Vegetation and climate changes in northwestern Russia during the Lateglacial and Holocene inferred from the Lake Ladoga pollen record


Contact
Birgit.Heim [ at ] awi.de

Abstract

The new pollen record from the upper 12.75 m of a sediment core obtained in Lake Ladoga documents regional vegetation and climate changes in northwestern Russia over the last 13.9 cal. ka. The Lateglacial chronostratigraphy is based on varve chronology, while the Holocene stratigraphy is based on AMS 14C and OSL dates, supported by comparison with regional pollen records. During the Lateglacial (c . 13.9–11.2 cal. ka BP ), the Lake Ladoga region experienced several climatic fluctuations as reflected in vegetation changes. Shrub and grass communities dominated between c . 13.9 and 13.2 cal. ka BP . The increase in Picea pollen at c . 13.2 cal. ka BP probably reflects the appearance of spruce in the southern Ladoga region at the beginning of the Allerød interstadial. After c . 12.6 cal. ka BP , the Younger Dryas cooling caused a significant decrease in spruce and increase in Artemisia with other herbs, indicative of tundra‐ and steppe‐like vegetation. A sharp transition from tundra‐steppe habitats to sparse birch forests characterizes the onset of Holocene warming c . 11.2 cal. ka BP . Pine forests dominated in the region from c . 9.0 to 8.1 cal. ka BP . The most favourable climatic conditions for deciduous broad‐leaved taxa existed between c . 8.1 and 5.5 cal. ka BP . Alder experiences an abrupt increase in the local vegetation c . 7.8 cal. ka BP . The decrease in tree pollen taxa (especially Picea ) and the increase in herbs (mainly Poaceae) probably reflect human activity during the last 2.2 cal. ka. Pine forests have dominated the region since that time. Secale and other Cerealia pollen as well as ruderal herbs are permanently recorded since c . 0.8 cal. ka BP .



Item Type
Article
Authors
Divisions
Primary Division
Programs
Primary Topic
Publication Status
Published
Eprint ID
52299
DOI 10.1111/bor.12376

Cite as
Savelieva, L. A. , Andreev, A. A. , Gromig, R. , Subetto, D. A. , Fedorov, G. B. , Wennrich, V. , Wagner, B. and Melles, M. (2019): Vegetation and climate changes in northwestern Russia during the Lateglacial and Holocene inferred from the Lake Ladoga pollen record , Boreas, 48 (2), pp. 349-360 . doi: 10.1111/bor.12376


Share
Add to AnyAdd to TwitterAdd to FacebookAdd to LinkedinAdd to PinterestAdd to Email


Citation

Geographical region

Research Platforms
N/A

Campaigns
N/A


Actions
Edit Item Edit Item