Holocene environmental changes on the east coast of Korea

We present a record of Holocene environmental change on the east coast of Korea, inferred using pollen, carbon-isotopic composition (??¹³C), total organic carbon, total sulfur, carbon/nitrogen ratios, particle size analysis and major element geochemistry in a sediment core from Soonpogae Lagoon. A multi-proxy paleoenvironmental approach had not previously been applied in Korea and allowed us to reconstruct climate and vegetation change, sea-level rise, lagoon development, and human impact on the east coast of Korea over the last 8,000?years. Evidence from Soonpogae Lagoon supports the following three conclusions: (1) As a drying trend prevailed on the east coast of Korea after ~5,900?cal?yr BP, chemical weathering weakened and herbaceous plants became more important than during the previous humid phase (Holocene Climate Optimum), (2) Sea-level rise on the east coast slowed dramatically about 6,800?cal?yr BP, resulting in low rates of sedimentation in Soonpogae Lagoon, and (3) Soonpogae Lagoon was almost completely isolated from the sea by sand barriers when human impact intensified ~2,100 BP.     

南沙群岛永暑礁澙湖沉积的晚全新世风暴事件记录

位于南沙群岛永暑礁西南小澙湖的南永4井岩芯柱中含多层珊瑚枝和珊瑚砾石的堆积,反映了突发性风暴事件造成的珊瑚碎屑快速搬运和堆积。全新世晚期约4 000 aBP以来,澙湖珊瑚砾堆积记录了1 400870BC、660BC390AD、600770AD和940-1992AD 4个主要的风暴事件频发时期,并且风暴的强度呈阶段性增强。风暴事件还表现出千年和百年尺度的周期性波动,具有1 280 a、370 a、210230 a、140150 a和90 a的准周期,与全新世气候环境的周期性变化相对应,很大程度上受太阳活动周期变化的影响。     

毛乌素沙地东缘中全新世以来环境变化及其对文明演化的影响初探北大核心CSCD

毛乌素沙地全新世风成沉积为探讨气候变化与文明演化之间的关系提供了可能。本文通过对毛乌素沙地东缘全新世中晚期寨山剖面沉积物的磁学参数、色度、CaCO含量和粒度进行分析,重建了该区域环境变化历史,并初步探讨了环境变化对文明演化的影响。结果表明:该区域6 800-1 500 cal a BP分别经历了一次气候暖湿期(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)、一次气候相对暖干期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)和一次气候相对暖湿期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)。毛乌素沙地东缘仰韶文化(6 800-5 500 cal a BP)的大扩张与气候暖湿期具有一致性,遗址数量增加;仰韶晚期和龙山时期(5 500-4 000 cal a BP)气候变化频繁,文化复杂多样,期间经历了仰韶文明的衰落和龙山文化的扩张,遗址数量逐渐增加;青铜铁器时代和秦汉时期(4 000-1 500 cal a BP)各民族文化融合发展,人口活动频繁,经济文化都得到较好的发展,遗址不断增加,且数量较大。研究结果指示文明兴衰受环境演化影响,两者在时间上有较好的一致性,但短时期内文明演化对气候变化的响应有滞后性。     

Upper Pleistocene and Holocene paleosalinity and trophic state changes in relation to sea level variation in Rocha Lagoon, southern Uruguay

Paleolimnological data are presented on trophic development in relation to sea level variation in Rocha Lagoon, a 72 km² coastal lagoon in southern Uruguay. Using sediment cores that extended to ∼20,000 yr BP, analyses of grain size, organic matter, carbonate, total carbon, nutrients, and diatoms allowed us to infer changes in trophic state and paleosalinities, which were closely related to Holocene relative sea level variation. Higher trophic states were observed during regressive events, most probably due to increases in runoff and erosion as regressions progressed. Diatom Association Zones (DAZ) were identified in both cores. Those DAZ corresponding to transgressive events were dominated by marine/brackish taxa and relatively low organic matter and nutrient values, while those DAZ corresponding to regressive events showed increases in brackish/freshwater diatoms and both organic matter and nutrients. Although the lagoon formed after the first Holocene marine transgression, our data indicate the existence of a marine/brackish aquatic system during upper Pleistocene (i.e., before 15,000 yr BP), but by ∼20,000 yr BP, the system was still likely to be a semi-arid terrestrial system.     

