Late Quaternary Vegetational and Climatic Changes in the Pampa Grassland of Argentina

Abstract

The vegetation and climate of the Pampa grassland, Argentina, during the late Quaternary are reconstructed from pollen recovered from dated stratigraphic sections from arroyo walls and from archaelogical excavations. Prior to 10,500 yr B.P., herbaceous psammophytic steppe existed in the central part of the Pampa grassland while xerophytic woodland associated with psammophytic and halophytic steppe occurred in the southwestern part of the Pampa. These types of vegetation and the continental conditions that prevailed in the area of the present-day coast (38°S), indicate subhumid-dry climate and annual precipitation 100 mm lower than present. A subsequent change toward a vegetation characteristic of ponds, swamps, and foodplains, or toward environments with locally more effective moisture, occurred ca. 10,500 yr B.P. suggesting annual precipitation close to modern levels or a higher availability of water in the central part of the Pampa grassland, this type of vegetation existed until 8000 yr B.P., when it was replaced by grassland communities that lasted until 7000 yr B.P. In the southwestern part of the Pampa grassland, this vegetation developed before 7000 yr B.P. and persisted until ca. 5000 yr B.P. Sea level higher than the present ca. 6200 yr B.P. is consistent with sharp modification of the vegetation and development of local halophytic communities dominant at 38°S. A return to subhumid-dry conditions occurred after 5000 yr B.P. The late Holocene vegetation is characterized by pollen assemblages similar to the psammophytic and halophytic communities of the Southern pampa grassland, associated with communities with more edaphic conditions. At the same time, at 38°S a sea level regression is suggested by the dominance of fresh-water pollen assemblages and micropaleontological remains. The trend toward humid, temperate conditions ca. 1000 yr B.P. suggested by vertebrate remains characteristic of temperate and humid conditions, as well as a very short but dry episode during the 18th century suggested by the geology, are not clearly evidenced in the pollen sequences. Vegetational and climatic changes are explained by the latitudinal shifts and changes in intensity of the southern atmospheric circulation and changes in sea level.