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Paleolimnological Records of Nutrient and Metal Profiles in Prehistoric, Historic and Modern Sediments of Three Lakes in North-eastern Germany

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Abstract

Sedimentprofiles of the last 4,000–14,000 years are presented from three dimictic lakes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (North-eastern Germany). Sedimentological composition, major trace elements and nutrients as well as parameter for core chronology (palynology, 14C-AMS) were investigated in order to reconstruct the historical development of the lakes during the Holocene. Palynological results reflect different human settlement phases and environmental changes from the late Pleistocene to the Subatlantic. Since the Middle Ages, a permanent settlement in the catchment area resulted in higher sedimentation rates in the three lakes. Variations in sediment composition like organic matter, carbonate and mineral content were caused by different land management techniques and natural changes in the catchment area. The phosphorus accumulation increased in the upper sediment layers, but the highest phosphorus accumulations were not found in the industrial phase, but in older sediments associated with human settlement activities in the catchment area. The heavy metals lead and zinc increase in the uppermost part of all three lakes reflecting the atmospheric anthropogenic input during the last 150–200 years.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Environment Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. We also gratefully acknowledge Dr. Bruhns and Dr. Nadeau from the Leibniz Laboratory of the University of Kiel for 14C-AMS dating the sediment cores. We thank Burkhard Scharf for many constructive comments on an earlier version of this publication.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Bio Science, Ecology, University of Rostock, Albert Einstein Str. 3, Rockstock, 18051, Germany

    U. Selig

  2. Marine Geology, Baltic Sea Research Institute, Seestr. 5, Rostock-Warnemünde, 18119, Germany

    Thomas Leipe

  3. Institute of Ur und Frühgeschichte, University of Kiel, Johann Mestorf Str. 2-6, 24118, Kiel, Germany

    Walter Dörfler

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  1. U. Selig
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Correspondence to U. Selig.

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Selig, U., Leipe, T. & Dörfler, W. Paleolimnological Records of Nutrient and Metal Profiles in Prehistoric, Historic and Modern Sediments of Three Lakes in North-eastern Germany. Water Air Soil Pollut 184, 183–194 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-007-9407-z

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