Vegetation changes in Kulunda during the late Pleistocene and Holocene: first results of the pollen study of lake Kuchuk bottom sediments

Studied core of bottom sediments of Lake Kuchuk covers the latest 14.6 cal kyr, it makes this palaeorecord unique for Kulunda and entire Southwestern Siberia. According to the results of this study the appearance or reappearance of coniferous forest in the area occurred not earlier that 12.2 kyr BP. In the interval from 14.6 to 12.2 kyr BP, the steppe and halophyte communities were spread around the lake. After 6 kyr BP, the climate could have become more arid; it is reflected in an increase of Amaranthaceae and a decrease of conifers. Conifers have decreased after 2.5 kyr and birch forest has become more widespread.