Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-g7gxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-15T13:21:51.322Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Organic stable carbon isotopic composition reveals late Quaternary vegetation changes in the dune fields of northern China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Huayu Lu ,
Yali Zhou ,
Weiguo Liu  and
Joseph Mason
Huayu Lu*
Affiliation:
School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, the MOE Key Laboratory of Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706, USA
Yali Zhou
Affiliation:
College of Tourism and Environment, Shaanxi Normal University, Xian 710062, China
Weiguo Liu
Affiliation:
Institute of Earth Environment, State Key Laboratory of Loess and Quaternary Geology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xian 710075, China
Joseph Mason
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University of Wisconsin Madison, WI 53706, USA
*
*Corresponding author at: School of Geographic and Oceanographic Sciences, the MOE Key Laboratory of Coast and Island Development, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. E-mail address:[email protected] (H. Lu).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Vegetation changes during the late Quaternary in the dune fields of northern China are not well understood. We investigated organic carbon stable isotopic composition of surface soils, related mainly to the ratio of C3 and C4 plants, across a range of arid to subhumid climates in this region. Isotopic composition is weakly related to both temperature and moisture (multiple R2 = 0.53), with the highest δ13C (greatest C4 abundance) in the warm, subhumid Horqin dune field. In late Quaternary, eolian stratigraphic sections of the Mu Us and Horqin dune fields, but not in the much colder Otindag dune field, δ13C is higher in organic carbon from paleosols than in eolian sands. This contrast, most evident for paleosols recording a major early to middle Holocene phase of dune stabilization, is interpreted as evidence for expansion of C4 plants due to increased effective moisture, high temperature because of high insolation, and decreased disturbance related to eolian erosion and deposition.

Keywords

Dune fieldsStable carbon isotopesC4 plantsVegetation changesClimatic changeNorthern ChinaLate Quaternary
Type
Original Articles
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 77 , Issue 3 , May 2012 , pp. 433 - 444
Copyright
University of Washington

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

An, Z.S., Huang, Y.S., Liu, W.G., Guo, Z.T., Clemens, S.C., Li, L., Prell, W.L., Ning, Y.F., Cai, Y.J., Zhou, W.J., Zhang, Q.L., Cao, Y.N., Qiang, X.K., Chang, H., Wu, Z.K., (2005). Multiple expansions of C4 plant biomass in East Asia since 7 Ma coupled with strengthened monsoon circulation. Geology. 33, 705–708.Google Scholar
Auerswald, K., Wittmer, M., Tannel, T.M., Bai, Y.F., Schaufele, R., Schnyder, H., (2009). Large regional-scale variation in C3/C4 distribution pattern of Inner Mongolia steppe is revealed by grazer wool carbon isotope composition. Biogeosciences Discussions. 6, 545–574.Google Scholar
Berger, A., Loutre, M.F., Yin, Q.Z., (2010). Total irradiation during any time interval of the year using elliptic integrals. Quaternary Science Reviews. 29, 1968–1982.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boström, B., Comstedt, D., Ekblad, A., (2007). Isotope fractionation and 13C enrichment in soil profiles during the decomposition of soil organic matter. Oecologia. 153, 89–98.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cerling, T.E., (1984). The stable isotopic composition of modern soil carbonate and its relationship to climate. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 71, 229–240.Google Scholar
Cerling, T.E., Quade, J., Wang, Y., Bowman, J.R., (1989). Carbon isotopes in soils and paleosols as ecology and paleoecology indicators. Nature. 341, 138–139.Google Scholar
