Late quaternary vegetational change in the Kotzebue sound area, northwestern Alaska

Journal Article · Tue Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1985 · Quat. Res. (N.Y.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0033-5894(85)90053-5· OSTI ID:5624796

Anderson, P M

Two sediment cores from Kaiyak and Squirrel lakes in northwestern Alaska yielded pollen records that date to ca. 39,000 and 27,000 yr B.P., respectively. Between 39,000 and 14,000 yr B.P., the vegetation around these lakes was dominated by Gramineae and Cyperaceae with some Salix and possibly Betula nana/glandulosa forming a local, shrub component of the vegetation. Betula pollen percentages increased about 14,000 yr B.P., indicating the presence of a birch-dominated shrub tundra. Alnus pollen appeared at both sites between 9000 and 8000 yr B.P., and Picea pollen (mostly P. mariana) arrived at Squirrel Lake about 5000 yr B.P. The current forest-tundra mosaic around Squirrel Lake was established at this time, whereas shrub tundra existed near Kaiyak Lake throughout the Holocene. When compared to other pollen records from northwestern North America, these cores (1) represent a meadow component of lowland, Beringian tundra between 39,000 and 14,000 yr B.P., (2) demonstrate an early Holocene arrival of Alnus in northwestern Alaska that predates most other Alnus horizons in northern Alaska or northwestern Canada, and (3) show an east-to-west migration of Picea across northern Alaska from 9000 to 5000 yr B.P.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Washington, Seattle
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-85ER60304
• OSTI ID: 5624796
• Journal Information: Quat. Res. (N.Y.); (United States), Journal Name: Quat. Res. (N.Y.); (United States) Vol. 24; ISSN QRESA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

510100* -- Environment
Terrestrial-- Basic Studies-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
58 GEOSCIENCES
580100 -- Geology & Hydrology-- (-1989)
AGE ESTIMATION
ALASKA
FEDERAL REGION X
GAMETES
GERM CELLS
ISOTOPE DATING
LAKES
MAPPING
NORTH AMERICA
PLANTS
POLLEN
POPULATION DYNAMICS
SEDIMENTS
SHRUBS
SPRUCES
SURFACE WATERS
TREES
USA