Research Information System
Mediterranean Geosciences Union 4th Annual Meeting, Barcelona, Spain, 25 - 28 November 2024, pp.1, (Summary Text)
Determining the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary through
palynological analysis is vital for reconstructing past vegetation and climate
changes. These analyses provide detailed records of ecological transitions,
enabling a deeper understanding of how climate shifts have historically
impacted biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics. In this study, for the first-time
high resolution palynological analysis were conducted on a sediment core from
Lake Çıldır in Northeastern Anatolia. The aim of the research was to understand
the paleoclimatic changes and paleovegetation dynamics in the region. The
obtained data clearly delineated the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary.
The chronological framework of the 250 cm long
sediment core was established by radiocarbon dating of bulk sediment samples
taken from different levels. Sampling for palynological analysis was conducted
at 5 cm intervals throughout the core. Standard procedures for palynological
analysis as described by Faegri and Iversen (1989) was employed. The
percentages of all taxa were calculated by setting the total of all pollen taxa
equal to 100%.
According to the radiocarbon dating results, the
sediment core reveals a history dating back approximately to 16000 years BP.
The pollen analysis indicates that Amaranthaceae, Poaceae and Astraceae are
predominat non arboreal pollen. Among the arboreal pollen, Pinus is predominant, while Picea,
Abies, and Quercus are common. These
taxa are the main elements of the Çıldır paeloflora.
Based on our palynological results, the transition
between the Pleistocene and Holocene is well-documented in the pollen diagram.
The palynological data are in good agreement with the
pollen records from Lake Zeribar and Lake Urmia in Iran, and Lake Van in
Eastern Anatolia. These findings will contribute significantly to the construction
of regional climate models and a better understanding of paleoenvironmental
conditions. The study highlights the critical importance of palynological data
for paleoclimate research and provides valuable insights into the climatic and
ecological history of Northeastern Anatolia.
The study was supported by TUBITAK project numbered
120Y221.