Abstract
Loess-paleosol series are well preserved in the south part of the Russian Plain. However, these sequences have a low number of studies on their organic matter, such as researches of isotope composition, n-alkane and other biomarkers. Thus, the purpose of the study was to reconstruct vegetation conditions from the Late Glacial to Late Holocene. We used the leaf wax-derived n-alkanes to detect vegetation evolution of the Bryansk Region. The stable carbon isotope composition of organic matter and pedogenic carbonates was carried out for the same aim. Three paleosols (of Lasko, Bølling-Allerød warmings and Holocene second humus horizons) and modern soils of different relief positions were investigated. n-Alkane distribution, as well as isotope composition indicates changes from grassy to woody vegetation during this period. The use of biomarkers such as n-alkanes helps to more clearly interpret isotopic data.
Highlights
The loess-soil series are well represented on the Russian Plain, in the south and south-west, and reflect the Late Pleistocene climatic restructuring by numerous climatic oscillations near Pleistocene–Holocene boundary
The purpose of this study was to reconstruct the paleovegetation changes in the loess-paleosol series of the Bryansk region (Russia) during the transition from the Lasko and Bølling-Allerød warm periods (Late Pleistocene) to the Late Holocene using the method of n-alkanes distribution in organic matter of modern and paleosols
By analyzing current and previously obtained data, we can conclude that the Bølling‐Allerød warm period was characterized by a drier and warmer climate than the Lasko interstadial
Summary
The loess-soil series are well represented on the Russian Plain, in the south and south-west, and reflect the Late Pleistocene climatic restructuring by numerous climatic oscillations near Pleistocene–Holocene boundary. Many researchers [1,2,3] have found that Late Valdai (~23−10 kyr BP, Wurm IV, Late Glacial) loess deposits in this region are heterogeneous and separated by humic or gley horizons (undeveloped soils) in many stratigraphic sections. These horizons are markers of regional climatic fluctuations between 17−10.2 kyr BP. Despite the abundance of paleogeographic studies of the Late Pleistocene loess-paleosol series on the Russian Plain [1,4,5,6,7,8], there are currently no paleoreconstructions based on n-alkane distribution.
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