Relationships between Trophic State, Paleosalinity and Climatic Changes during the First Holocene Marine Transgression in Rocha Lagoon, Southern Uruguay

Paleolimnological data are presented on trophic development, climatic change and sea level variations in Rocha Lagoon, a 72 km² coastal lagoon in southern Uruguay. Using a sediment core that extended from 7000 to about 3700 yr BP, analyses of organic matter, carbonate, diatoms and chrysophyte cysts were used to track the early Holocene paleolimnological conditions of Rocha Lagoon. Opal phytoliths were also counted and identified, both temperature and humidity indices were calculated, and Opal Phytolith Association Zones (OPAZ) were identified by performing Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCO). Diatom Association Zones (DAZ) corresponding to marine/brackish and brackish/freshwater episodes were closely related to changes in trophic state. Those DAZ representing marine/brackish stages exhibited a lower trophic state than those DAZ dominated by brackish and freshwater diatoms. This highlights that during the first Holocene marine transgression, Rocha Lagoon did not continuously exhibit marine/brackish conditions as reported in previous papers. Instead, three brackish/freshwater episodes related to sea level variation and changes in humidity were identified. The first episode, by ~6000 yr BP, was related to sea level change as no significant changes in either temperature or humidity indices were observed. The second episode, between 5000 and 4400 yr BP, was related to both a sea level decrease and an increase in humidity, as a transition from humid to very humid climate was inferred. Concomitant decreases in salinity and increases in trophic state were also observed. The third episode, after ~4000 yr BP, was related to the end of the first Holocene regressive phase when sea level was slightly below present levels. Further decreases in salinity and increases in trophic state were detected. The paleoclimatic trends inferred in this study were in close agreement with other regional studies on climatic change, as cool temperatures were inferred. However, major changes in humidity were also detected. A humid to very humid climate was inferred for ~7000–4500 yr BP, but the occurrence of a semiarid/arid climate was inferred for ~4500–3700 yr BP. Our data suggest that during transgressive and regressive events there might be higher frequency and lower amplitude sea level oscillations that might lead to changes in salinity and trophic state of coastal aquatic systems. Such oscillations could only be tracked by high resolution analyses of sedimentary records and could be best interpreted with complementary data on paleoclimate. In addition, microfossils such as diatoms and opal phytoliths were shown to be very sensitive to such paleoenvironmental changes.     

全新世湖泊沉积物TOC、C/N和δ^13Corg对千年尺度气候变化的响应

湖泊沉积物有机地化指标在古气候解释中具有复杂性和多解性。TOC、C/N和δ^13Corg作为3种常用的有机地化指标,现已广泛运用于东、中亚全新世气候变化研究中。以这3种指标为例综述了东、中亚全新世湖泊沉积有机地化指标的变化机制及影响因素。根据数据的综合分析与对比,大部分湖泊全新世沉积物TOC百分含量较高时,C／N比值也较高。这与沉积物有机质的来源有关,因两者TOC和C／N作用机制不同,也存在少数湖泊,其两者对应关系不明显;同一湖泊δ^13Corg与TOC及δ^13Corg与C／N对应关系相似;由于不同区域影响有机地化指标的因素不同,TOC、C／N和δ1^3Corg间的关系存在区域差异,据此可将研究区分为中纬度地区、青藏高原区和低纬度季风区。上述区域规律存在于研究中所选的大部分湖泊,由于有机地化指标作用机理的复杂性,也存在不符合这种规律的湖泊,因而上述结论有待于进一步讨论。     

Paleolimnological evidence of Holocene climatic changes in Lake Blanca, southern Uruguay

Paleolimnological data are presented on Holocene climatic changes in Lake Blanca, a small (0.6 km²), coastal fresh waterbody in southern Uruguay. Using a sediment core that extended to 7,300 year BP, analyses of pooid, panicoid and chloridoid phytoliths (Poaceae) allowed us to identify 16 Opal Phytoliths Association Zones (OPAZ). Both temperature and humidity indices were calculated from relative percentages of opal phytoliths and the climatic trends were inferred. During the early Holocene, prior to the first Holocene marine transgression (∼ ∼8,000–7,000 yr BP), cool-arid climatic conditions were inferred. After the first Holocene transgression, predominance of cool-humid conditions was registered until about 4,000 yr BP. A transition from cool-semiarid/arid to alternate warm-temperate and humid-very-humid conditions was detected for ∼∼4,000–1,000 yr BP. Increases in trophic state were observed because of such a climatic amelioration. After ∼ ∼1,000 yr BP, a shift from warm to temperate and cool temperatures was inferred. Such a cooling episode was assigned to a “LIA” which took place by the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. A decrease in trophic state was observed during this climatic deterioration. After such a little ice age, present temperate humid conditions were established. The humidity indices calculated from relative percentages of opal phytoliths for the last ∼ ∼70 years were compared to annual rainfall data. Such a comparison showed that opal phytoliths are reliable indicators of humidity.     

