Dorota Brzozowicz

Abstract

Palaeobotanical reconstruction of the Eemian Interglacial vegetation and climate, revealed differences resulting from panregional and local factors. Lithostratigraphic analyses documented changes in sediments associated with evolution of three fossil Żabieniec lakes. Special attention was paid to Mid-Eemian, for which records of thermophilic taxa were found. During the next phase the eutrophic lake shallowed, and a peatbog was formed. These processes were asynchronous and suggesting three separate lake basins. Sediments recording the longest phase of the interglacial revealed a long pause in sedimentation caused probably by a combination of factors (drop in the water level and increase in climate continentality).

Keywords: Eemian Interglacial (MIS 5e), sedimentation gaps, climate changes, palaeobotanical analysis, Central Poland

Anna Hrynowiecka [ahry@pgi.gov.pl], Marine Geology Branch Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Kościerska 5, 80-328 Gdańsk: Poland
Dorota Brzozowicz, Faculty of Geographical Sciences University of Łódź Narutowicza 88, 90-139 Łódź: Poland
Marcin Żarski, Polish Geological Institute – National Research Institute Rakowiecka 4, 00-975 Warszawa: Poland
Renata Stachowicz-Rybka, Palaeobotany and Palaeoenvironment Group W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences Lubicz 46, 31-512 Kraków: Poland
Irena Agnieszka Pidek, Institute of Earth and Environmental Sciences Maria Curie-Sklodowska University Kraśnicka 2d, 20-718 Lublin: Poland