Connin, S.L., (2001). Isotopic discrimination during long-term decomposition in an arid land ecosystem. Soil Biology & Biogeochemistry. 33, 1 41–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Diefendorf, A.F., Mueller, K.E., Wing, S.L., Koch, P.L., Freeman, K.H., (2010). Global patterns in leaf 13C discrimination and implications for studies of past and future climate. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 107, 5738–5743.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dong, G.R., (2002). Climate and Environment Changes in Deserts of China. China Ocean Press, Beijing, 212–232.Google Scholar
Ehleringer, J.R., Cerling, T.E., (2002). C3 and C4 photosynthesis. Mooney, Harold A., Canadell, Josep G., The Earth System: Biological and Ecological Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, Encyclopedia of Global Environmental Change. vol. 2, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, Chichester, 0-471-97796-9 186–190.Editor-in-Chief Ted Munn.Google Scholar
Farquhar, G.D., Ehleringer, J.R., Hubick, K.T., (1989). Carbon isotope discrimination and photosynthesis. Annual Review of Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology. 40, 503–537.Google Scholar
Feggestad, A.J., Jacobs, P.M., Miao, X.D., Mason, J.A., (2004). Stable carbon isotope record of Holocene environmental change in the Central Great Plains. Physical Geography. 25, 170–190.Google Scholar
Feng, Z.D., Wang, L.X., Ji, Y.H., Guo, L.L., Lee, X.Q., Dworkin, S.I., (2008). Climatic dependency of soil organic carbon isotopic composition along the S–N Transect from 34°N to 52°N in central-east Asia. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 257, 335–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fredlund, G.G., Tieszen, L.L., (1997). Phytolith and carbon isotope evidence for late Quaternary vegetation and climate change in the southern Black Hills, South Dakota. Quaternary Research. 47, 206–217.Google Scholar
Gu, Z.Y., Liu, Q., Xu, B., Han, J.M., Yang, S.L., Ding, Z.L., Liu, T.S., (2003). Climate as the dominant control on C3 and C4 plant abundance in the Loess Plateau: organic carbon isotope evidence from the last glacial–interglacial loess–soil sequences. Chinese Science Bulletin. 48, 12 1271–1276.Google Scholar
Hattersley, P.W., (1983). The distribution of C3 and C4 grasses in Australia in relation to climate. Oecologia. 57, 113–128.Google Scholar
He, Z., Zhou, J., Lai, Z.P., Yang, L.H., Liang, J.M., Long, H., Ou, X.J., (2010). Quartz OSL dating of sand dunes of Late Pleistocene in the Mu Us Desert in northern China. Quaternary Geochronology. 5, 102–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huang, F., Kealhofer, L., Xiong, S.F., Huang, F.B., (2005). Holocene grassland vegetation, climate and human impact in central eastern Inner Mongolia. Science in China: Earth Sciences. 48, 7 1025–1039.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ihaka, R., Gentleman, R., (1996). R: a language for data analysis and graphics. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics. 5, 299–314.Google Scholar
Johnson, W.C., Willey, K.L., Mason, J.A., May, D.W., (2007). Stratigraphy and environmental reconstruction at the middle Wisconsinan Gilman Canyon Formation type locality, Buzzard's Roost, southwestern Nebraska, USA. Quaternary Research. 67, 474–486.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, C.Y., Xu, Z.L., Kong, Z.C., (2003). A preliminary investigation on the Holocene vegetation changes from pollen analysis in the Gaoximge section, Hunshandak sandy land. Acta Phytoecologica Sinica. 27, 797–803.Google Scholar
Li, Z.X., Liao, Y.C., Bai, G.S., (2005). Characteristic and construction of vegetation in Maowusu Sandy Land. Bulletin of Soil and Water Conservation. 25, 66–70.Google Scholar
Liu, W.G., Huang, Y.S., (2008). Reconstructing in-situ vegetation changes using carbon isotopic composition of biopolymeric residues in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. Chemical Geology. 249, 348–356.Google Scholar
Liu, S.L., Wang, T., (2005). Characteristic of climatic change in the Otindag sandy land region. Journal of Desert Research. 25, 557–562.Google Scholar
Liu, W.G., Ning, Y.F., An, Z.S., Wu, Z.H., Lu, H.Y., Cao, Y.N., (2005a). Carbon isotopic composition of modern soil and paleosol as a response to vegetation change on the China Loess Plateau. Science in China: Earth Sciences. 48, 1 93–99.Google Scholar