渭河流域东部全新世环境演变与古文化发展的关系研究

 在对渭河流域东部全新世黄土剖面磁化率、粒度、Rb/Sr、CaCO3等气候指标测定分析的基础上,结合已测定的光释光（OSL）年龄和古文化研究的最新成果,探讨了该区环境演变与人类古文化演进的历史及其相互关系。研究发现,在9.34~6.77 ka BP全新世最适宜的气候条件下,在7.80~7.30 ka BP出现了老官台文化,之后发育了仰韶早期文化;在全新世中期6.77~5.48 ka BP干冷气候初期出现了仰韶文化最繁荣的庙底沟类型文化;中后期随资源环境的持续恶化,该区出现了仰韶文化衰落的西王村类型文化;在全新世中晚期的5.48~3.12 ka BP气候再次发生好转推动了该区龙山文化的发展;4.60~3.76 ka BP期间频繁发生的洪水事件可能进一步强化了人地关系,并进而推动了该区文化进入夏商人类文明时期;3.12 ka BP以来趋于干冷的气候在推动该区人类文明进一步发展的同时,人类活动对环境影响的强度和范围也日益加大。渭河流域古文化得以延续发展至今,一方面说明气候环境的变化并未超越先民适应能力的范围,另一方面也说明渭河流域具有先民维持生存和发展的优越资源环境条件。     

Holocene environmental changes and development of Figurnoye Lake in the southern Bunger Hills, East Antarctica

The lithology, radiocarbon chronology, granulometry, geochemistry and distribution of diatoms were investigated in three sediment cores from fresh-water Figurnoye Lake in the southern Bunger Hills, East Antarctica. Our paleolimnological data provide a record of Holocene environmental changes for this region. In the early Holocene (prior to 9.0 ± 0.5 kyr BP), warm climate conditions caused intensive melting of either the floating glacier ice mass or glaciers in the immediate lake surroundings, leading to the accumulation of terrigenous clastic sediments and limiting biogenic production in the lake. From ca. 9.0 ± 0.5 to 5.5 ± 0.5 kyr BP, highly biogenic sediments dominated by benthic mosses formed, indicating more distal glaciers or snowfields. A relatively cold and dry climate during this period caused weaker lake-water circulation and, likely, occurrence of lake ice conditions were more severe than present. The distribution of marine diatoms in the cores shows that, sometime between 8 and 5 kyr BP, limited amounts of marine water episodically penetrated to the lake, requiring a relative sea-level rise exceeding 10–11 m. During the last ca. 5.5 ± 0.5 kyr BP, sedimentation of mainly biogenic matter with a dominance of laminated microbial mats occurred in the lake under warm climatic conditions, interrupted by relative coolings: the first one around 2 kyr BP and then shortly before recent time. Between ca. 5.5 and 4 kyr BP, the drainage of numerous ice-dammed lakes took place in the southern Bunger Hills and, as a result, drier landscapes have existed here from about 4 kyr BP.     

青海湖湖东沙地河湖-风成沉积记录的中晚全新世以来环境变化

青海湖盆地因其独特的地理位置和气候环境,对气候变化响应敏感,是研究环境变化重要的场所。本研究在青海湖湖东沙地获取两个剖面,采用AMS¹⁴C测年,结合岩性、粒径组分和常量元素氧化物及其比值等多指标分析方法,重建了湖东沙地8.4 ka BP以来的环境演变过程。结果表明：除少量沉积物处于中等化学风化阶段外,大部分沉积物处于物理风化和初级化学风化阶段,说明自8.4 ka BP以来研究区气候环境总体上相对寒冷干燥。在千年尺度上,研究区不同时间段的气候环境存在较大的差异。8.4—4.2 ka BP气候相对温暖湿润;其中,8.4—6.2 ka BP河湖相和风成相沉积互层,表明存在明显的百年尺度气候波动;6.2—4.2 ka BP化学风化和淋溶作用较强,表明季风降水较多,径流较强,发育了较为稳定的湖泊沉积环境。4.2 ka BP以来湖泊消失,化学风化和淋溶作用减弱,沉积物从砾石转变为砂质黄土,显示气候较为冷干且波动较大。对比分析表明,中晚全新世以来青海湖湖东沙地的气候变化特征与东亚季风边缘区其他区域基本一致,并主导了区域沉积环境的演变过程。     

