Environment of the Oka Plateau (East Sayan Mountains) in the Late glacial and Holocene: a case study of a complex record from the Lake Khikushka sediments

A new pollen record and biome reconstructions from the Lake Khikushka provide insights into environmental and climate changes of the so far unstudied area of the Oka Plateau in the East Sayan Mountains, south East Siberia over the last 13490 cal. yr BP. The tundra biome predominates ca. 13490–12600 cal. yr BP, closely followed by taiga and steppe suggesting cold continental climate where the permafrost layer was close to the surface. The reconstruction demonstrates significant participation of boreal trees such as Picea obovata and Larix sibirica in the vegetation at this time. Later, ca. 12600–11200 cal. yr. BP. the reconstruction suggests a reduction of the steppe and tundra biomes due to a further spread of Picea and Larix. A short interval ca. 11200–10500 cal. yr BP is marked by maximum distribution of Abies and the strengthening of the taiga biome. The interval between ca. 10500 and 6500 cal. yr. BP reveals progressive expansion of the pine-dominated taiga biome that is in line with many other pollen records from Eurasia. The taiga biome was dominant in the study area for the last 6500 cal. yr BP. Since ca. 5000 cal. yr BP the Larix stands were close to the lake. Vegetation became similar to the modern after ~5000 cal. yr BP.

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