Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions
The Last Interglacial (∼129,000–116,000 years ago) provides key insights into temperate European vegetation dynamics before significant anthropogenic impacts. Using LOVE (Local Vegetation Estimates) and REVEALS (Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites) models, this study reconstr...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | Earth History and Biodiversity |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950475925000061 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849344293631688704 |
|---|---|
| author | Elena A. Pearce Florence Mazier Charles W. Davison Oliver Baines Szymon Czyżewski Ralph Fyfe Krzysztof Bińka Steve Boreham Jacques-Louis de Beaulieu Cunhai Gao Wojciech Granoszewski Anna Hrynowiecka Małgorzata Malkiewicz Tim Mighall Bożena Noryśkiewicz Irena Agnieszka Pidek Jaqueline Strahl Hanna Winter Jens-Christian Svenning |
| author_facet | Elena A. Pearce Florence Mazier Charles W. Davison Oliver Baines Szymon Czyżewski Ralph Fyfe Krzysztof Bińka Steve Boreham Jacques-Louis de Beaulieu Cunhai Gao Wojciech Granoszewski Anna Hrynowiecka Małgorzata Malkiewicz Tim Mighall Bożena Noryśkiewicz Irena Agnieszka Pidek Jaqueline Strahl Hanna Winter Jens-Christian Svenning |
| author_sort | Elena A. Pearce |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Last Interglacial (∼129,000–116,000 years ago) provides key insights into temperate European vegetation dynamics before significant anthropogenic impacts. Using LOVE (Local Vegetation Estimates) and REVEALS (Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites) models, this study reconstructs vegetation patterns across local (∼9 km²) and regional (∼100 km²) scales. Local landscapes presented a heterogeneous mosaic, with averages of 17 % open vegetation, 21 % closed forests, and 63 % light woodlands, reflecting high fine-scale heterogeneity. Importantly, weak local-regional correlations highlight the importance of localised drivers. Longitude and, to a lesser extent, precipitation explained some variation in local vegetation openness, but heterogeneity remained unexplained, emphasising the role of disturbance regimes. Shannon diversity and evenness varied widely, indicating a mix of species-rich and more uniform habitats and reflecting diverse ecological dynamics. Beta diversity showed high spatial turnover, suggesting composition was shaped by localised factors rather than uniform climatic drivers. Frequently represented genera, such as Artemisia, Helianthemum, Erica, Filipendula, and Plantago, indicate diverse open and semi-open habitats, shaped by disturbances and hydrological variability. Weak climatic correlations and dominance of disturbance-adapted taxa suggest active disturbance-shaped vegetation. Large herbivorous mammals (megafauna) likely maintained vegetation openness through grazing and browsing; there is limited evidence for frequent fire activities in this period. These findings challenge the closed forest paradigm for interglacials, revealing substantial openness and heterogeneity. This scale-explicit evidence of Last Interglacial vegetation complexity offers insights into the biodiversity and ecological functionality of pre-anthropogenic ecosystems, with implications for modern conservation and rewilding, particularly in maintaining diversity through disturbance and megafaunal interactions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cbf7ca9297a84b6ba54903d9baa8a62a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2950-4759 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth History and Biodiversity |
| spelling | doaj-art-cbf7ca9297a84b6ba54903d9baa8a62a2025-08-20T03:42:43ZengElsevierEarth History and Biodiversity2950-47592025-03-01310002210.1016/j.hisbio.2025.100022Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctionsElena A. Pearce0Florence Mazier1Charles W. Davison2Oliver Baines3Szymon Czyżewski4Ralph Fyfe5Krzysztof Bińka6Steve Boreham7Jacques-Louis de Beaulieu8Cunhai Gao9Wojciech Granoszewski10Anna Hrynowiecka11Małgorzata Malkiewicz12Tim Mighall13Bożena Noryśkiewicz14Irena Agnieszka Pidek15Jaqueline Strahl16Hanna Winter17Jens-Christian Svenning18Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Corresponding authors at: Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark.Department of Environmental Geography, CNRS UMR GEODE 5602, University Toulouse Jean Jaurès, Toulouse, FranceCenter for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Aarhus DK-8000, DenmarkCenter for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Aarhus DK-8000, DenmarkCenter for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Aarhus DK-8000, DenmarkSchool of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UKFaculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Geography, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EN, UKAix Marseille University, Avignon University, National Center for Scientific Research, National Research Institute for Sustainable Development, Mediterranean Institute for Marine and Terrestrial Biodiversity and Ecology (CNRS, IRD, IMBE), Aix-en-Provence, FranceOntario Geological Survey, 933 Ramsey Lake Road, Sudbury, Ontario P3E 6B5, CanadaPolish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Carpathian Branch, Skrzatów 1, Kraków 31-560, PolandPolish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Marine Geology Branch, Kościerska 5, Gdańsk 80-328, PolandLaboratory of Paleobotany, Department of Stratigraphical Geology, Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Wrocław, Cybulskiego 34, Wrocław 50-205, PolandDepartment of Geography and Environment, School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, UKFaculty of Earth Sciences and Spatial Management, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Lwowska 1, Toruń 87-100, PolandMaria Curie-Sklodowska University, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Al. Krasnicka 2 d, Lublin 20-718, PolandLandesamt für Bergbau, Geologie und Rohstoffe, Inselstraße 26, Cottbus 03046, GermanyPolish Geological Institute – National Research Institute, Warsaw 00-975, PolandCenter for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Section for Ecoinformatics and Biodiversity, Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark; Corresponding authors at: Center for Ecological Dynamics in a Novel Biosphere (ECONOVO), Department of Biology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 114, Aarhus DK-8000, Denmark.The Last Interglacial (∼129,000–116,000 years ago) provides key insights into temperate European vegetation dynamics before significant anthropogenic impacts. Using LOVE (Local Vegetation Estimates) and REVEALS (Regional Estimates of VEgetation Abundance from Large Sites) models, this study reconstructs vegetation patterns across local (∼9 km²) and regional (∼100 km²) scales. Local landscapes presented a heterogeneous mosaic, with averages of 17 % open vegetation, 21 % closed forests, and 63 % light woodlands, reflecting high fine-scale heterogeneity. Importantly, weak local-regional correlations highlight the importance of localised drivers. Longitude and, to a lesser extent, precipitation explained some variation in local vegetation openness, but heterogeneity remained unexplained, emphasising the role of disturbance regimes. Shannon diversity and evenness varied widely, indicating a mix of species-rich and more uniform habitats and reflecting diverse ecological dynamics. Beta diversity showed high spatial turnover, suggesting composition was shaped by localised factors rather than uniform climatic drivers. Frequently represented genera, such as Artemisia, Helianthemum, Erica, Filipendula, and Plantago, indicate diverse open and semi-open habitats, shaped by disturbances and hydrological variability. Weak climatic correlations and dominance of disturbance-adapted taxa suggest active disturbance-shaped vegetation. Large herbivorous mammals (megafauna) likely maintained vegetation openness through grazing and browsing; there is limited evidence for frequent fire activities in this period. These findings challenge the closed forest paradigm for interglacials, revealing substantial openness and heterogeneity. This scale-explicit evidence of Last Interglacial vegetation complexity offers insights into the biodiversity and ecological functionality of pre-anthropogenic ecosystems, with implications for modern conservation and rewilding, particularly in maintaining diversity through disturbance and megafaunal interactions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950475925000061Megafauna disturbanceOpen vegetationPleistocene interglacialsSpatial scaleTemperate forest structureVegetation heterogeneity |
| spellingShingle | Elena A. Pearce Florence Mazier Charles W. Davison Oliver Baines Szymon Czyżewski Ralph Fyfe Krzysztof Bińka Steve Boreham Jacques-Louis de Beaulieu Cunhai Gao Wojciech Granoszewski Anna Hrynowiecka Małgorzata Malkiewicz Tim Mighall Bożena Noryśkiewicz Irena Agnieszka Pidek Jaqueline Strahl Hanna Winter Jens-Christian Svenning Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions Earth History and Biodiversity Megafauna disturbance Open vegetation Pleistocene interglacials Spatial scale Temperate forest structure Vegetation heterogeneity |
| title | Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| title_full | Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| title_fullStr | Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| title_short | Beyond the closed-forest paradigm: Cross-scale vegetation structure in temperate Europe before the late-Quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| title_sort | beyond the closed forest paradigm cross scale vegetation structure in temperate europe before the late quaternary megafauna extinctions |
| topic | Megafauna disturbance Open vegetation Pleistocene interglacials Spatial scale Temperate forest structure Vegetation heterogeneity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2950475925000061 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elenaapearce beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT florencemazier beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT charleswdavison beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT oliverbaines beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT szymonczyzewski beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT ralphfyfe beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT krzysztofbinka beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT steveboreham beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT jacqueslouisdebeaulieu beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT cunhaigao beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT wojciechgranoszewski beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT annahrynowiecka beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT małgorzatamalkiewicz beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT timmighall beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT bozenanoryskiewicz beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT irenaagnieszkapidek beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT jaquelinestrahl beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT hannawinter beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions AT jenschristiansvenning beyondtheclosedforestparadigmcrossscalevegetationstructureintemperateeuropebeforethelatequaternarymegafaunaextinctions |