- Canada
Richard Hoffmann
York University, History, Emeritus
Research Interests:
Changes in climate affected human societies throughout the last millennium. While European cold periods in the 17th and 18th century have been assessed in detail, earlier cold periods received much less attention due to sparse information... more
Changes in climate affected human societies throughout the last millennium. While European cold periods in the 17th and 18th century have been assessed in detail, earlier cold periods received much less attention due to sparse information available. New evidence from proxy archives, historical documentary sources and climate model simulations permit us to provide an interdisciplinary, systematic assessment of an exceptionally cold period in the 15th century. Our assessment includes the role of internal, unforced climate variability and external forcing in shaping extreme climatic conditions and the impacts on and responses of the medieval society in northwestern and central Europe. Climate reconstructions from a multitude of natural and anthropogenic archives indicate that the 1430s were the coldest decade in northwestern and central Europe in the 15th century. This decade is characterised by cold winters and average to warm summers resulting in a strong seasonal cycle in temperature. Results from comprehensive climate models indicate consistently that these conditions occurred by chance due to the partly chaotic internal variability within the climate system. External forcing like volcanic eruptions tends to reduce simulated temperature seasonality and cannot explain the reconstructions. The strong seasonal cycle in temperature reduced food production and led to increasing food prices, a subsistence crisis and a famine in parts of Europe. Societies were not prepared to cope with failing markets and interrupted trade routes. In response to the crisis, authorities implemented numerous measures of supply policy and adaptation such as the installation of grain storage capacities to be prepared for future food production shortfalls.
Research Interests:
Changes in climate affected human societies throughout the last millennium. While European cold periods in the 17th and 18th century have been assessed in detail, earlier cold periods received much less attention due to sparse information... more
Changes in climate affected human societies throughout the last millennium. While European cold periods in the 17th and 18th century have been assessed in detail, earlier cold periods received much less attention due to sparse information available. New evidence from proxy archives, historical documentary sources and climate model simulations permit us to provide an interdisciplinary, systematic assessment of an exceptionally cold period in the 15th century. Our assessment includes the role of internal, unforced climate variability and external forcing in shaping extreme climatic conditions and the impacts on and responses of the medieval society in northwestern and central Europe. Climate reconstructions from a multitude of natural and anthropogenic archives indicate that the 1430s were the coldest decade in northwestern and central Europe in the 15th century. This decade is characterised by cold winters and average to warm summers resulting in a strong seasonal cycle in temperature. Results from comprehensive climate models indicate consistently that these conditions occurred by chance due to the partly chaotic internal variability within the climate system. External forcing like volcanic eruptions tends to reduce simulated temperature seasonality and cannot explain the reconstructions. The strong seasonal cycle in temperature reduced food production and led to increasing food prices, a subsistence crisis and a famine in parts of Europe. Societies were not prepared to cope with failing markets and interrupted trade routes. In response to the crisis, authorities implemented numerous measures of supply policy and adaptation such as the installation of grain storage capacities to be prepared for future food production shortfalls.
Research Interests:
In this volume of Trabalhos do LARC we present the Program and Abstracts of the 18th biennial meeting of the International Council for Archaeozoology - Fish Remains Working Group (ICAZ-FRWG), hosted by the Directorate-General for... more
In this volume of Trabalhos do LARC we present the Program and Abstracts of the 18th biennial meeting of
the International Council for Archaeozoology - Fish Remains Working Group (ICAZ-FRWG), hosted by the
Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage - Archaeosciences Laboratory (DGPC - LARC) and the Research
Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – Environmental Archaeology Research Group (CIBIO -
EnvArch).
The meeting is aimed primarily for archaeozoologists interested in the systematic study of fish bones
retrieved from archaeological sites around the world, and also to archaeologists, ichthyologists, historians,
ethnographers, and fishery biologists. To this end the conference is structured to encompass a multiplicity
of approaches to the study of fish remains and their contribution to our understanding of how fishing, fish
trade, fish consumption, biodiversity, ecology and human impact on aquatic environments have changed
through time.
the International Council for Archaeozoology - Fish Remains Working Group (ICAZ-FRWG), hosted by the
Directorate-General for Cultural Heritage - Archaeosciences Laboratory (DGPC - LARC) and the Research
Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources – Environmental Archaeology Research Group (CIBIO -
EnvArch).
The meeting is aimed primarily for archaeozoologists interested in the systematic study of fish bones
retrieved from archaeological sites around the world, and also to archaeologists, ichthyologists, historians,
ethnographers, and fishery biologists. To this end the conference is structured to encompass a multiplicity
of approaches to the study of fish remains and their contribution to our understanding of how fishing, fish
trade, fish consumption, biodiversity, ecology and human impact on aquatic environments have changed
through time.