青藏高原北部孢粉记录的全新世以来环境变化

根据青藏高原北部同纬度地区,同一个垂直自然带内的西藏羊湖的湖相沉积、青海昆仑河河流相沉积、青海豆错(苦海)湖的湖相沉积记录的全新世以来孢粉(spore-pollen)资料的对比分析,表明:①极度干旱荒漠区的代表植被麻黄属(Ephedra)花粉平均百分含量,三个地区分别为:7.7%,4.2%,7.5%,总体上,羊湖地区的数值高于昆仑河地区与苦海地区。②代表气候湿润的禾本科(Gram ineae)花粉平均百分含量,三个地区分别为:1.2%、4.9%、12.0%,从西向东数值逐渐升高。③代表气候湿润的蒿属(Artem isia)花粉平均百分含量,三个地区分别为:22.2%,43.6%,48.8%,从西向东数值逐渐升高。④代表气候干旱的藜科(Chenopod iaceae)花粉平均百分含量,三个地区分别为:52.1%,42.4%,11.5%,从西向东数值逐渐降低。⑤依据蒿属、藜科花粉百分含量,计算出环境变化指标,蒿属/藜科(A/C)值,三个地区的平均值分别为:0.45,1.23,5.59,从西向东比值逐渐升高,⑥麻黄属/蒿属值,在全新世晚期,三个地区都呈上升趋势,但幅度存在差异,分别为:0.45,0.34,0.28,从西向东数值逐渐降低。综观上述6个方面的变化规律,青藏高原北部全新世以来,干旱的程度从西向东逐渐降低;对青藏高原北部东西方向现今植被和环境的实际考察并结合上述变化规律,未来高原北部干旱变化的趋势将继续由西向东推移。     

淮河上游全新世黄土与成壤环境变化

Based on field surveys, soil samples were collected at the YPC site, Yuzhou City, Henan Province for analysis of contents of major and trace elements and their variations with XRF and comparison with the curves of magnetic susceptibility, pH value distribution, loss on ignition and particle-size distribution. It was concluded that the dust source of loess in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin was different from that in the Loess Plateau. And the Holocene pedogenic environmental changes in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin were revealed. Foundation: National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.40571154; No.40471119 Author: Li Xinyan (1978–), Ph.D, specialized in resource exploitation and environmental science.     

Dust source of the Holocene loess-soil and pedogenic environmental changes in the upper Huaihe River

Based on field surveys, soil samples were collected at the YPC site, Yuzhou City, Henan Province for analysis of contents of major and trace elements and their variations with XRF and comparison with the curves of magnetic susceptibility, pH value distribution, loss on ignition and particle-size distribution. It was concluded that the dust source of loess in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin was different from that in the Loess Plateau. And the Holocene pedogenic environmental changes in the upper reaches of the Huaihe River Basin were revealed.     

安徽淮河流域全新世环境演变对新石器遗址时空分布的影响

Importance has been attached to the research of the impact of Holocene environmental change on the origins of human civilization and human survival at home and abroad by the academic circles (Bevan and Rooseveit, 2003; Binford, 1997; Xia et al., 2003; Zhu…     

Impact of Holocene environmental change on temporal-spatial distribution of Neolithic sites in Huaihe River Basin, Anhui Province

The Huaihe River basin of Anhui is not only a transitional zone of physical geography, but also a convergent area of many cultures in China. It is one of the sensitive ecotones to global changes and the birthplace of Chinese civilization. Using the field archaeological data and the sporo-pollens and the age data of the drilling cores, we analysed Neolithic cultural development and environmental evolution in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui. According to the combination of some research results in archaeology with environmental evolution research, this paper discusses the relationship between culture and environment in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui. The Neolithic cultural development was strongly impacted by the environmental change. The primitive culture (Shishanzi) was developed in the beginning of the Holocene Megathermal Period with distinct regional feature of the culture. From 6.5 kaBP to 5.5 kaBP, the climate changed warmer and wetter. The frequent occurrence of flood and waterlog due to such a climate regime and high sea level caused the earth’s surface environment deteriorated in the Huaihe River basin of Anhui and the interruption of the Neolithic cultural development, hence a lack of archaeological sites. From 5.5 kaBP to 4.0 kaBP, the climate changed from wet to dry, the natural environment was propitious to human survival. Dawenkou Culture and Longshan Culture flourished in this period. The Neolithic cultural development, the number of the sites and their distribution characteristics of the sites in the study area differed apparently from those in Central China and Shandong Province.     

