Research group Palaeoecology and Landscape ecology (P&L)

1. Research groupPalaeoecology and Landscape ecology(P&L) Temperate Palaeoecology: Van Geel, Van Mourik Landscape ecology: Kooijman, Sevink Tropics Palaeoecology: Hooghiemstra, Van Boxel Vegetation ecology: Duivenvoorden, Cleef

2. Palaeoecology & Landscape ecology Peat archive sediment archive Rationale: • To understand present-day climate and ecosystems, and to anticipate future change, we need a reference • This reference is the record of past changes found in peat archives and sediment sequences

3. Main research activities of P & L study of records of past climate change inferred from vegetation change at different time-scales: Neogene (25 Ma >), Pleistocene (2.5 Ma >), Holocene (10 ka >), Anthropogene (2 ka >) study of the present status and dynamic history of ecosystems societal relevant research: nature conservation, Kyoto Protocol Carina Hoorn Scientific American May 2006

4. Main Research Topics 1Reconstruction of ecosystem dynamics and climate change Van Geel, Hooghiemstra et al. Temperate: Europe; Siberia Tropics: Mexico to Bolivia (20°N – 20°S) • rainforest, dry forest, savanna, montane forest, páramo • Subjects: • biotic setting: floral evolution, biostratigraphy, vegetation change • abiotic setting: basin development, landscape development, sedimentary and geochemical processes • mechanisms at work: orbital forcing, solar forcing

5. Main Research Topics 1 (continued) Data synthesis, data-model comparisons Aims: calibration of model output by geological data (international BIOME project) inverse modeling studies (effects of pCO2, temperature, precipitation): sensitivity studies  improved site selection 6000 BP 2000 0 0 m 4100 m Warmer and wetter Cooler and drier Hooghiemstra, Van Boxel et al. Pollen taxa  Ecological groups  Ecosystems PFTs Biomes

6. Main Research Topics 1 (continued)Reconstruction of ecosystem dynamics Duivenvoorden, Kooijman Tropics: plant diversity • Are Amazonian forests so species rich owing to many different niches being filled by numerous phylogenetically different taxa? Temperate: nutrients Significance of substrate / pH for availability of nutrients

7. Main Research Topics 2Development of new methodologies Van Geel • Common practice: • palynologists use only ‘traditional’ fossil types • a large number of unknown fossils are ignored • Identification of ‘unknowns’ reveals a wealth of information about past natural and anthropogenic environments: • abundance of herbivores • intensity of fire • euthrophication of water (cyanobacteria) • Aim: improve the quality of palaeo-environmental reconstructions

8. Main Research Topics 2 (continued) Development of new methodologies 14C clock = fast 14C clock = slow Van Geel, Hooghiemstra & Duivenvoorden • Problematic ‘wiggles’ in the 14C calibration curve has been turned into an advantage: 14C AMS wiggle match dating delivers greater chronological precision + the role of the Sun in climate change can be evaluated • BioTime : • how representative are pollen spectra for plant diversity? • how did plant diversity vary in the past with climate change

9. Main Research Topics (3) Interaction between biotic & abiotic components in the geo-ecosystems All group members • Proxies: • biotic: pollen, non–pollen palynomorphs diatoms, Corg, charcoal, • abiotic: grain size analysis, inorganic geochemistry (elements) • physical: 14C (solar activity) • stable isotopes (∂13C) and biomarkers • Aim:place climate change-driven vegetation change in its abiotic environment. Keeping in mind: • uplift • basin development • regimes of sediment transport • diagenesis

10. Project acquisition 2000 – 2006 WOTRO-DGIS: 7 projects WOTRO-Fellowships: 1 project WOTRO-Integrated Programme : 1 project NWO-ALW: 11 projects AlBan : 1 project EU : 2 projects Tropenbos-NUFFIC- COLCIENCIAS: 2 projects IBED: 3 projects Externally funded PhD projects: 2 projects 28 projects

11. Netherlands: Centre for Isotope Research Free University Amsterdam Netherlands Institute Sea Research (NIOZ) Netherlands Institute Applied Geology (NITG) Netherlands Centre Luminiscence Dating (NLG) RING / ROB Ministry of Agriculture and Nature Management Universities of Nijmegen and Wageningen International: Colombia: Universidad Nacional, Bogotá/ Medellín /Leticia Colombia: Universidad de los Andes Peru: Universidad Nacional para la Amazonia Ecuador : Pontífica Universidad Católica México: Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM) & ECOSUR Latin American Pollen Database (LAPD) community Germany: Göttingen, Potsdam, Greifswald UK: Bristol, Gloucestershire, Leeds, Leicester, Nottingham, Southampton, York Ireland: Dublin Finland: Helsinki, Turku Sweden: Royal Botanical Museum, Stockholm Denmark: Aarhus Estonia: Tallin Canada: Regina Cooperation

12. A research highlight Torres, Hooghiemstra A novel 3.2 Ma terrestrial record of Pleistocene ice-ages from the Bogotá Basin Volcanic ash Vivianite 586 m deep bore hole Funza-2 at 2550 m altitude XRF- scanner

13. A research highlight Abiotic Biotic Facies 285 m 385 m Depositional environments Lacustrine Fluvio-lacustrine Fluvial

14. A research highlight Torres, Hooghiemstra

15. Future Research Non-pollen palynomorphs Solar forcingof climate change Basins of Bogotá & Fúquene: harvesting the huge data sets of fine-resolution pollen records  ESPM Amazonia: plant diversity and ice age environments GIS applications for calibrating paleodata to modern data in regional syntheses  CBPG Societal relevant research: Nature restoration and conservation supported by paleo-data  EPS Forensic studies IPCC related research  ESPM Pollen & GIS