Rapid climate changes during the Lateglacial and the early Holocene as seen from plant community dynamics in the Polar Urals, Russia

A detailed, well-dated record of pollen and sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) for the period 15 000–9500 cal a bp describes changes at Lake Bolshoye Shchuchye in Polar Ural Mountains, located far east classical Lateglacial sites western Europe. Arctic tundra rapidly changed to lusher vegetation, possibly including both dwarf (Betula nana) tree birch (B. pubescens), dated our take place 14 565 bp, coincident with onset Bølling Europe; this was paralleled by increased summer temperatures. striking feature is an early decline Betula sedaDNA reads 300 years before Younger Dryas (YD) Given solid site chronology, could indicate that YD cooling started Siberia propagated westwards, or vegetation reacted inter-Allerød 13 100 did not recover during late Allerød. During YD, increases steppe taxa such as Artemisia Chenopodiaceae suggest drier conditions. At Holocene, around lake fast warmer conditions, seen increase arboreal taxa, especially Betula, decrease herbs Cyperaceae.