Riverine vegetation and environments of a Late Pleistocene river terrace, Khorat Plateau, Southeast Asia. (3rd April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Feng-Chun; Grote, Paul J.
• Is Part Of: Palynology. Volume 42:Number 2(2018)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2018-04-03
• Subjects: Pollen -- vegetation -- Mun River -- Late Pleistocene -- Khorat Plateau; Palynology -- Periodicals; Paleobotany -- Periodicals; 571.8452
• DOI: 10.1080/01916122.2017.1296044
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-6122

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Khorat Plateau, at the centre of mainland Southeast Asia, is considered a bridge connecting the biotas of Indochina and Kalimantan. The vegetation change in this area is an indicator of regional environmental change, but the history is unclear. In this study, a sand pit along an ancient fluvial terrace on this plateau was investigated palynologically. An assemblage of Abies, Pinus, Chenopodiaceae and grass suggest a temperate forest and subtropical savannah 172, 739 ± 22, 400 and 88, 661 ± 10, 600 a BP, indicating a cold and dry environment. Deciduous and mixed forests indicate a warm period from 52, 296 ± 6800 to 28, 150 ± 7860 a BP, accompanied by aquatic components. An increase in mangrove abundance coincided with a rise in sea level. The period 27, 332 ± 3000 a BP experienced a dry, cold environment. Conclusively, pollen records from the river terrace suggest tremendous vegetation change in the history of the Khorat Plateau.