Vegetation dynamics in the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal area during the last 26000 years

Abstract

Pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating were performed on marine sediments from three new cores from the shelf, continental slope and deep-water zone of the Black Sea in order to provide a detailed reconstruction of the vegetation development during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Fifteen sediment layers were selected for radiocarbon dating in two laboratories. An “Age vs. Depth” model  was developed for all three cores by 2σ-range calibration, using the MARINE13 curve with an application of a Reservoir effect of 363±41 yrs. All 105 pollen samples were processed according to the standard procedures.

This study refines the climate changes and vegetation dynamics of the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal area during the last 26000 years. The established regional pollen assemblage zones and subzones apparently correspond to the European intervals marking the end of Late Pleniglacial and Late Glacial of the Würm Glacial (including Oldest, Older and Younger Dryas Stadials and Bølling and Allerød Interstadials), and the Preboreal, Boreal, Atlantic, Subboreal and Subatlantic chronozones of the Holocene.