Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental changes in the Verkhoyansk Mountains

• Main Authors: Andreev, Andrei, Müller, Stephan, Zech, W.
• Format: Conference Object
• Language: unknown
• Published: 2004
• Subjects: Karga; Verkhoyansk; Tundra; Siberia
• Online Access: https://epic.awi.de/id/eprint/10757/; https://hdl.handle.net/10013/epic.21225

Despite increased paleoenvironmental studies in the Northern Siberia, little is known of past climatic and environmental fluctuations during the Karga (Middle Weichselian) Interstadial. New pollen and radiocarbon data from the Verkhoyansk Mountains document the Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental history of the area. The pollen spectra show that open tundra-like Poaceae and Cyperaceae associations with some other herbs (Caryophyllaceae, Ranunculaceae, Asteraceae) dominated the area about 50-30 14C ka. Steppe-like communities with Artemisia, Cichoriaceae and Thalictrum and shrubby tundra communities with Salix and Betula sect. Albae also were present in the vegetation cover. An increase of Chenopodiaceae pollen and presence of charcoal particles in the sediments dated ca 48-50 14C ka most likely reflect a fire at that time. Higher content of Salix pollen, Polypodiaceae and Lycopodium spores between 48-30 14C ka may reflect some climate amelioration. This relatively warm interval seems to correspond well with the Karga Interstadial. Selaginella rupestris spores, indicators of very dry environment are also common in the Late Pleistocene spectra. Higher tree pollen contents (mostly Salix and Betula sect. Albae) in the Alleröd- early Holocene (ca 11-9 14C ka) reflect that the more favorable climate conditions during that interval. This data are in good agreement with other pollen records from the region.