Exploratory palynological analysis of Quaternary lacustrine deposits around Damavand volcano, Northern Iran

Abstract

Palynological analyses from exposed palaeolacustrine deposits located at the flanks of Damavand volcano, in the central Alborz<br />Mountains in Northern Iran, provide a broad idea of the temporal variation of vegetation according to climate changes during a range<br />of limited time intervals during the Quaternary period. This research reveals that the regional vegetation of the study area had been a<br />semi-arid mountain steppe since the early Quaternary. However, moderate expansions of open woodlands and aquatic/marshy taxa<br />indicate less arid climatic conditions. Some of these comparatively less arid phases during the last 70 ka are contemporaneous with the<br />climatic amelioration phases during previous glacial periods in the Himalayan region. Although the results are scattered through time,<br />they clearly show the potential of the study area for further palynological investigations with the aim of understanding the regional<br />vegetation response on global climate changes in Northern Iran