A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum
During the past 25 ka, southern Ethiopia has undergone tremendous climatic changes, from dry and relatively cold during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 25–18 ka) to the African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka), and back to present-day dry conditions. As a contribution to better understand the effects of c...
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MDPI AG
2021-10-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/10/418 |
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| author | Markus L. Fischer Felix Bachofer Chad L. Yost Ines J. E. Bludau Christian Schepers Verena Foerster Henry Lamb Frank Schäbitz Asfawossen Asrat Martin H. Trauth Annett Junginger |
| author_facet | Markus L. Fischer Felix Bachofer Chad L. Yost Ines J. E. Bludau Christian Schepers Verena Foerster Henry Lamb Frank Schäbitz Asfawossen Asrat Martin H. Trauth Annett Junginger |
| author_sort | Markus L. Fischer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the past 25 ka, southern Ethiopia has undergone tremendous climatic changes, from dry and relatively cold during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 25–18 ka) to the African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka), and back to present-day dry conditions. As a contribution to better understand the effects of climate change on vegetation and lakes, we here present a new Predictive Vegetation Model that is linked with a Lake Balance Model and available vegetation-proxy records from southern Ethiopia including a new phytolith record from the Chew Bahir basin. We constructed a detailed paleo-landcover map of southern Ethiopia during the LGM, AHP (with and without influence of the Congo Air Boundary) and the modern-day potential natural landcover. Compared to today, we observe a 15–20% reduction in moisture availability during the LGM with widespread open landscapes and only few remaining forest refugia. We identify 25–40% increased moisture availability during the AHP with prevailing forests in the mid-altitudes and indications that modern anthropogenic landcover change has affected the water balance. In comparison with existing archaeological records, we find that human occupations tend to correspond with open landscapes during the late Pleistocene and Holocene in southern Ethiopia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:31:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9b30c40799044e708977979eacf5e014 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T06:31:56Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geosciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-9b30c40799044e708977979eacf5e0142023-11-22T18:23:39ZengMDPI AGGeosciences2076-32632021-10-01111041810.3390/geosciences11100418A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial MaximumMarkus L. Fischer0Felix Bachofer1Chad L. Yost2Ines J. E. Bludau3Christian Schepers4Verena Foerster5Henry Lamb6Frank Schäbitz7Asfawossen Asrat8Martin H. Trauth9Annett Junginger10Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoelderlinstr. 12, 72074 Tuebingen, GermanyObservation Centre, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Muenchener Str. 29, 82234 Wessling, GermanyDepartment of Earth and Environmental Systems, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN 47809, USADepartment of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoelderlinstr. 12, 72074 Tuebingen, GermanyInstitute of Prehistoric Archaeology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyInstitute of Geography Education, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth SY23 3FL, UKInstitute of Geography Education, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Mining and Geological Engineering, Botswana International University of Science and Technology, Private Bag 16, Palapye, BotswanaInstitute of Geosciences, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, GermanyDepartment of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tuebingen, Hoelderlinstr. 12, 72074 Tuebingen, GermanyDuring the past 25 ka, southern Ethiopia has undergone tremendous climatic changes, from dry and relatively cold during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 25–18 ka) to the African Humid Period (AHP, 15–5 ka), and back to present-day dry conditions. As a contribution to better understand the effects of climate change on vegetation and lakes, we here present a new Predictive Vegetation Model that is linked with a Lake Balance Model and available vegetation-proxy records from southern Ethiopia including a new phytolith record from the Chew Bahir basin. We constructed a detailed paleo-landcover map of southern Ethiopia during the LGM, AHP (with and without influence of the Congo Air Boundary) and the modern-day potential natural landcover. Compared to today, we observe a 15–20% reduction in moisture availability during the LGM with widespread open landscapes and only few remaining forest refugia. We identify 25–40% increased moisture availability during the AHP with prevailing forests in the mid-altitudes and indications that modern anthropogenic landcover change has affected the water balance. In comparison with existing archaeological records, we find that human occupations tend to correspond with open landscapes during the late Pleistocene and Holocene in southern Ethiopia.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/10/418predictive vegetation modelboosted regression treeslake balance modelEast African rift systemEthiopiaChew Bahir |
| spellingShingle | Markus L. Fischer Felix Bachofer Chad L. Yost Ines J. E. Bludau Christian Schepers Verena Foerster Henry Lamb Frank Schäbitz Asfawossen Asrat Martin H. Trauth Annett Junginger A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum Geosciences predictive vegetation model boosted regression trees lake balance model East African rift system Ethiopia Chew Bahir |
| title | A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum |
| title_full | A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum |
| title_fullStr | A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum |
| title_short | A Phytolith Supported Biosphere-Hydrosphere Predictive Model for Southern Ethiopia: Insights into Paleoenvironmental Changes and Human Landscape Preferences since the Last Glacial Maximum |
| title_sort | phytolith supported biosphere hydrosphere predictive model for southern ethiopia insights into paleoenvironmental changes and human landscape preferences since the last glacial maximum |
| topic | predictive vegetation model boosted regression trees lake balance model East African rift system Ethiopia Chew Bahir |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3263/11/10/418 |
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