The vegetation of the Russian Plain during the second part of the Late Pleistocene (33–18 ka)

Abstract

The paleofloral records from 108 sections of the Russian Plain for the Briansk interstadial (33–24 ka) and the maximum of the Late Valdai glaciation (24–18 ka) have been combined in a palynological database. A series of electronic maps of indicator plant species and different plant communities, determining certain vegetation paleophytocoenoses and the landscape as a whole, were reconstructed. Forest communities occurred fragmentarily. They were mainly associated with dissected areas. Subarctic and steppe plants were represented almost everywhere. The predominance of open landscapes (periglacial steppe and periglacial forest steppe formations) during the Middle and Late Valdai on the Russian Plain indicates a moderately cold climate during the Briansk interstadial and a cold continental climate during the Late Valdai glaciation.