Research Interests:
The temporal dynamic of riverine ecosystems and their fish communities and populations has been addressed in ecological theory and management for several decades. A growing number of case studies on the historic development especially of... more
The temporal dynamic of riverine ecosystems
and their fish communities and populations has been
addressed in ecological theory and management for several
decades. A growing number of case studies on the historic
development especially of European and North American
rivers have been published. Nonetheless, a theoretical
debate about the contributions and limits of historical
approaches and interdisciplinary co-operation is lacking.
This article presents a brief overview of the role of history
in river and fish ecology and suggests historical ecology as
a scientific field that can offer a framework for future
research. Based on case studies compiled in this special
issue on the ‘‘Historical ecology of riverine fish in Europe’’,
we draw conclusions on long-term changes of fish communities,
on fisheries, aquatic ecosystem management and
past habitat alterations and the potential of archaeological
remains and written sources to study them. We discuss how
modelling of historical fish data can help elucidate the
effects of climate change and human influences on rivers
and fish. Finally, we account for the necessity to consider
appropriate spatial and temporal scales. In conclusion we
call for future comparative studies on continental and
global scales and methodological development, which can
benefit especially from recent advances in marine historical
ecology. We suggest that future interdisciplinary studies of
ecologists, hydrologists, historians and archaeologists can
reveal the history of riverine ecosystems as socio-ecological
systems, addressing both their natural dynamics and
human dimension. Such an endeavor can also support
developing management plans for habitat restoration and
conservation against the background of global change.
and their fish communities and populations has been
addressed in ecological theory and management for several
decades. A growing number of case studies on the historic
development especially of European and North American
rivers have been published. Nonetheless, a theoretical
debate about the contributions and limits of historical
approaches and interdisciplinary co-operation is lacking.
This article presents a brief overview of the role of history
in river and fish ecology and suggests historical ecology as
a scientific field that can offer a framework for future
research. Based on case studies compiled in this special
issue on the ‘‘Historical ecology of riverine fish in Europe’’,
we draw conclusions on long-term changes of fish communities,
on fisheries, aquatic ecosystem management and
past habitat alterations and the potential of archaeological
remains and written sources to study them. We discuss how
modelling of historical fish data can help elucidate the
effects of climate change and human influences on rivers
and fish. Finally, we account for the necessity to consider
appropriate spatial and temporal scales. In conclusion we
call for future comparative studies on continental and
global scales and methodological development, which can
benefit especially from recent advances in marine historical
ecology. We suggest that future interdisciplinary studies of
ecologists, hydrologists, historians and archaeologists can
reveal the history of riverine ecosystems as socio-ecological
systems, addressing both their natural dynamics and
human dimension. Such an endeavor can also support
developing management plans for habitat restoration and
conservation against the background of global change.
Research Interests:
Humans have exploited European aquatic resources since at least the Palaeolithic, but during the Middle Ages rising human populations and demand initiated great changes in many fisheries. To help understand the past and present of the... more
Humans have exploited European aquatic resources since at least the Palaeolithic, but during the Middle Ages rising human populations and demand initiated great changes in many fisheries. To help understand the past and present of the Wadden Sea, this paper sets the main developments of medieval fisheries in the context of changing larger European social and aquatic environments ca. 500–1500 A.D. Anthropogenic influences on fish populations and aquatic habitats interacted with natural environmental variations. Both nutritional and cultural needs shaped human consumption of aquatic organisms. Many fisheries met the demand for food by economic reorientation from subsistence to artisanal and then even fully commercial purposes. Exploitation slowly shifted from limited or deteriorating local inland and inshore fish populations to frontier, commonly marine, and increasingly pelagic resources. Some inland regions developed aquaculture to enhance local supplies of fresh fish. General processes are illustrated by case studies of selected indicator species from freshwater and marine habitats generally pertinent to the region surrounding the Wadden Sea. Anadromous salmon (Salmo salar) and sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) were negatively affected by overfishing and by unintentional human alteration of critical habitat. Habitat preferences of catadromous eel (Anguilla anguilla) and exotic carp (Cyprinus carpio) let these species gain from medieval human activities. In the case of herring (Clupea harengus), Europe’s largest early commercial marine fishery, technological innovations which raised production and consumption played off against long-term consequences of intensely exploiting sensitive natural systems.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The European bitterling is considered to be a native species over much of its present range in Europe. A dramatic decline in its abundance from 1960 to 1980 in west and central Europe, attributed to aquatic pollution, led to the... more