Liu, W.G., Huang, Y.S., An, Z.S., Clemens, S.C., Li, L., Prell, W.L., Ning, Y.F., (2005b). Summer monsoon intensity controls C4/C3 plant abundance during the last 35 ka in the Chinese Loess Plateau: carbon isotope evidence from bulk organic matter and individual leaf waxes. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 220, 243–254.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, W.G., Huang, Y.S., (2008). Reconstructing in-situ vegetation dynamics using carbon isotopic composition of biopolymeric residues in the central Chinese Loess Plateau. Chemical Geology. 249, 348–356.Google Scholar
Lu, H.Y., Miao, X.D., Zhou, Y.L., Mason, J., Swinehart, J., Zhang, J.F., Zhou, L.P., Yi, S.W., (2005). Late Quaternary aeolian activity in the Mu Us and Otindag dune fields (North China) and lagged response to insolation forcing. Geophysical Research Letters. 32, 21 L21716 .Google Scholar
Lu, H.Y., Stevens, T., Yi, S.W., Sun, X.F., (2006). An erosional hiatus in Chinese loess sequences revealed by closely spaced optical dating. Chinese Science Bulletin. 51, 2253–2259.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lu, H.Y., Zhao, C.F., Mason, J., Yi, S.W., Zhao, H., Zhou, Y.L., Ji, J.F., Swinehart, J., Wang, C.M., (2011). Holocene climatic changes revealed by aeolian deposits from the Qinghai Lake area (northeastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau) and possible forcing mechanisms. The Holocene. 21, 2 297–304.Google Scholar
Lu, H.Y., Mason, J.A., Stevens, T., Zhou, Y.L., Yi, S.W., Miao, X.D., (2011). Response of surface processes to climatic change in the dune fields and Loess Plateau of North China during the late Quaternary. Earth Surface Processes and Landforms. 36, 1590–1603.Google Scholar
Lv, D.R., Chen, Z.Z., Chen, J.Y., Wang, G.C., Ji, J.J., Chen, H., Liu, Z.L., Zhang, R.H., Qiao, J.S., Chen, Y.J., (2002). Composite study on Inner Mongolia semi-arid grassland soil-vegetation–atmosphere inter action (IMGRASS). Earth Science Frontiers. 9, 2 295–306.Google Scholar
Maher, B.A., Prospero, J.M., Mackie, D., Gaiero, D., Hesse, P.P., Balkanski, Y., (2010). Global connections between aeolian dust, climate and ocean biogeochemistry at the present day and at the last glacial maximum. Earth-Science Reviews. 99, 1–2 61–97.Google Scholar
Martin, J.H., Fitzwater, S.E., (1988). Iron deficiency limits phytoplankton growth in the north-east Pacific subarctic. Nature. 331, 341–343..CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, J.A., Swinehart, J.B., Lu, H.Y., Miao, X.D., Cha, P., Zhou, Y.L., (2008). Limited change in dune mobility in response to a large decrease in wind power in semi-arid northern China since the 1970s. Geomorphology. 102, 351–363.Google Scholar
Mason, J.A., Lu, H.Y., Zhou, Y.L., Miao, X.D., Swinehart, J.B., Liu, Z.Y., Goble, R.J., Yi, S.W., (2009). Dune mobility and aridity at the desert margin of northern China at a time of peak monsoon strength. Geology. 37, 947–950.Google Scholar
Melillo, J.M., Aber, J.D., Linkins, A.E., Ricca, A., Fry, B., Nadelhoffer, K.J., (1989). Carbon and nitrogen changes along the decay continuum: plant litter to soil organic matter. Plant and Soil. 115, 189–198.Google Scholar
Natelhoffer, K.J., Fry, B., (1988). Controls on natural nitrogen-15 and carbon-13 in forest soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 52, 1633–1640.Google Scholar
Nordt, L., Von Fischer, J., Tieszen, L., Tubbs, J., (2008). Coherent changes in relative C4 plant productivity and climate during the late Quaternary in the North American Great Plains. Quaternary Science Reviews. 27, 1600–1611.Google Scholar
Ode, D.J., Tieszen, L.L., Lerman, J.C., (1980). The seasonal contribution of C3 and C4 plant species to primary production in a mixed prairie. Ecology. 61, 1304–1311.Google Scholar
O'Leary, M.H., ('Leary, 1988). Carbon isotopes in photosynthesis. Bioscience. 38, 328–336.Google Scholar
Pyankov, V.I., Gunin, P.D., Tsoog, S., Black, C.C., (2000). C4 plants in the vegetation of Mongolia: their natural occurrence and geographical distribution in relation to climate. Oecologia. 123, 15–31.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Quade, J., Cerling, T.E., Bowman, J.R., (1989). Development of Asian monsoon revealed by marked ecological shift during the latest Miocene in northern Pakistan. Nature. 342, 163–166.Google Scholar
