravena, R. Holocene Climate and the Development of a Subarctic Peatland near Inuvik, Northwest Territories, Canada. Climatic Change 40, 285–313 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005473021115

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005473021115

Search

Navigation