Loess sequences in the Vojvodina region (Northern Serbia) reveal a continuous record of paleoclimatic variations during the Middle and Late Pleistocene. The most detailed stratigraphic information ...comes from remarkable exposures on the cliffs of the right Danube bank from Vukovar to Belgrade. The Batajnica loess section has been recognized as one of the most complete Middle and Late Pleistocene records in this region. A more than 40
m thick loess–paleosol succession represents environmental transition from relative thin loess layers and rubified soils in lower part of profile to thick loess and fossil chernozems characterizing the last three glacial–interglacial cycles.
The proposed stratigraphic model is based on a detailed magnetic susceptibility (MS) record which is related to the deep-sea isotope stratigraphy and on correlation with other Eurasian loess records using the distinct MS pattern of selected loess–paleosol couplets. This new stratigraphic model suggests serious revision of previous chronological interpretations. MS as function of depth shows a well-known pattern of low values in loess and high values in paleosols indicating strong enhancement of magnetic minerals during soil formation. With the exception of the recent soil (V-S0) which is strongly contaminated by archaeological artifacts, the third paleosol V-S3 reveals the highest values in MS and a very distinct double peak. The rock magnetic signal at Batajnica resembles the typical pattern of the enviromagnetic records determined from other Eurasian loess sites. The paleopedological interpretations, rubification index values and rock magnetic record at Batajnica yield valuable data for the reconstruction of paleoclimatic fluctuations for the last 5 glacial–interglacial cycles at least. Moreover, the record provides an important link between the classical Central European loess sites and the Central Asian and Chinese loess provinces.
In the late Neogene, the Pannonian Basin in Central Europe was filled with sediments when rivers from the Alps and Carpathians shed their sediment load into Lake Pannon. The most powerful ...source-to-sink system was that of the paleo-Danube, transporting sediments from the NW as far as the southeastern part of the lake. In the southeastern margin of the basin, however, local sedimentary systems worked in the opposite direction, against the “tide” of the prevailing N to S sediment transport. The lifetime and advance rate of these systems were unknown. We investigated such a sedimentary system in SE Banat, SE tip of the Pannonian Basin that transported material from the westernmost Southern Carpathians towards the basin center in the NW. Following the flooding of the Southern Carpathian foothills by Lake Pannon 9.6–9.1 My ago, a shelf was built from the Southern Carpathians into the 300–500 m deep water of the adjacent local depression. The advance of the shelf-edge reached the surroundings of Vršac Island some 20–25 km to the NW about 7.5–7.0 My ago, when a small-scale transgressive–regressive cycle formed on the flanks of the Vršac Mts: coarse-grained deposits derived from local sources during the initial flooding and the overlying offshore marls representing the maximum flooding are capped by the regressive deltaic succession advancing from the Southern Carpathians. The average shelf-edge progradation rate (ca. 10 km /My) was, thus, almost an order of magnitude smaller than the progradation rate of the coeval paleo-Danube shelf on the opposite, northwestern side of the lake.
Rural tourism is considered to be one of the appropriate instruments for the revitalization of rural areas and for ensuring a sustainable future. For this reason, determining the factors that ...influence the improvement of the competitive position of the tourism market is of great importance for their further development. In this paper, the authors have surveyed 136 tourism experts in order to assess the current state of all factors that affect/could affect the competitiveness of rural tourism destinations in Vojvodina. Also, the analysis should show if employees of the private rural companies and others have a different view of the competitiveness of Vojvodina as a destination for rural tourism in relation to the employees at faculties/ institutes, tourist organizations, travel agencies, national and provincial institutions, as well as whether there is a statistically significant difference in the attitudes of respondents on average scores for determinants of competitiveness depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of respondents.
