Biota and Environment of Natural Areas

Razjigaeva N.G., Ganzey L.A., Mokhova L.M., Makarova T.R., Panichev A.M., Kudryavtseva E.P., Arslanov Kh.A.

Muta Area as a Natural Archive of the Environmental Changes (National Park « Zov Tigra», Russia)

Year: 2018, Number: 1, Pages: 37-70

Multi-proxy studies of peatbog section of western part of Muta area are the foundation for reconstructing changes in the South Sikhote-Alin landscapes located in the National Park «Zov Tigra» (Roar of the Tiger). Response of biotic components to climatic changes over 4,7 BP/5,4 cal ka was established. Biostratigraphical studies included diatom and pollen analysis. Chronology of paleogeographical events was based on radiocarbon dating results and tephrostratigraphy. In the peatbog section we found a layer of marker volcanic ash B-Tm from the calderaforming eruption of the Baitoushan Volcano, which took place in winter 946/947 AD. The tephra was identified based on macrocomponent composition of volcanic glass. Correlation of coolings and warmings, the most significant in the landscape development, with regional data and global paleoclimatic events were made. It is shown that along with the temperature changes the moisture content also changed quite significantly. The role of fires in the development of landscapes was established, the chronology of paleofires was determined and the periods of their activation were established, which, as a rule, coincide with decreasing humidity during cold phases. Pollen data confirm that the anthropogenic transformation of the valley landscapes in the upper reaches of the Ussuri River occurred in the XX century.

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