大青山调经子地区11kaB.P.以来的植被与生态环境演化

对全封闭湖泊调角海子的湖沼相沉积进行高分辨率采样,并通过＾１３Ｃ测年建立了样吕的时间序列;通过孢粉分析及孢粉资料的“地层约束聚类分析”,建立了主要孢粉类型的浓度和百分比图谱,划分出５个孢粉带和９个孢粉亚带,重建了区域植被演化历史,并据此初步探讨了区域全新世以来生态环境演化的规律。     

中国黄土高原北部地区新石器-青铜时代农业结构演变及其对区域生态环境的适应

本文分析并测定了从15个位于黄土高原北部的遗址中浮选的炭化植物遗存的年代及数量,讨论了该地区新石器-青铜时代农业结构的变化、发展及自适应。研究表明,该地区粟的占比随着遗址年代的推移呈现出上升趋势,证明了先民的农业技术随时间变化而发展;受季风降水特征影响,东南部灌丛草原区粟的占比随时间变化上升趋势明显,西北部干草原区则变化较弱,证明环境的差异也造成了农业模式的不同;在干旱气候条件限制下,自中全新世以来黄土高原北部地区的主要作物始终为粟和黍,粟作农业奠定了黄土高原乃至中国北方的文明基础。     

西藏羊湖地区及近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面(IP16)的孢粉分析和总有机碳(TOC)、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1．4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列。结果显示：该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动(2个半旋回),即11220a．B．P．左右的第一气候旋回：由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8970a．B．P．左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期。     

青铜时代中晚期辽西地区农业活动特征

辽西地区城子山遗址和夏家店遗址农作物种子遗存研究显示,城子山地区青铜时代中期以旱作农业种植为主.粟的栽培比例要明显高于黍.青铜时代晚期的夏家店地区属半农半牧区,存在黍与粟为主的旱作农业种植,但黍的栽培比例要远高于青铜时代中期的城子山地区.干旱化可能是导致夏家店地区青铜时代晚期黍栽培比例升高的主要原因.城子山和夏家店地区农业种植结构在青铜时代晚期可能已有所不同,但这2个地区农业种植的差异究竟从何时开始,仍是一个需要继续深入研究的问题.     

青铜时代中晚期辽西地区农业活动特征

辽西地区城子山遗址和夏家店遗址农作物种子遗存研究显示, 城子山地区青铜时代中期以旱作农业种植为主, 粟的栽培要明显高于黍。青铜时代晚期的夏家店地区属半农半牧区, 存在黍与粟为主的旱作农业种植, 但黍的栽培比例要远高于青铜时代中期的城子山地区。干旱化可能是导致夏家店地区青铜时代晚期黍栽培比例升高的主要原因。城子山和夏家店地区农业种植结构在青铜时代晚期可能已有所不同, 但这2个地区农业种植的差异究竟从何时开始, 仍是一个需要继续深入研究的问题。     

西藏羊湖地区近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面(IP16)的孢粉分析和总有机碳(TOC)、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1.4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列.结果显示:该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动(2个半旋回),即11220a.B.P.左右的第一气候旋回:由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8970a.B.P.左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期.     

西藏羊湖地区近1.4万年以来孢粉植物群及古气候研究

通过对西藏羊湖地区ZK1和卡拉苏代牙剖面（IP16）的孢粉分析和总有机碳（TOC）、元素含量分析等,建立了羊湖地区近1.4万年以来的孢粉组合带、重建当时的植被类型及古气候演变序列。结果显示：该时期经历了5次植被类型的更替,即草原型→疏林草原型→草原型→疏林草原型→草原型,与之相对应的气候经历了5次波动（2个半旋回）, 即11 220 a.B.P.左右的第一气候旋回：由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化;8 970a.B.P.左右的第二气候旋回,同样由干旱→半干旱半湿润转化,然后进入半个气候旋回,即干旱气候期,推测今后有可能进入半干旱半湿润气候期。     

