Late quaternary environmental change of Kamchatka

Holocene vegetational developments in Russia are relatively unknown, and among the least studied areas of the country is the peninsula of Kamchatka. Late Quaternary research has focussed on aspects such as volcanology, tephrochronology, glacier fluctuations and prehistoric archaeology. The present study is a interdisciplinary enquiry into the late-Quaternary environmental change of Karnchatka. Four sediment cores from three lakes and a peat bog, located in different parts of the peninsula, were investigated. They provide a survey of environmental change in diverse landscapes in Kamchatka. All cores were analysed for pollen and loss-on-ignition and were dated by the radiocarbon method using an AMS machine. The pollen diagrams of Pechora Lake, Lifebuoy Lake and Olive-backed Lake display low frequencies of herbaceous and aquatic taxa. Wet and moist areas surrounding the lakes are primarily represented by Betula, Alnus viridis and Cyperaceae. Pinus pumila dominates the vegetation of the well-drained soils of the hill slopes. The vegetation at Utka is, after a strong decrease of grasses, sedges and ferns, mainly dominated by Betula, Alnus viridis and Thalictrum. Upper parts of the pollen diagram are characterised by higher frequencies of Filipendula and Myrica. Alrthree lake sites illustrate a relatively simultaneous spread of Pinus pumila between 4100 to 4300 cal yr BP. At Utka, evidence of Pinus pumila is rare. Pollen grains of Picea and Larix, identified at Olive-backed Lake, support the concept of existence of local retreat areas in Kamchatka during glacial time. This study gives new insights into the late Quaternary vegetation and landscape development of Kamchatka. The composition of the forests and the way in which they were assembled over time is examined, as well as whether plants survived within the peninsula, or if they migrated in from elsewhere in east Asia following the last glaciation.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo