Late- and postglacial environment of the Buzuluk area, middle Volga region, Russia

A 13 m long core from the lake-swamp at Pobochnoye (53 degrees 01'30" N, 51 degrees 50'30" E) in the Buzuluk pine forest in the middle parr of the Vol ga River basin, Russia was studied for pollen, peat stratigraphy, mollusc, delta(18)O/delta(16)O and delta(13)C/delta(12)C analyses and radiocarbon da ting. For the first time the environment history of the east European Russi a has been reconstructed for the last 14,000 years; ca 14,000-13,000 BP col d dry steppes spread across the basin of the Samara River. Isotope data ind icate that the main climate shift occurred ca 10,000 BP at the Lateglacial- Holocene transition when climate became warmer and forests expanded. Pintus sylvestris L. expanded 10,000 BP. Ca 9,000 BP Ulmus Quercus and Corylus ap peared in the Buzuluk forest followed at ca. 7,000 BP by Alnus, then Tilia and Acer at 6000 BP. Between 6000 and 4500 BP the climatic conditions were optimal for the forest growth in the Samara River basin. 5500-5000 BP the l ake became shallower and was transformed into the eutrophic peat swamp. Bet ween 4500-3500 BP climate became drier and hotter and forest less abundant. Between 3500-2400 BP the forest cover again increased. Between 2400-2000 B P the pine forest area has reduced, apparently due to increased dryness, an d around 2000 BP the modern environment in the Buzuluk area has been in exi stence. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.