白洋淀地区全新世以来植被演替和气候变化初探

 根据对白洋淀白4号孔的孢粉分析、放射性碳年代测定和野外考察研究表明,白洋淀形成于中全新世。晚全新世以来,随着气候的变凉变干,古白洋淀开始收缩和解体,但在人类活动的利用改造下,使逐渐解体的白洋淀得以保留下来。依据气候地层学的观点,并结合放射性碳年代测定,白洋淀地区的全新世地层可以划分为四期：即古全新世(距今11000—9000年),气候温和湿润;早全新世(距今9000—7500年),气候偏凉偏干;中全新世(距今7500—3000年),气候温暖湿润;晚全新世(距今3000年至今),气候温凉偏干。     

全新世中国典型地区孢粉记录的生态环境与新石器文化关系

新石器文化与全新世生态环境变化的关系是学术界关注的热点问题。通过对筛选出的中国典型地区孢粉记录的生态环境和具有年代数据考古遗址的综合分析,初步认为:1)典型地区全新世生态环境变化与新石器文化之间具有较密切的关系,中全新世温暖湿润期的生态环境宜于这一时期的文化发展; 2)东亚季风是影响典型地区新石器文化发展的重要因素之一;不同地区的地形和水位在一定程度上也影响了区域文化的发展; 3)约4.3～4.2 ka BP的全球事件在典型地区表现明显,太阳辐射减少和东亚冬夏季风的变化可能是影响典型地区生态环境变化和新石器文化衰退乃至消失的主要因素; 4)高分辨率孢粉记录的生态环境、考古遗址的系统测年、生态环境与文化发展的耦合机制等是未来需要深入研究的方向。     

中全新世以来福建东北地区植被与环境变化

本文提供了福建宁德市霞浦县沿海平原XPZK3钻孔的年代和孢粉记录用于研究中全新世以来福建东北地区的植被与环境变化。中全新世以来,研究区植被中亚热带木本成分逐步降低而落叶阔叶成分逐渐增多,反映气温逐步降低,与东亚季风和北半球温度变化的趋势相同,反映在轨道尺度上北半球夏季太阳辐射对东亚季风的影响。DCA分析显示,中全新世以来,人类活动是影响研究区植被变化的最主要因素,5 000 cal. yr BP以来,松属、草本植物花粉和蕨类孢子的逐步增加反映人类活动对植被的干扰逐步加重,尤其是1 370 cal. yr BP(南北朝)以来,反映人类活动的孢粉占主要地位,人类活动对植被产生了重要影响。     

Dental paleopathology and agricultural intensification in south Asia: new evidence from Bronze Age Harappa.

Patterns of dental disease among Bronze Age people of the Indus Valley Civilization are currently based on early and incomplete reports by non-specialists. This deficiency precludes accurate diachronic analysis of dental disease and its relationship with increasing agriculturalism in the Indian subcontinent. The objective of this paper is to document prevalence of dental disease at Harappa (2500-2000 B.C.), Punjab Province, Pakistan, comparatively evaluate the Harappan dental pathology profile, and use these data to assess theories regarding the dental health consequences of increasingly intensive agricultural dependence. Pathological conditions of the dentition included in the study are abscesses, ante-mortem tooth loss (AMTL), calculus, caries, hypoplasia, hypercementosis, pulp chamber exposure, and alveolar resorption. The Harappan dentition exhibits a dental pathology profile typical of a population whose subsistence base is agriculture. Dental caries at Harappa are present in 6.8% (n = 751) of the teeth and 43.6% (n = 39) of the more completely preserved dental specimens. The use of a caries correction factor is recommended to permit an estimate of caries induced AMTL in calculating the caries prevalence. All dental lesions are present at higher rates in this Harappan study sample than were reported in previous investigations, and important differences in prevalence of dental disease occur between the genders. Prevalence of dental disease increases in the greater Indus Valley as subsistence becomes more intensive and as food preparation and storage technology becomes more efficient.     

