Vegetation and land-use history at Diss, Norfolk, UK

S. M. Peglar, S. C. Fritz, H. J.B. Birks

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

In the early stages of sediment deposition in the mere (Devensian late-glacial), Betula woodland covered the landscape. Initially the woodland was open, containing a variety of herbaceous taxa, but later a more closed canopy developed. Betula was replaced primarily by Corylus, which spread rapidly into East Anglia early in the Holocene. Pinus was then probably absent locally, in contrast to sites nearby. The Corylus woodlands gave way to mixed-deciduous forests containing Tilia, Ulmus, Quercus, Corylus and Fraxinus, with Alnus in moist areas. Possible anthropogenic influence on the vegetation is first recorded soon after the development of these mixed deciduous forests. Neolithic people may have made clearings, but these were apparently soon abandoned and recolonized by Corylus. Ulmus populations were permanently affected by these early disturbances, never fully recovering their former abundance. Coincident with these first disturbances was the expansion of Taxus, which became locally abundant, perhaps expanding in woodland openings. Forest clearance, including the selective cutting of Tilia and the cultivation of Hordeum and other cereals, indicates the local presence of prehistoric (Bronze Age) settlements in the catchment. The most marked cultural effect on catchment vegetation was the complete clearance of the forest and the conversion of cleared land to agricultural use in the Iron Age. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)203-222
Number of pages20
JournalJournal of Ecology
Volume77
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
  • Ecology
  • Plant Science

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