Vegetation and environmental changes on the Northeast China Plain during warm periods since MIS 3

Abstract

Understanding past terrestrial ecosystem responses to climate changes is vital for future predictions, but research in densely populated plains is limited due to insufficient materials. This study focuses on vegetation and environmental changes in the Northeast China Plain since Marine Isotopic Stage (MIS) 3 using pollen analysis from core WCZK03. The findings reveal significant shifts in vegetation that correspond to climatic events. During MIS 3 (52–29 cal ka BP), the region was predominantly a lake environment with vegetation transitioning from grassland dominated by Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia to conifer-broadleaf mixed forests as the climate ameliorated. The Last Glacial Maximum (29–17 cal ka BP) was characterized by loess deposits, followed by drought-tolerant grassland (17.0–11.3 cal ka BP) dominated by Artemisia and Chenopodiaceae in the plain. The onset of the Holocene witnessed the expansion of conifer and broad-leaved deciduous forests in hilly areas and the retreat of grassland in the plain. The sedimentary sequence shows transitions from fluvial-lacustrine deposits to loess-like and black soil deposits, showing significant environmental changes. This study suggests that changes in vegetation on the Northeast China Plain were closely related to regional climate patterns and were more responsive to climate changes than the surrounding mountainous areas.