Quade, J., Cater, J.M.L., Ojha, T.P., Adam, J., Harrison, T.M., (1995). Late Miocene environmental change in Nepal and the northern Indian subcontinent: stable isotopic evidence from paleosols. Geological Society of America Bulletin. 107, 1381–1397.Google Scholar
Rao, Z.G., Zhu, Z.Y., Jia, G.D., Chen, F.H., Barton, L., Zhang, J.W., Qiang, M.R., (2010). Relationship between climatic conditions and the relative abundance of modern C3 and C4 plants in three regions around the North Pacific. Chinese Science Bulletin. 55, 18 1931–1936.Google Scholar
Stauffer, B., Blunier, T., Dallenbach, A., Indermuhle, A., Schwander, J., Stocker, T.F., Tschumi, J., Chappellaz, J., Raynaud, D., Hammer, C.U., Clausen, H.B., (1998). Atmospheric CO2 concentration and millennial-scale climate change during the last glacial period. Nature. 392, 59–62.Google Scholar
Stevens, T., Armitage, S.J., Lu, H.Y., Thomas, D.S.G., (2006). Sedimentation and diagenesis of Chinese loess: implications for the preservation of continuous high-resolution climate records. Geology. 34, 849–852.Google Scholar
Sun, J.M., (2000). Origin of eolian sand mobilization during the past 2300 years in the Mu Us Desert, China. Quaternary Research. 53, 73–88.Google Scholar
Sun, J.M., Li, S.H., Han, P., (2006). Holocene environmental changes in the central Inner Mongolia, based on single-aliquot-quartz optical dating and multi-proxy study of dune sands. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 233, 51–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vidic, N.J., Montañez, I.P., (2004). Climatically driven glacial–interglacial variations in C3 and C4 plant proportions on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Geology. 32, 337–340.Google Scholar
Wang, R.Z., (2004). C4 plants and the relations with desertification in Hunshandake desert grassland. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 24, 2225–2229.Google Scholar
Wang, B., (2006). The Asian Monsoon. Paracis publishing Ltd, Chichester, UK, 787 pp.Google Scholar
Wang, T., (2008). Strategic consideration on desert and desertification sciences development in China. Journal of Desert Research. 28, 1–7.Google Scholar
Wang, H., Follmer, L.R., (1998). Proxy of monsoon seasonality in carbon isotope from paleosols of the southern Chinese Loess Plateau. Geology. 26, 987–990.Google Scholar
Wang, H., Ambrose, S.H., Liu, J.C.-L., Follmer, L.R., (1997). Paleosol stable isotope evidence for early Hominid Occupation of East Asian Temperate environments. Quaternary Research. 48, 228–238.Google Scholar
Wang, G.A., Han, J.M., Liu, D.S., (2003). The carbon isotope composition of C-3 herbaceous plants in loess area of northern China. Science in China: Earth Sciences. 46, 1069–1076.Google Scholar
Wang, X.M., Zhou, Z.J., Dong, Z.B., (2006). Control of dust emissions by geomorphic conditions, wind environments, and land uses in northern China: an examination based on dust storm frequency from 1960 to 2003. Geomorphology. 81, 292–308.Google Scholar
Wang, W., Ma, Y.Z., Feng, Z.D., Meng, H.M., Sang, Y.L., Zhai, X.W., (2009). Vegetation and climate changes during the last 8660 cal. a BP in central Mongolia, based on a high-resolution pollen record from Lake Ugii Nuur. Chinese Science Bulletin. 54, 1579–1589.Google Scholar
Wedin, D.A., Tieszen, L.L., Dewey, B., Pastor, J., (1995). Carbon-isotope changes during grass decomposition and soil organic-matter formation. Ecology. 76, 1383–1392.Google Scholar
Wen, R.L., Xiao, J.L., Chang, Z.G., Zhai, D.Y., Xu, Q.H., Li, Y.C., Itoh, S., (2010). Holocene precipitation and temperature variations in the East Asian monsoonal margin from pollen data from Hulun Lake in northeastern Inner Mongolia, China. Boreas. 39, 2 262–272.Google Scholar
Wiesenberg, G.L.B., Schwarzbauer, J., Schmidt, M.W.I., Schwark, L., (2004). Source and turnover of organic matter in agricultural soils derived from n-alkane/n-carboxylic acid compositions and C-isotope signatures. Organic Geochemistry. 35, 1371–1393.Google Scholar
