File(s) under permanent embargo
Reason: This item is currently closed access.
Sub-fossil Chironomidae as indicators of palaeoflow regimes: integration into the PalaeoLIFE flow index
journal contribution
posted on 2013-09-12, 11:53 authored by Lynda C. Howard, Paul WoodPaul Wood, Malcolm T. Greenwood, Helen Rendell, Stephen J. Brooks, Patrick D. Armitage, Chris A. ExtenceThe sub-fossil head capsules of larval Chironomidae have been widely exploited as
palaeoecological indicators of lentic ecosystems but their value in the interpretation of the evolution of
lotic systems has been underutilised by comparison. Recent research has demonstrated that the
remains of Chironomidae are abundant within fluvial sequences and that they offer a valuable record
of channel change and floodplain evolution that may complement that derived from existing biological
and sedimentological techniques. This paper demonstrates the use of Chironomidae in characterising
the palaeoflow regime of a large mid–late Holocene floodplain palaeochannel (5470–4960 to 1530–
1350 cal. a BP) of the River Trent (Derbyshire, UK). Using expert knowledge and published information
regarding flow preferences, larval Chironomidae were incorporated into the PalaeoLIFE (Loticinvertebrate
Index for Flow Evaluation) methodology. The results clearly demonstrate that the subfossil
record provided by Chironomidae can be used to characterise changes in the flow regime within
palaeochannel sections. At the scale of the channel section, species- and generic-level ecological
associations can provide useful information regarding habitat characteristics, including the presence of
instream vegetation, mineral substrates and woody debris. The ability to undertake environmental
reconstruction and channel evolution history was significantly enhanced through the application of a
multi-proxy approach, by incorporating other aquatic insect groups (Trichoptera and Coleoptera) into
the PalaeoLIFE metric, together with sedimentological data.
History
School
- Social Sciences
Department
- Geography and Environment
Citation
HOWARD, L.C. ... et al, 2010. Sub-fossil Chironomidae as indicators of palaeoflow regimes: integration into the PalaeoLIFE flow index. Journal of Quaternary Science, 25 (8), pp. 1270 - 1283.Publisher
© John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.Version
- AM (Accepted Manuscript)
Publication date
2010Notes
This article is closed access, it was published in the serial Journal of Quaternary Science [© John Wiley and Sons]. The definitive version is available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1409ISSN
0267-8179Publisher version
Language
- en