Palaeoecological records from BJM2 sediment core (Sebkha Boujmel, Southern Tunisia. 33°18'30.96" N, 11°5'0.68" E)

Palaeoecological records from BJM2 sediment core (Sebkha Boujmel, Southern Tunisia. 33°18’30.96” N, 11°5’0.68” E (Latitude Y 33.3086, Longitude X 11.083522).

1. Conventional AMS radiocarbon dates and reservoir-corrected and 2σ range calibrated ages from Sebkha Boujmel (BJM2 core).

2. Output of the age-depth model for BJM2 core indicating depth and associated mean date for each cm (cal yr BP). The age model was obtained by third-degree polynomial regression with 10k model iteration using the package Clam 2.2.

3. Pollen percentage for the three ecological groups (Mediterranean, steppe and desert taxa). The percentages are calculated with respect to a basic sum that only includes these three groups. Pollen taxa and types from the same genus or family and with the same ecology are grouped; including Boraginaceae (Moltkiopsis ciliata, Onosma and Echium), Ephedra sp. (Ephedra fragilis-t. and Ephedra distachia-t.) and Zygophyllaceae (Fagonia, Nitraria and Zygophyllum). Percentage of aquatics pollen are calculated based on the total sum of pollen grains identified in each pollen spectrum.

4. Pollen and clay mineralogy data from Sebkha Boujmel. Percentages of (1) fresh water (Cyperaceae, Glyceria, Juncus, Lemna, Potamogeton, Rumex aquaticus-t., Typha/Sparganium-t.) and (2) Mediterranean tree and shrub (Buxus, Ceratonia, Cistus, Juniperus, Lamiaceae, Myrtus, Nerium, Olea, Papaveraceae, Pinus, Pistacia, Quercus ilex-t., Quercus deciduous-t., Rhus tripartita-t.) pollen taxa. (3) Wet / dry (W / D) pollen ratio (Poaceae + Cyperaceae/Asteraceae Cichorioideae + Asteraceae Asteroideae + Amaranthaceae Cornulaca/Traganum-t.). (4) Percentages of desert pollen taxa (Apiaceae, Asphodelus, Asteraceae Asteroideae, Asteraceae Cichorioideae, Calligonum, Capparis, Cistanche, Cleome, Cornulaca/Traganum-t., Crassulaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Echium, Ephedra distachia-t., Ephedra fragilis-t., Fagonia, Helianthemum, Malvaceae, Moltkiopsis ciliata, Neurada, Nitraria, Onosma, Reaumuria, Tamarix and Zygophyllum). (5) Illite [%] (Ill) / Kaolinite [%] (Kln) ratio and (6) Palygorskite percentages [%] (Plg).

5. Pollen percentage of Artemisia and selected anthropogenic pollen indicators (APIs) including cultivated (Cerealia-t., Corchorus, Ficus, Olea, Phoenix, Vitis), nitrophilous (Aizoaceae, Emex, Peganum, Polygonum) and introduced (Acacia cyanophylla-t., Casuarina, Eucalyptus) plant taxa. Percentage are calculated based on the total sum of pollen grains identified in each pollen spectrum.

6. Pollen counts for BJM2 core (pollen grain count for each taxon by sample). + Lycopodium (added), Lycopodium (counted) and Sample weight [gr].

7. Clay Mineralogy of BJM2 sediment core. 

Smectite [%] (Sme), METHOD/DEVICE: X-ray diffraction, clay fraction

Illite [%] (Ill), METHOD/DEVICE: X-ray diffraction, clay fraction

Palygorskite [%] (Plg), METHOD/DEVICE: X-ray diffraction, clay fraction

Kaolinite [%] (Kln), METHOD/DEVICE: X-ray diffraction, clay fraction

Chlorite [%] (Chl), METHOD/DEVICE: X-ray diffraction, clay fraction