Pollen and spore record of lake sediments, the southern part of the Yamal peninsula, Russia

Palynological data have been obtained from the lake sediments, the southern part of the Yamal peninsula. For the spore-pollen analysis we used a 30 cm core of bottom sediments from one of the water bodies of the Yerkuta river basin with the code name K1 (68°15.320' N, 69°07.675' E), collected during the expedition in 2014. The study object is a small lake with a surface area of 0.43 km2 and maximum depth of 6.5 m. The water temperature of the lake averaged 9.2°C. Based on the hydrogen index value (pH= 6.93), the lake water was characterized as close to neutral. Based on the palynological analysis of the lake sediments we received a preliminary information on climatic changes, as well as on changes in vegetation character in the area around the water body. Reconstruction of vegetation around the lake has identified the development of a brush-grass-moss tundra. Shrubs are represented by Betula, Alnaster, Salix, Ericaceae. Herbaceous taxa are composed mainly by Cyperaceae, Poaceae with a small admixture of forbs. Mosses are represented by Sphagnum, Lycopodiaceae. It has been found that the lower part of the core from 29 cm to 18 cm formed in a cold and humid climate. The middle part of the column from 18 to 8 cm laid under more favorable conditions - an increase in the total concentration of pollen in the sediments was noticeable. The top of the column from 8 to 0 cm points to cold and humid climate. The vegetation, which produced the pollen at this period, was same to the modern type.