Magnetic properties of soils formed in and on loess substrate and their relation to climate are of general interest in paleoclimate and pedological research. The loess-paleosol sequences (LPS) in the ...Vojvodina region (Serbia) have been the subject of intensive study. On the Bačka loess plateau (BLP), covering approximately 2500 km2, six different soil types are observed. While the stratigraphy of the LPS has been investigated the relation between climatic factors and magnetic properties of surface soil have not yet been examined. In this study we analyze 50 samples of chernozem soils, which have been dominated by climatic factors during their formation. Previous studies have confirmed that the formation of magnetic properties in soils is related to climate, and especially rainfall, because of the response of hematite and goethite to different, climatically-driven regimes. The sensitivity of certain iron-bearing minerals to climate has also been documented in the literature. Climatic variables for the BLP were derived from six-decade national meteorological datasets. Low frequency magnetic susceptibility (χ) and frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility (χfd) were determined for each site and compared to the mean annual precipitation (MAP), mean annual temperature (MAT) and the De Martonne aridity index (IDM). The meteorological variables were interpolated to sampling points by Kriging method in ArcMap 10.1. Our results suggest that values of χ and χfd both decrease from south to north and so does the precipitation. Thus, our work provides new evidence for the relationship between precipitation, temperature, aridity and magnetic properties of modern top soils. The obtained and analyzed data may help in the future to improve transfer functions of the relationship between magnetic susceptibility and climatic data.
The loess in Vojvodina region in Northern Serbia is regarded as one of the thickest and most complete paleoclimate archives in Europe. Recent studies showed that loess in Vojvodina spans the last ...million years. Based on the interprofile correlation between two most important loess–paleosol sequences Stari Slankamen and Titel Loess Plateau a synthetic profile was formed regarded as Stratotype Record of Serbian loess (SRSL). The synthetic profile has a total thickness of 62m and is comprised of 10 loess layers intercalated with nine pedocomplexes. A new astronomically tuned age model is proposed based on correlating peak magnetic susceptibility (χ) responses with the timing of June perihelia. This target curve is derived from analysis of regional climate proxy responses during the last interglacial and independently dated last glacial–interglacial cycle of Serbian loess–paleosol sequence. The use of a precession index target as the only tuning target presents the requirement of minimal tuning approach, which means that only the precession frequencies of the record will be manipulated.
Spectral and wavelet analyses of tuned magnetic susceptibility record reveal the presence of frequencies corresponding to 139kyr, 94kyr, 65kyr and small amplitude cycles of 43 and 23kyr in χ record. Spectral analysis of frequency dependent magnetic susceptibility (χfd) has spectral content concentrated around 100kyr and 77kyr, while higher frequency cycles are below significance level. There is a strong 245kyr peak in spectral results of both χ and χfd records that needs additional attention.
Around 800kyr in SRSLχ time scale and between 900kyr and 600kyr in SRSLχfd series the 100kyr cycles become dominant, which could be identified as the period of Mid-Pleistocene Transition. This is the first record of this paleoclimate transition in the Pannonian basin. The results presented in this study highlight the potential of Serbian loess–paleosol sequences for investigation of detailed and long-term climate reconstruction over continental Eurasian extent.
•A new astronomically tuned age model is proposed.•Magnetic susceptibility record is tuned to corresponding June perihelia.•Spectral and wavelet analyses reveal the presence of typical orbital frequencies.•Wavelet analysis reveals the presence of Mid-Pleistocene Transition.•Eccentricity parameter becomes dominant from 800kyr in Pannonian Basin.
During the years 2001 and 2010, the content of 238U, 226Ra, 232Th, 40K and 137Cs in agricultural soil and soil geochemical characteristics were measured on 50 locations in Northern Province of Serbia ...– Vojvodina. The locations for sampling were selected so that they proportionately represent all geomorphologic units in the region. The content of clay and humus varied within wide limits depending on soil type and influence the activity concentrations of radionuclides. In this paper we analyzed correlations between radionuclides content and geochemical characteristics of the soil. Possible influence of fertilizers on 238U content in soil was discussed. The main conclusion is that measured maximal activity concentrations for 238U (87 Bq/kg), 226Ra (44.7 Bq/kg), 232Th (55.5 Bq/kg) and 137Cs (29 Bq/kg) at 30 cm depth could not endanger the safety of food production. The process of genesis of soil and cultivation mode plays a dominant role on the characteristics of the soil. The most significant correlation was found between the activity concentrations of 40K and clay content in agricultural soil.
•Radioactivity content and chemical characteristics of soil samples were correlated.•Comparison of radionuclide concentrations in soil (in 2001 and 2010) was performed.•Possible influence of fertilizers on 238U content in soil was discussed.•Maximal dry weight concentrations of radionuclides in plants were calculated.
