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- Diverse prehistoric cattle husbandry strategies in the forests of Central Europe.Publication . Gillis, Rosalind; Kendall, Iain P; Roffet-Salque, Mélanie; Zanon, Marco; Anders, Alexandra; Arbogast, Rose-Marie; Bogucki, Peter; Brychova, Veronika; Casanova, Emmanuelle; Classen, Erich; Csengeri, Piroska; Czerniak, Lech; Domboróczki, László; Fiorillo, Denis; Gronenborn, Detlef; Hachem, Lamys; Jakucs, János; Ilett, Michael; Lyublyanovics, Kyra; Lenneis, Eva; Marciniak, Arkadiusz; Marton, Tibor; Oross, Krisztián; Pavúk, Juraj; Pechtl, Joachim; Pyzel, Joanna; Stadler, Peter; Stäuble, Harald; Vostrovská, Ivana; van Wijk, Ivo; Vigne, Jean-Denis; Balasse, Marie; Evershed, Richard PDuring the sixth millennium bce, the first farmers of Central Europe rapidly expanded across a varied mosaic of forested environments. Such environments would have offered important sources of mineral-rich animal feed and shelter, prompting the question: to what extent did early farmers exploit forests to raise their herds? Here, to resolve this, we have assembled multi-regional datasets, comprising bulk and compound-specific stable isotope values from zooarchaeological remains and pottery, and conducted cross-correlation analyses within a palaeo-environmental framework. Our findings reveal a diversity of pasturing strategies for cattle employed by early farmers, with a notable emphasis on intensive utilization of forests for grazing and seasonal foddering in some regions. This experimentation with forest-based animal feeds by early farmers would have enhanced animal fertility and milk yields for human consumption, concurrently contributing to the expansion of prehistoric farming settlements and the transformation of forest ecosystems. Our study emphasizes the intricate relationship that existed between early farmers and forested landscapes, shedding light on the adaptive dynamics that shaped humans, animals and environments in the past. Stable isotope analysis of zooarchaeological remains and pottery in a palaeo-environmental framework reveals that early Central European farmers utilized diverse regional pasturing strategies for cattle, including the use of forested environments for grazing and seasonal foddering.
- Ecohydrological assessment of a complex river-floodplain system for the enhancement of its multidimensional potentialPublication . Guzmán, Damaris Rios; Chicharo, Luis; Jarosiewicz, PawełRiver floodplain systems are critical for sustaining biodiversity and providing a wide range of ecosystem services. However, climate change and anthropogenic activities increasingly disrupt the hydrological and ecological connectivity of these systems, red ucing their resilience to external pressures. The degradation of floodplains undermines key ecosystem services, including the support of terrestrial and aquatic biodiversity, the regulation of hydrological extremes such as floods and droughts, and the sequ estration of carbon. Given the global challenges of water scarcity and associated ecological consequences, there is an urgent need for innovative management strategies to enhance the mult idimensional roles of floodplains in water resource management, biodiversity conservation, and climate change adaptation. Therefore, this thesis focused on the study of the river floodplain system that was selected as the demonstration site for the ecohydrological project LIFE Pilica (LIFE19 IPE/PL/000005) in Central Poland. The study addresse d the hydrological connectivity within the river floodplain system during spring and early summer, assessing its effects on water quality. A particular focus was placed on phosphorus dynamics between the water and sediment compartments, aiming to propose management strategies that mitigat e excessive phosphorus release for a sustainable water retention in the floodplain area. Three primary hydrological connection s were identified between the studied floodplain, Pilica river and an upstream wetland . The connectivity decreased significantly throughout the study (from 0.185 m 3 s 1 in March to 0.002 m 3 s 1 in May )), with the first connection turning into a drainage source in April due to Pilica’s water level decrease . By May, the second source dried up, and the third was projected to cease at a river discharge below 12 m³s⁻¹ (R² = 0.94). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed a greater difference between water quality from the o xbow l ake with the river ’s inflow (35.4%) than with the wetland’s outflow ( 15.5%). This shift underscores an increased risk of eutrophication in both water bodies, driven by prolonged residence times, nutrient accumulation, and the lack of water exchange from the river. Sediment analysis revealed significant differences in water content and organic matter between samples ( p < 0.05 at the studied floodplain part . Most sediments were rich in organic phosphorus and bound to Fe, Al, and Mn. Sorption tests showed greater phosphorus adsorption in air dried sediments and a high zero equilibrium phosphorus concentration (EPC₀), indicating a tendency to release phosphoru s when exposed to river water , thus highlighting the need of proper management prior increasing hydrological connectivity . In conclusion, the implementation of a water retention basin in the area will tackle the greatest threat to the studied river floodplain system: the progressive loss of hydrological connectivity. Furthermore, the potential risk of phosphorus release was ev aluated to refine the management strategy , ensuring it effectively mitigates nutrient loading and supports long term ecosystem health.