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The significance of subfossil Cladocera in stratigraphy of Late Glacial and Holocene

 Krystyna Szeroczyńska

Institute of Geological Sciences, Polish Academy of Sciences, ul. Twarda 51/55, Warsaw, Poland,  e-mail: kszerocz @twarda.pan.pl

 Abstract

This paper presents discussion on the results of subfossil Cladocera analyses from five lakes in Poland (Przedni Staw Lake, Perespilno Lake, Gościąż Lake, Imiołki- fossil lake and Ostrowite Lake). The Cladocera are represented in sediments by remains of planktonic (Bosminidae, Daphnidae) and littoral (Chydoridae) forms. Cladoceran assemblage phases (“ecostratigraphy”) were determined on the basis of changes in dominance of indicator species and past ecological conditions were reconstructed. The results are being discussed from the viewpoint of climate change and anthropogenic activity and their role in the lake evolution. Moreover, an attempt to use the cladoceran phases for stratigraphic division of the Late Glacial and Holocene was made. During the Bølling/Allerød interstadial, distinguished on the basis of pollen analysis, Cladocera indicated short phase of bad condition (dry or cold?), probably as the Old Dryas climate results. The beginning of Holocene are characterized, in mountain and lowland lakes, by high increase in the number of species and specimens of Cladocera. This described clear warming and marked the boundary Late Glacial/Holocene. It was indicated that the “ecostratigraphy” based on Cladocera can be useful for climatostratigraphy, if climate was the major factor controlling the development of freshwater lakes.