Post-Glacial Vegetation History of the Ittlemit Lake Basin, Southwest Yukon Territory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1514Keywords:
Cores, Frozen ground, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, Palynology, Peat, Plant distribution, Plants (Biology), Pollen, Radiocarbon dating, Soil profiles, Ittlemit Lake region, YukonAbstract
The pollen record of a 240 cm peat profile in the Ittlemit Lake area in southwest Yukon Territory presents a vegetation development history of the last 9000 radiocarbon years. Spruce migrated into the area at least 9000 radiocarbon years ago. From 9000 yr BP to approximately 5000 yr BP the area supported a sparse Picea-Salix-Betula forest-tundra vegetation. By 5000 yr BP local environmental change created a different habitat primarily affecting the local taxa. Alnus invaded the general area shortly after 5000 yr BP. A local Betula-dominated community replaced the previous Cyperaceae-dominated one at about 3000 yr BP. A Cyperaceae-dominated community again occupied the area at about 1900 yr BP. Although the local community changed several times, the present regional forest-tundra vegetation has had little change during the last 9000 radiocarbon years.
Key words: pollen analysis, paleovegetation, southwest Yukon
