This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Little, D.J. Articles by Farrell, E.P. Search for Related Content GeoRef GeoRef Citation Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Assessment of the impact of past disturbance and prehistoric Pinus sylvestris on vegetation dynamics and soil development in Uragh Wood, SW Ireland

Department of Zoology, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

F.J.G. Mitchell

Department of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

S. von Engelbrechten

Department of Botany, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland

E.P. Farrell

Department of Environmental Resource Management, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

Soil and pollen analysis from an acidophillous oak wood in southwest Ireland are presented. Radio carbon dating provides a temporal scale for pedogenesis and the parallel dynamics of the woodland vegetation. The dominance of Pinus in the wood before 2000 BP, anthropogenic disturbance 300 years ago and intermittent fire are all investigated as causal factors in podzol development at this site. The dominance of Pinus in the wood came to an abrupt end at 1980 BP which is consistent with data from Killarney but at least 2000 years later than the regional decline for the rest of the country. Soil analytical techniques used to investigate pedo genetic processes suggest that podzolization is active and ongoing. However, soil radiocarbon dates suggest that podzolization was initiated prior to c. 700 BP under a mixed forest canopy and before any substantial opening of the canopy due to human impact. Anthropogenic disturbance during the last 300 years has probably accelerated the podzolization process.

Key Words: Podzolization • pedogenesis • pollen analysis • soil pollen • soil chemistry • forest succession • human impact • Pinus • Uragh Wood • Ireland.

The Holocene, Vol. 6, No. 1, 90-99 (1996)
DOI: 10.1177/095968369600600111


CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. M. Mighall, T. M. Mighall, J. G. A. Lageard, F. M. Chambers, M. H. Field, and P. Mahi Mineral deficiency and the presence of Pinus sylvestris on mires during the mid- to late Holocene: palaeoecological data from Cadogan's Bog, Mizen Peninsula, Co. Cork, southwest Ireland The Holocene, January 1, 2004; 14(1): 95 - 109. [Abstract] [PDF]

				E. E. Cole, E. E. Cole, and F. J.G. Mitchell Human impact on the Irish landscape during the late Holocene inferred from palynological studies at three peatland sites The Holocene, May 1, 2003; 13(4): 507 - 515. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. B. Dwyer, R. B. Dwyer, and F. J.G. Mitchell Investigation of the environmental impact of remote volcanic activity on north Mayo, Ireland, during the mid-Holocene The Holocene, January 1, 1997; 7(1): 113 - 118. [Abstract] [PDF]