Late Weichselian vegetation, climate, and floral migration at Sandvikvatn, North Rogaland, southwestern Norway |
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| Authors: | AAGE PAUS |
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| Institution: | Botanical Institute, University of Bergen, Allégt, 41, N-5007 Bergen, Norway |
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| Abstract: | Pollen analysis from Sandvikvatn has elucidated the local Late Weichselian vegetational and climatic history since deglaciation about 14,000 B.P. The pleniglacial period, the first of three climatic main periods and ending c. 13,600 B.P., is an Artemisia -dominated pioneer vegetation on disturbed mineral soils. The Late Weichselian Interstadial (13,600-11,000 B.P.) comprises a Salix -shrub consolidation phase and, from 12,900 B.P., a birch-forest optimum phase. In the Younger Dryas Stadial (11,000–10,100 B.P.) the Artemisia -dominated pioneer vegetation returns. Three climatic oscillations are demonstrated at intervals of about 500 years within the Interstadial. The oldest two, about 12,500 and 12,000 B.P., could both have been connected with the 'Older Dryas'. Cold winters and strong winds, causing soil erosion and drought, are suggested as important factors during the climatic periods unfavourable to woody vegetation. In the pleniglacial and Younger Dryas periods the winds are assumed to be katabatic. During the whole Late Weichselian southern species dominate locally. A northwards spread is demonstrated for the majority of the local late-glacial taxa, including the endemic Primula scandinavica and also Papaver radicatum and Aconitum , both previously discussed as part of the hypothesis of Weichselian ice-free refugia. |
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