Holocene Pollen and Stomates from a Forest-tundra Site on the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia

Abstract

A lake sediment core from forest-tundra on the Taimyr Peninsula, Siberia, was analyzed for pollen and coniferous stomate content to reconstruct Holocene vegetation history. It had a basal age of 9200 yr BP. Larix stomates indicate L. sibirica trees were present at the site since before 9200 yr BP. Both low total pollen accumulation rates from ~9200–6500 yr BP and Juniperus stomates at ~9000 yr BP indicate the site was likely forest-tundra. Stomates indicate that Picea obovata trees arrived by 7600 yr BP. Combined pollen and stomate evidence suggest that Picea and Larix were more abundant during the mid-Holocene than today; Picea is now rare at the site.