The European bitterling is considered to be a native species over much of its present range in Europe. A dramatic decline in its abundance from 1960 to 1980 in west and central Europe, attributed to aquatic pollution, led to the establishment of stringent national and international regulations for protection of the species. Here, we review the evidence that until AD 1100 the bitterling was restricted to the Ponto-Caspian and Aegean regions (south-eastern Europe and adjacent regions of Asia Minor) and only expanded into its present range during the 19th century. The earliest records of bitterling in west and central Europe are from regions where carp cultivation was common and the bitterling appears to have spread into this region in association with the gradual expansion of carp cultivation. After an initial period of expansion, between approximately 1150 and 1560 in regions with carp cultivation, the species virtually disappeared from Europe during the coldest period of the Little Ice Age. Bitterling reappeared at the end of the 18th century, initially in historical centres of carp cultivation, and was again abundant and widespread in Europe by around 1850. Its reappearance appears to have been through expansion of refuge populations as well as new invasions. The decline in abundance of bitterling during the period 1960–80 in west and central Europe appears not only to have been caused by pollution, as is generally believed, but may also be correlated with low spring temperatures. From approximately 1980 onwards the European bitterling once again expanded its distribution in many parts of Europe, particularly in eastern Europe. This recent expansion may be due to a combination of factors, including a rise in ambient temperature coupled with an increase in anthropogenic dispersal and changes to aquatic habitats favourable to bitterling. Thus, the bitterling, which is legally protected in Europe at a national and international level as an endangered indigenous species, is actually an invasive species and a parasite of freshwater mussels. Its current expansion in distribution could pose a hazard to freshwater mussel populations in regions where they are already threatened.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
"Today’s Wadden Sea is a heavily human-altered ecosystem. Shaped by natural forces since its origin 7,500 years ago, humans gradually gained dominance in influencing ecosystem structure and functioning. Here, we reconstruct the timeline... more
"Today’s Wadden Sea is a heavily human-altered ecosystem. Shaped by natural forces since its origin 7,500 years ago, humans gradually gained dominance in influencing ecosystem structure and functioning. Here,
we reconstruct the timeline of human impacts and the history of ecological changes in the Wadden Sea. We then discuss the ecosystem and societal consequences of observed changes, and conclude with management implications. Human influences have intensified and multiplied over time. Large-scale habitat transformation over the last 1,000 years has eliminated diverse terrestrial, freshwater, brackish and marine habitats. Intensive
exploitation of everything from oysters to whales has depleted most large predators and habitat-building species since medieval times. In the twentieth century, pollution, eutrophication, species invasions and, presumably, climate change have had marked impacts on the Wadden Sea flora and fauna. Yet habitat loss and overexploitation were the two main causes for the
extinction or severe depletion of 144 species (20% of total macrobiota). The loss of biodiversity, large predators, special habitats, filter and storage capacity, and degradation in water quality have led to a simplification
and homogenisation of the food web structure and ecosystem functioning that has affected the Wadden Sea ecosystem and coastal societies alike. Recent conservation efforts have reversed some negative trends by enabling some birds and mammals to recover and by creating new economic options for society. The Wadden Sea history provides a unique long-term perspective on ecological change, new objectives for conservation, restoration and management, and an ecological baseline that allows us to envision a rich, productive and diverse Wadden Sea ecosystem and coastal society."
we reconstruct the timeline of human impacts and the history of ecological changes in the Wadden Sea. We then discuss the ecosystem and societal consequences of observed changes, and conclude with management implications. Human influences have intensified and multiplied over time. Large-scale habitat transformation over the last 1,000 years has eliminated diverse terrestrial, freshwater, brackish and marine habitats. Intensive
exploitation of everything from oysters to whales has depleted most large predators and habitat-building species since medieval times. In the twentieth century, pollution, eutrophication, species invasions and, presumably, climate change have had marked impacts on the Wadden Sea flora and fauna. Yet habitat loss and overexploitation were the two main causes for the
extinction or severe depletion of 144 species (20% of total macrobiota). The loss of biodiversity, large predators, special habitats, filter and storage capacity, and degradation in water quality have led to a simplification
and homogenisation of the food web structure and ecosystem functioning that has affected the Wadden Sea ecosystem and coastal societies alike. Recent conservation efforts have reversed some negative trends by enabling some birds and mammals to recover and by creating new economic options for society. The Wadden Sea history provides a unique long-term perspective on ecological change, new objectives for conservation, restoration and management, and an ecological baseline that allows us to envision a rich, productive and diverse Wadden Sea ecosystem and coastal society."
Research Interests:
Abstract Book, 19th Fish Remains Working Group Meeting, Alghero-Stintino