Limnogeology of Laguna Miscanti: evidence for mid to late Holocene moisture changes in the Atacama Altiplano (Northern Chile)

Sedimentological, mineralogical and geochemical analyses of sediment cores from 9 m-deep, saline Laguna Miscanti, Chile (23 ° 44S, 67 °46W, 4140 m a.s.l.) together with high-resolution seismic profiles provide a mid to late Holocene time series of regional environmental change in the Atacama Altiplano constrained by ²¹⁰Pb and conventional ¹⁴C dating. The mid Holocene was the most arid interval since the last glacial maximum, as documented by subaerial exposure and formation of hardgrounds on a playa surface. Extremely low lake levels during the mid Holocene appear consistent with lower effective moisture recorded at other sites along the Altiplano and in the Amazon Basin. Termination of this arid period represented a major shift in the regional environmental dynamics and inaugurated modern atmospheric conditions. The cores show a progressive upward increase in effective moisture interrupted by numerous century-scale drier periods of various intensities and durations that characterize a fluctuating late Holocene climate. In spite of chronological uncertainties, the major environmental changes seem to correlate with the available paleorecords from the region providing a coherent account of effective moisture variability in the tropical highlands of South America.This is the 16th in a series of papers published in this special AMQUA issue. These papers were presented at the 1994 meeting of the American Quaternary Association held 19–22 June, 1994, at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Dr Linda C. K. Shane served as guest for these papers.     

呼伦贝尔沙地末次冰盛期晚期至全新世风成沙表面矿物特征及环境意义

运用扫描电镜与能谱分析,研究呼伦贝尔沙地末次冰盛期晚期以来全样风成沙的微区形态和粘土矿物成分。呼伦贝尔沙地的沙粒磨圆度较好,在扫描电镜观察下保存了水成沙粒的特征,意味着沙地物源曾经流水作用到达该区域。颗粒表面同时留有风力搬运的碟型坑等撞击痕迹,为干枯河床沙丘活化、风力搬运流动扩张的过程提供证据。末次冰盛期晚期风成沙颗粒大且表面光滑洁净,未见次生粘土矿物,反映出冰期地表无植被发育,区域沙漠活化、流动性加强。而全新世适宜期的褐色沙质土壤砂粒表面同时发育鳞片状自生粘土矿物和同沉积粘土颗粒及团块。能谱分析表明：全新世适宜期,风化自生粘土矿物有蒙脱石和伊利石,在相对温湿气候条件下,发育干旱碱性土壤,反映出冰后期植被发育、土壤化作用增强。     

Impact of Holocene climate change on the prehistoric cultures of Zhejiang region,East China

The temporal-spatial distribution features of prehistoric cultures since the Holocene in Zhejiang region were comparatively analyzed based on GIS spatial analysis. Results show that the prehistoric cultures expanded gradually in this region before 4000 cal. a BP. The notable expansions occurred twice, one in the Majiabang-Hemudu cultural period, the other in the Liangzhu cultural period. Meanwhile, the prehistoric cultures were disseminated from west to east coast along river valleys. After 4000 cal. a BP, as represented by the Maqiao Culture, the distributed area of each prehistoric culture contracted. This is obviously due to the termination of spreading trends to east coast, which was simultaneously accompanied by two different modes of production and economic transitions in the north and south Zhejiang region respectively. The distribution of prehistoric cultures was closely related with Holocene sea-level fluctuations, especially on the banks of Hangzhou Bay, where the distribution changes of prehistoric cultural sites were greatly affected by sea-level changes, with the closest relationships between them. After 7000 cal. a BP, the process of lowered sea-level and regression-epeirogenesis provided wider terrestrial living spaces for prehistoric inhabitants. Based on the comparative analyses of the changes of prehistoric cultures and the environmental evolution information recorded in the Qianmutian subalpine peat of Mt. Tianmu and muddy area on the inner shelf of the East China Sea, it is indicated that the changes of prehistoric cultures were synchronized with environmental changes in Zhejiang region. Before 4000 cal. a BP, the eastward expansion of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the background of the Holocene Optimum, and was the expansion and extension under the joint influences of agricultural civilization and maritime civilization. However, after 4000 cal. a BP, the geographical contraction of prehistoric cultures in Zhejiang occurred under the background of dry-cold climate trend and deterioration of coastal marine environment. It is evidenced from the above fact that the development, expansion and contraction of prehistoric cultures are positively correlated to environmental change. The change of the climatic environment is just the underlying reason for these changes and transitions of production modes and economic forms. Therefore, the climatic environment is the dominant factor of prehistoric culture vicissitudes in Zhejiang region, which has exerted great influence on distribution, dissemination, expansion and transmutation of the culture.     

