Palynological analysis of the Late-Holocene vegetation and climate of Ganli-Gol wetland near Urmia, northwestern Iran

Document Type : Research article

Authors

1 M.Sc. Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

2 Assistant Prof., Department of Forestry, Faculty of Natural Resources, Urmia University, Urmia, Iran

3 Associate Prof., Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran

4 استاد، گروه پالئواکولوژی و مطالعات تورب‌زار، انستیتو گیاه‌شناسی و اکولوژی زمین‌سیما، دانشگاه گرایفسوالد، گرایفسوالد، آلمان

Abstract

Palynologial analysis of a core from Ganli-Gol wetland reveals the Late-Holocene vegetation dynamics and the role of climate and man on the past environment in northwestern Iran. Our pollen diagram shows substantial changes in vegetation over the period 3000-1600cal.BP. Artemisia and/or Chenopodiaceae must have abundantly contributed in the vegetation composition of the area. Poaceae and Cyperaceae were important wetland vegetation as the high values of their pollen suggest. The low values of arboreal pollen throughout the record indicate the negligible contribution of forest vegetation over the whole period. We used C/A (Chenopodiaceae/Artemisia) pollen ratio, to estimate the past dry/wet periods in the area. During 3000-2850cal.BP, a relatively dry climate and the expansion of steppe vegetation can be inferred from low values of C/A. Increased values of Artemisia with the occurrence of oak during 2850-2652cal.BP may reflect less drier condition with semi-steppe vegetation. The end of this period is marked by low values of Quercus and Artemisia and high Chenopodiaceae, suggesting the prevalence of a cold and dry condition with steppe-desert vegetation. Increased values of Quercus combined with high values of Artemisia and Poaceae could be taken as indications for improved climatic condition during 2338-2020cal.BP. The occurrence of Vitis and relatively high values of anthropogenic pollen types, e.g. Plantago lanceolata and Centaurea solstitialis, are evidences for increased agricultural activity in this period. The period 2020-1614cal.BP is marked by low values of Quercus and Artemisia and high Chenopodiaceae pollen suggesting that steppe vegetation and a relatively arid condition prevailed in the area.

Keywords

References

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