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SUMMARY:Unravelling Long-term Ecosystem Dynamics in Central Asia Using Pal
 aeoecology - Professor Anson W. Mackay\, Environmental Change Research Cen
 tre\, University College London
DTSTART:20131128T161500Z
DTEND:20131128T180000Z
UID:TALK47421@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:RSKD
DESCRIPTION:Paleoecology combines biological\, geochemical and molecular i
 nformation from natural archives to reconstruct ecological and environment
 al systems deep into the past. Inspired by the Priority Question exercises
  pioneered by Bill Sutherland\, I recently co-organised a workshop to iden
 tify 50 priority questions in palaeoecology. In this talk I will address s
 ome of major themes identified in the workshop through research being unde
 rtaken on aquatic ecosystems in central Asia\, especially Lake Baikal\, on
 e of the world’s most unusual freshwater bodies. For example\, Baikal’
 s uninterrupted 12 million year+ record brings new insight into biodiversi
 ty over long timescales\, especially evolution and extinction of diatoms\,
  key primary producers. Organic geochemistry analyses reveal strong teleco
 nnections between changes in North Atlantic ocean circulation and carbon d
 ynamics during the early Holocene in central Asia. Finally\, the palaeoeco
 logical record suggests a climate and boreal-steppe environment sensitive 
 to abrupt changes in climate\, even during the late Holocene.
LOCATION:Small Lecture Theatre\, Department of Geography\, Downing Site
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