Fluvio-lacustrine deposits from a boring core drilled at Domuraty, NE Poland have been examined by pollen and diatom analyses. These studies allow characterization of the development of vegetation in a long pollen sequence, and of palaeoenvironmental changes in the former basin based on quantitative and qualitative changes in diatom assemblages along the profile studied. The pollen record shows a sequence of phases with forest communities separated by phases of open vegetation. It demonstrates the impact of rapid, of lesser climate changes, as well as climatic fluctuations on terrestrial ecosystems. The age of the succession can be related to the Cromerian Complex Stage s.l. (early Middle Pleistocene).
Abstract Geological mapping in eastern Poland resulted in the new find of organic deposits near Włodawa. Pollen and plant macrofossils analyses at the Dobropol site proved deposition during the Mazovian (Holsteinian) Interglacial (MIS 11). Pollen spectra indicated strong predominance of Carpinus in the optimum phase (pollen period III), suggesting intensive influence of continental climate in this part of Po land. The paleolake Dobropol was shallow, with many species of rushes in a littoral zone. During the Liviecian (MIS 10) and the Krznanian (MIS 8) Glaciations the reservoir was occupied by an ice-dam lake, in which silt and clay de position prevailed. The Mazovian Interglacial organic deposits were also recorded in immediate surroundings of the study area. Based on geological and paleobotanical examination of the Dobropol site, the ice sheet of the Krznanian Glaciation seemed to have reached at least the southern part of Włodawa. The ice sheet has not covered pre sum ably the whole study area as its advance occurred in several lobes. The surroundings of Włodawa in the West Polesie Region are the third largest Mazovian paleo-lakeland area in Po land, apart from the vicinities of Biała Podlaska and the Łuków Plain.
A new borehole in Rożce (S Mazovian Lowland) drilled in 2012, combined with a wide variety of research methods (palaeomagnetism, palynological analysis, studies of plant macroremains and textural features of deposits) shed new light on the age and stratigraphic position of the Early Pleistocene deposits, formerly assigned as the Lower Pleistocene. The study focuses on the deposits from 50.7−104.0 m depth, between glacial till of the Nidanian Glaciation (ca. 0.9 Ma) and the Poznań Clays (ca. 5.322 Ma). The deposits situated directly underneath the till (50.7−60.2 m) are related to the Nidanian Glaciation and show a reversed polarity and correlate with the end of the Matuyama epoch. The deposits from 60.2−104.0 m depth were accumulated during the Early Pliocene, i.e. approximately 5.332–4.6 million years ago. They appear to correlate with the middle part of the Gilbert Palaeomagnetic Epoch and thus they are considerably older than previously thought. The cored section indicates a stratigraphic gap of about 3.5 Ma from the Lower Pliocene to the first advance of the Scandinavian ice sheets into Poland, which are thought to have occurred in the early Middle Pleistocene. The analysed deposits accumulated under variable climatic conditions showing two periods with significant aridity alternated with two periods of increased humidity. Deposits of the arid periods contain no pollen, but aeolian sand quartz grains are found. During periods of more humid climate the area was covered by various types of mixed forest.
SEDIMENTOLOGICAL AND PALAEOBOTANICAL RECORDS OF CLIMATIC CHANGES WITHIN PLIOCENE FLUVIAL SEDIMENTS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN SILESIAN LOWLAND Abstract. Neogene fluvial deposits of the Gozdnica Formation constitute a continuous cover in the southeastern part of the Silesian Lowland, in the Nysa Klodzka and Odra interfluve. The 18 m thick succession of these deposits was studied in the Tulowice site on the Niemodlin Plain. Heavy mineral analysis indicates that deposits of the lower part of the succession were probably accumulated by the Nysa Klodzka River, and those of the upper part — by the Odra River. Detailed sedimentological research was conducted in an excavation where the latter deposits are exposed. Four lithologic complexes were distinguished. It was found that three older complexes were formed mostly ha a meandering river system. The deposits of complex 4 represent alluvium of an anastomozing river system. Palaeobotanical analyses were made for silty-clayey deposits of complexes 1 and 2, and revealed plant cover variability indicating a climatic tendency for short-term oscillations of mean temperatures and humidity. Pollen spectra evidenced Pliocene age of the deposits under study. Both sedimentological and paleobotanical data indicate that the change of fluvial environment could have been associated with a progressive climatic change during the Late Pliocene, directly preceding the Early Pleistocene cooling.
The results of a comprehensive study of Pleistocene fish‐bearing localities from the territory of Poland are presented. Fish remains came from lacustrine deposits and cave sites representing a time‐span from the late Early Pleistocene until the Early Holocene. Here we present the taxonomic composition and species diversity of all known fish assemblages from Poland. In total, 23 species belonging to 20 genera of eight families were identified. Cyprinids were the most taxonomically diverse, followed by salmonids and percids. Other families were each represented only by a single species. The roach, rudd, bream, pike and perch were the most common components of the Pleistocene fish assemblages of Poland. These assemblages are clearly divided into two groups representing palaeolakes and cave sites. A significant taxonomic similarity is observed between fish assemblages from Poland and those of Chibanian and Late Pleistocene ages from central and eastern Europe. Pleistocene environments and climates of Poland are characterized using a multi‐proxy approach (analysis of stable isotopes, plant macro‐remains, pollen, molluscs and cladocerans). Obtained data allowed us to estimate a number of parameters of Pleistocene water bodies of the Polish Lowland (reservoir type, trophism, oxygen content, depth and water level changes, bottom character, and flow speed). The formation of freshwater fish assemblages was influenced by dynamic changes in the hydrographic network, and climatic changes during the Pleistocene and Holocene. Their development was favoured by the formation of lakes after melting of the ice sheet.
