Summary: | Paleobioindicators from the world's end: Ostracods and chironomids from Quaternary lacustrine environments of the southern tip of South American The main goal of this contribution is to summarize our current knowledge on paleolimnological research in Argentina using bioproxies, particularly ostracods (Crustacea) and chironomids (Diptera). Additionally, we present our perspective on the strengths and weaknesses of the major approaches to reconstruct past climate from these biological proxies. Ostracod and chironomid assemblages are powerful tools in Paleolimnology. These arthropods live in continental waters where they can reflect climate and environmental changes because of their high sensitivity to variations in the physical and chemical parameters controlling aquatic systems. Based on their modern ecological requirements it is possible to apply numerical, multivariate, and qualitative techniques to reconstruct some key parameters of late Quaternary environments. For the past 20 years, the use of modern and fossil ostracods and chironomids has increased significantly allowing the development of robust and unbiased high-resolution environmental reconstructions including climate applying multivariate approaches (i.e., transfer functions) and qualitative interpretations. Indicator species often consolidate investigations. The combination of biological, physical, and chemical proxies provides a network of independent data that allow the comprehensive understanding of late Quaternary continental aquatic ecosystems. Ostracods and chironomids have permitted not only to recognize long- and midterm climate and environmental trends but also high frequency climatic events of global interest, like the Younger Dryas (YD), the Antarctic Cold Reversal (ACR), the "4,2ka Dry Event", and the Little Ice Age (LIA), as well as climate changes occurred during the 20th century, including anthropogenic impact. Most of these studies have been performed in North America and southern Patagonia of Argentina, permitting to reconstruct the ...
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