High resolution ancient sedimentary DNA shows that alpine plant diversity is associated with human land use and climate change

Sandra Garcés-Pastor (), Eric Coissac, Sébastien Lavergne, Christoph Schwörer, Jean-Paul Theurillat, Peter D. Heintzman, Owen S. Wangensteen, Willy Tinner, Fabian Rey, Martina Heer, Astrid Rutzer, Kevin Walsh, Youri Lammers, Antony G. Brown, Tomasz Goslar, Dilli P. Rijal, Dirk N. Karger, Loïc Pellissier, Oliver Heiri and Inger Greve Alsos
Additional contact information
Sandra Garcés-Pastor: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Eric Coissac: Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA
Sébastien Lavergne: Université Grenoble-Alpes, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, LECA
Christoph Schwörer: University of Bern
Jean-Paul Theurillat: University of Geneva
Peter D. Heintzman: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Owen S. Wangensteen: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Willy Tinner: University of Bern
Fabian Rey: University of Basel
Martina Heer: University of Basel
Astrid Rutzer: University of Basel
Kevin Walsh: University of York
Youri Lammers: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Antony G. Brown: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Tomasz Goslar: Adam Mickiewicz University
Dilli P. Rijal: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway
Dirk N. Karger: Swiss Federal Research Institute for Forest, Snow, and Landscape Research (WSL)
Loïc Pellissier: Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zurich
Oliver Heiri: University of Basel
Inger Greve Alsos: UiT - The Arctic University of Norway

Nature Communications, 2022, vol. 13, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: Abstract The European Alps are highly rich in species, but their future may be threatened by ongoing changes in human land use and climate. Here, we reconstructed vegetation, temperature, human impact and livestock over the past ~12,000 years from Lake Sulsseewli, based on sedimentary ancient plant and mammal DNA, pollen, spores, chironomids, and microcharcoal. We assembled a highly-complete local DNA reference library (PhyloAlps, 3923 plant taxa), and used this to obtain an exceptionally rich sedaDNA record of 366 plant taxa. Vegetation mainly responded to climate during the early Holocene, while human activity had an additional influence on vegetation from 6 ka onwards. Land-use shifted from episodic grazing during the Neolithic and Bronze Age to agropastoralism in the Middle Ages. Associated human deforestation allowed the coexistence of plant species typically found at different elevational belts, leading to levels of plant richness that characterise the current high diversity of this region. Our findings indicate a positive association between low intensity agropastoral activities and precipitation with the maintenance of the unique subalpine and alpine plant diversity of the European Alps.

Date: 2022
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34010-4

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