Late Holocene storm-trajectory changes inferred from the oxygen isotope composition of lake diatoms,south Alaska

The oxygen isotope ratios of diatoms (δ¹⁸O_diatom), and the oxygen and hydrogen isotope ratios of lake water (δW) of lakes in south Alaska provide insight into past changes in atmospheric circulation. Lake water was collected from 31 lakes along an elevation transect and diatoms were isolated from lake sediment from one lake (Mica Lake) in south Alaska. In general, δW values from coastal lakes overlap the global meteoric water line (GMWL). δW values from interior lakes do not lie on the GMWL; they fall on a local evaporation line trajectory suggesting source isotopes are depleted with respect to maritime lakes. Sediment cores were recovered from 58 m depth in Mica Lake (60.96° N, 148.15° W; 100 m asl), an evaporation-insensitive lake in the western Prince William Sound. Thirteen calibrated ¹⁴C ages on terrestrial macrofossil samples were used to construct an age-depth model for core MC-2, which spans 9910 cal years. Diatoms from 46, 0.5-cm-thick samples were isolated and analyzed for their oxygen isotope ratios. The analyses employed a newly designed, stepwise fluorination technique, which uses a CO₂ laser-ablation system, coupled to a mass spectrometer, and has an external reproducibility of ±0.2‰. δ¹⁸O_diatom values from Mica Lake sediment range between 25.2 and 29.8‰. δ¹⁸O_diatom values are relatively uniform between 9.6 and 2.6 ka, but exhibit a four-fold increase in variability since 2.6 ka. High-resolution sampling and analyses of the top 100 cm of our lake cores suggest large climate variability during the last 2000 years. The 20th century shows a +4.0‰ increase of δ¹⁸O_diatom values. Shifts of δ¹⁸O_diatom values are likely not related to changes in diatom taxa or dissolution effects. Late Holocene excursions to lower δ¹⁸O_diatom values suggest a reduction of south-to-north storm trajectories delivered by meridional flow, which likely corresponds to prolonged intervals when the Aleutian Low pressure system weakened. Comparisons with isotope records of precipitation (δP) from the region support the storm-track hypothesis, and add to evidence for variability in North Pacific atmospheric circulation during the Holocene.

Late Holocene environmental changes inferred from diatoms in a lake on the western Taimyr Peninsula, northern Russia

Changes in the diatom assemblages preserved in a sediment core taken from a small lake located north of arctic treeline on the western Taimyr Peninsula, Russia, were examined in order to investigate late Holocene (i.e., ca 5000 cal yr BP to present) climatic and environmental changes within the region. Early diatom assemblages were dominated by benthic Fragilaria taxa and indicate a transitional phase in the lake history, most likely reflecting lake development and environmental change associated with treeline retreat to the south of the study site. Concurrent with pollen and macrofossil evidence of a vegetation shift to shrub tundra in the catchment basin at ca 4200 cal yr BP, an increase in cold-water taxa, followed by little change in diatom assemblages until ca 2800 cal yr BP, suggests that conditions were relatively cool and stable at this time. The last 2000 years of the Middendorf Lake record have been marked by fluctuating limnological conditions, characterized by striking successional shifts between Fragilaria pinnata and Aulacoseira distans var. humilis. Recent conditions in Middendorf Lake indicate an increase in diatom taxa previously rare in the record, possibly associated with twentieth-century climatic warming. The Middendorf Lake record indicates that significant limnological change may occur in the absence of catchment vegetation shifts, suggesting late-Holocene decoupling of aquatic and terrestrial responses to climatic and hydrological change. Our study results represent one of the few paleoecological records currently available from northern Russia, and highlight the need for further development of calibration data sets from this region.