The anthropocene and great acceleration as controversial epoch of human-induced activities: Case study of the halk el menjel wetland, eastern tunisia

Abstract

The Anthropocene covers the recentest period of globally widespread climate and environmental changes during which polluting human activities represent major risks for populations and their resources. The aim of this study is to investigate the drastic change in the sedimentary record of the sebkha Halk El Menjel, located in Tunisia, along a 10-cm long core to discuss the possible onset and limits of the Anthropocene and the Great Acceleration in this wetland. Sampling was carried out each 2 mm. According to the age-depth model and the increasing pattern of heavy metals content, we propose that the Anthropocene onset is located at ~300 yr BP. The increasing heavy metals content may be correlated to natural and/or anthropogenic sources such as volcanic eruptions and mining activities respectively. Also, the evolution of grain size percentages shows an increasing sediment flux during the Anthropocene and accentuated during the Great Acceleration. The principal component analysis shows three main groups of variables related to pollution, climate change and eustatism, indicating the combined effect of the natural and human induced activities during the Anthropocene. The evolution of microfauna shows that some microorganisms were influenced by the Anthropocene conditions whereas others remain indifferent.