Late Holocene paleoenvironmental changes inferred from multi-proxy studies of the Kholasht-Kouh Lake sediments in the Gilan mountains, northern Iran

Abstract Past vegetation and environmental changes the role of climate as well human activities are major interest. The Hyrcanian region with a high number endemic species has poorly known paleoenvironmental history, especially western northern Iran. This study aims to investigate radiocarbon-dated sediment core Kholasht-Kouh Lake (KHL) for recorded between ca. 510 1180 cal yr BP. KHL is located at 2000 m elevation surrounded steppe above present-day forest line. Multi-proxy analyses including pollen, non-pollen palynomorphs, charcoal, loss on ignition, X-ray fluorescence were applied reconstruct past dynamics. results indicate dominance herbaceous (mainly Poaceae, Artemisia , Amaranthaceae) around lake during whole record, except period 1010 740 During this Medieval Climatic Anomaly (1000–700 BP) mixed increased, consisting mainly Quercus Fagus Carpinus Juniperus . K, Ti Si elements (as indicators increased in detrital inputs) suggest relatively humid condition Furthermore, higher levels may from low values Mn/Ti, Ca/Ti Sr/Ti ratios. After until BP highest value Si/Fe ratio, suggested warmest record. While lowest line reduction other ratios, till represented cold dry period. Humans present area least since beginning but did not played an important impacting vegetation.