In the Middle Danube Basin, Quaternary deposits are widely distributed in the Vojvodina region where they cover about 95% of the area. Major research during the last two decades has been focused on ...loess deposits in the Vojvodina region. During this period, loess in the Vojvodina region has become one of the most important Pleistocene European continental climatic and environmental records. Here we present the dating results of 15 samples taken from the Nosak loess‐palaeosol sequence in northeastern Serbia in order to establish a chronology over the last three glacial–interglacial cycles. We use the pIRIR290 signal of the 4–11 μm polymineral grains. The calculated ages are within the error limits partially consistent with the proposed multi‐millennial chronostratigraphy for Serbian loess. The average mass accumulation rate for the last three glacial–interglacial cycles is 265 g m−2 a−1, which is in agreement with the values of most sites in the Carpathian Basin. Our results indicate a highly variable deposition rate of loess, especially during the MIS 3 and MIS 6 stages, which is contrary to most studies conducted in Serbia where linear sedimentation rates were assumed.
•Examination of cyanobacterial compounds as a paleoclimate reconstruction biomarker.•Usage of double-centered interaction matrix analysis and heat-map visualization.•SWE compounds were observed in ...the loess sediment and BLCs samples.•Potential establishment of SWE as a proxy for UV irradiance.•Potential establishment of MWE as a proxy for general stressful conditions.
Loess is the most important archive of Quaternary palaeoclimate evolution, with more thorough and systematic investigations carried out in the past two decades in the Carpathian Basin. Application of novel proxies in loess research could improve the state of knowledge of the past climatic changes. In order to examine the feasibility of cyanobacterial pigments to be used as biomarkers in paleoclimate reconstruction and thereby substantiate the presence of cyanobacterial community during loess accumulation, geochemical evidence of cyanobacteria-specific biomarkers in the sediment is required. In this study structurally different cyanobacterial metabolites were examined for their potential to be used as biomarkers. These compounds included scytonemin wavelength equivalent (SWE) and mycosporine wavelength equivalent (MWE) compounds.
The effect of various physico-chemical factors (pH value, temperature and light source) on the production of SWE and MWE compounds in correlation with the nitrogen content of the growth medium was studied. SWE compounds were observed in 8 out of 15 soil and aquatic cyanobacterial strains, while MWE compounds were found in all 15 strains. The results show that exposure to UV light induced a higher synthesis of both pigments.
Moreover, the presence of SWE compounds was confirmed in cyanobacterial cultures isolated from biological loess crusts (BLCs) as well as in BLC and loess sediment samples. The potential application of these pigment groups as biomarkers in paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstruction is discussed.
Climate change has different manifestations in various regions all over the world. Such changes strongly affect ecosystem services, environmental and agricultural stability. Soils play a crucial role ...in the complex system that generates climate change. However, the nature and structure of response of different soils to climate change is still distant to be interpreted. Bearing in mind that climate simulations can help us to comprehend soil balance in the future, we defined the purpose of this study: to project temporal and spatial changes of temperature and moisture in four different soils under A1B scenario for the periods 2021–2050 and 2071–2100 with respect to the period 1961–1990. For this analysis climate data obtained by the ECHAM5 model simulations, dynamically downscaled by the coupled regional climate model EBU-POM (Eta Belgrade University-Princeton Ocean Model), were used. The 43 sites in Vojvodina region (Serbia) were analyzed for pedological parameters and climate elements. The projected changes at the end of 21st century (2071–2100) can be summarized as follows: (i) increase in the mean annual soil temperature up to 3.5°C in the surface layer 0–10cm and up to 1.8°C in average for 0–200cm depth and decrease in the mean soil moisture up to 0.039kgkg−1 in the subsurface layer 40–100cm and up to 0.019kgkg−1 in average for 0–200cm depth, which corresponds to decrease of 16% and 7%, respectively; (ii) Chernozerms proved to be more sensitive to temperature increase in contrast to water affected soils (Fluvisols, Gleysols and Vertisols) that showed the lowest susceptibility; (iii) Chernozems also showed higher sensitivity to moisture loss than Cambisols, Arenosols and Umbrisols that showed the lowest susceptibility; and (iv) it was assumed that predicted changes in soil temperature and moisture will cause significant changes in soil respiration, release of CO2, soil processes, agriculture, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.
•Increase of mean soil temperature up to 3.5°C (0–10cm) and 1.8°C (0–200cm) till 2100•Decrease in the mean soil moisture of 16% (40–100cm) and 7% (0–200cm) till 2100•Chernozems proved to be more sensitive to CC unlike Fluvisols, Gleysols and Vertisols•Soil layer 40–100cm will be exposed with higher water loss than the other layers in 0–200cm.
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