Wittmer, M., Auerswald, K., Tungalag, R., Bai, Y.F., Schaufele, R., Schnyder, H., (2008). Carbon isotope discrimination of C3 vegetation in Central Asian grassland as related to long-term and short-term precipitation patterns. Biogeosciences. 5, 913–924.Google Scholar
Wu, B., Ci, L.J., (2001). Temporal and spatial patterns of landscape in the Mu Us sand land, northern China. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 21, 191–196.Google Scholar
Wynn, J.G., Bird, M.I., Wong, V.N.L., (2005). Rayleigh distillation and the depth profile of 13C/12C ratios of soil organic carbon soils of disparate texture in Iron Range National Park, Far North Queensland, Australia. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta. 69, 1961–1973.Google Scholar
Wynn, J.G., Harden, J.W., Fries, T.L., (2006). Stable carbon isotope depth profiles and soil organic carbon dynamics in the lower Mississippi Basin. Geoderma. 131, 89–109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xiao, J.L., Nakamura, T., Lu, H.Y., Zhang, G.Y., (2002). Holocene climate changes over the desert/loess transition of north-central China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 197, 11–18.Google Scholar
Xiao, J.L., Xu, Q.H., Nakamura, T., Yang, X.L., Liang, W.D., Inouchi, Y., (2004). Holocene vegetation variation in the Daihai Lake region of north-central China: a direct indication of the Asian monsoon climatic history. Quaternary Science Reviews. 23, 1669–1679.Google Scholar
Xu, D.Y., Kang, X.W., Liu, Z.L., Zhuang, D.F., Pan, J.L., (2009). Assessing the relative role of climate change and human activities in sandy desertification of Ordos region, China. Science in China: Earth Science. 52, 6 855–868.Google Scholar
Yang, L.H., Zhou, J., Lai, Z.P., Long, H., Zhang, J.R., (2010). Lateglacial and Holocene dune evolution in the Horqin Dune field of northeastern China based on luminescence dating. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 296, 44–51.Google Scholar
Yin, L.J., Li, M.R., (1997). A study on the geographic distribution and ecology of C4 plants in China—I C4 plant distribution in China and their relation with regional climatic condition. Acta Ecologica Sinica. 17, 4 350–363.Google Scholar
Zhai, D.Y., Xiao, J.L., Zhou, L., Wen, R.L., Chang, Z.G., Wang, X., Jin, X.D., Pang, Q.Q., Itoh, S., (2011). Holocene East Asian monsoon variation inferred from species assemblage and shell chemistry of the ostracodes from Hulun Lake, Inner Mongolia. Quaternary Research. 75, 3 512–522.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhang, X.Y., Gong, S.L., Zhao, T.L., Arimoto, R., Wang, Y.Q., Zhou, Z.J., (2003). Sources of Asian dust and role of climate change versus desertification in Asian dust emission. Geophysical Research Letters. 30, 2272 .Google Scholar
Zhang, Z.H., Zhao, M.X., Lu, H.Y., Faiia, A.M., (2003). Lower temperature as the main cause of C4 plant declines during the glacial periods on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 214, 467–481.Google Scholar
Zhang, T.H., Zhao, H.L., Li, S.G., Li, F.R., Shirats, Y., Okhuro, T., Taniyama, I., (2004). A comparison of different measures for stabilising moving sand dunes in the Horqin Sandy Land of Inner Mongolia, China. Journal of Arid Environments. 58, 203–214.Google Scholar
Zhang, B.L., Tsunekawa, A., Tsubo, M., (2008). Contributions of sandy lands and stony deserts to long-distance dust emission in China and Mongolia during 2000"2006. Global and Planetary Change. 60, 487–504.Google Scholar
Zhao, L.J., Xiao, H.L., Cheng, G.D., Liu, X.H., Yang, Q., Yin, L., Li, C.Z., (2009). Correlation between δ13C and δ15N in C4 and C3 plants of natural and artificial sand-binding microhabitats in the Tengger Desert of China. Ecological Informatics. 5, 177–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhou, Y.L., Lu, H.Y., Mason, J., Miao, X.D., Swinehart, J., Goble, R., (2008). Optically stimulated luminescence dating of aeolian sand in the Otindag dune field and Holocene climate change. Science in China Series D: Earth Sciences. 51, 837–847..Google Scholar
Zhou, Y.L., Lu, H.Y., Zhang, J.F., Zhou, L.P., Miao, X.D., Mason, J.A., (2009). Luminescence dating of sand–loess sequences and response of Mu Us and Otindag sand fields (north China) to climatic changes. Journal of Quaternary Sciences. 24, 4 336–344.Google Scholar