A new tool to trace past human presence from lake sediments: the human-specific molecular marker Bacteroides strain HF 183

作者：Madeja Jacek^*

来源：Journal of Quaternary Science, 2015, 30(4): 349-354.

DOI：10.1002/jqs.2783

• ancient DNA
• HS Bacteroides HF 183
• human presence
• lake deposit
• pollen analysis
• pollen analysis

This study presents the results of molecular and palynological analyses of 172 lake sediment samples. By employing a protocol for the semi-nested polymerase chain reaction using primers for the human-specific Bacteroides strain HF 183, the DNA of this group of bacteria, which are highly specific markers of faecal pollution of human origin, was identified. The DNA of this bacteria group identified in the sediment bears witness to the past presence of human groups near the lake. The results of completed molecular analyses were collated with palynological data, allowing the vegetation transformations to be reconstructed, including transformations occurring under the influence of human activity. The results obtained show that genetic markers of human presence deposited in lake sediments can form a source of valuable information, allowing phases of human presence in the past, and thus the impact of human on plant associations, to be reconstructed in detail. The combination of both palynological and molecular data originating from the same source (lake sediments) allows for comparison of information about anthropogenic changes to the environment at a regional scale (palynological data) with those recorded at the local scale in the immediate vicinity of the studied lake (molecular data).

• 出版日期2015-5