Mountain forest islands and Holocene environmental changes in Central Asia: A case study from the southern Gobi Altay, Mongolia

A multi-proxy case study conducted on Central Asia's most isolated mountain forest sheds light on the apparent decline of forest in the Subboreal time period and the incisive environmental changes from dark taiga to steppe in the Gobi Altay of Southern Mongolia over the last 5000 yr.

New vegetation records from the ‘Gobi Gurvan Saykhan’ (43°30′ N/103°10′ E) reveal long distance disjunctions of birch–willow forests as well as a number of herbaceous forest plants. Thus the question arises as to whether long-distance dispersal or fragmentation, following climatic changes and human interference, are more plausible explanations for such a pattern. Analysis of current plant distribution patterns lead to conclusions which are corroborated by zoological surveys of the Gobi Altay: During the Holocene, dark taiga forests apparently existed approximately 600 km to the southeast of their present range, and pollen analysis and charcoal remains provide evidence of a forest decline during the Subboreal time period. The presence of humans during these environmental changes is highly probable as pollen indicating human presence was found. Thus, it is assumed that humans at least contributed to the subboreal forest decline and the spreading of sagebrush and pastures. Moreover we cannot rule out with certainty that disjunctions of forest flora between the Gobi Altay and the forests of north-eastern Tibet are indicative of migration through the present North China desert, as forests may have partly replaced deserts during the moister periods of the Holocene. This multidisciplinary approach implies a mid-Holocene and subboreal scenario, which is new for Central Asia and more in accordance with the environmental history of the Holocene in the western desert belt of the Old World.     

Four thousand years of vegetation and fire history in the spruce forests of northern Kyrgyzstan (Kungey Alatau,Central Asia)

Analyses of pollen, macrofossils and microscopic charcoal in the sediment of a small sub-alpine lake (Karakol, Kyrgyzstan) provide new data to reconstruct the vegetation history of the Kungey Alatau spruce forest during the late-Holocene, i.e. the past 4,000 years. The pollen data suggest that Picea schrenkiana F. and M. was the dominant tree in this region from the beginning of the record. The pollen record of pronounced die-backs of the forests, along with lithostratigraphical evidence, points to possible climatic cooling (and/or drying) around 3,800 cal year b.p. and between 3,350 and 2,520 cal year b.p., with a culmination at 2,800–2,600 cal b.p., although stable climatic conditions are reported for this region for the past 3,000–4,000 years in previous studies. From 2,500 to 190 cal year b.p. high pollen values of P. schrenkiana suggest rather closed and dense forests under the environmental conditions of that time. A marked decline in spruce forests occurred with the onset of modern human activities in the region from 190 cal year b.p. These results show that the present forests are anthropogenically reduced and represent only about half of their potential natural extent. As P. schrenkiana is a species endemic to the western Tien Shan, it is most likely that its refugium was confined to this region. However, our palaeoecological record is too recent to address this hypothesis thoroughly.     

Early agriculture and crop transmission among Bronze Age mobile pastoralists of Central Eurasia

Archaeological research in Central Eurasia is exposing unprecedented scales of trans-regional interaction and technology transfer between East Asia and southwest Asia deep into the prehistoric past. This article presents a new archaeobotanical analysis from pastoralist campsites in the mountain and desert regions of Central Eurasia that documents the oldest known evidence for domesticated grains and farming among seasonally mobile herders. Carbonized grains from the sites of Tasbas and Begash illustrate the first transmission of southwest Asian and East Asian domesticated grains into the mountains of Inner Asia in the early third millennium BC. By the middle second millennium BC, seasonal camps in the mountains and deserts illustrate that Eurasian herders incorporated the cultivation of millet, wheat, barley and legumes into their subsistence strategy. These findings push back the chronology for domesticated plant use among Central Eurasian pastoralists by approximately 2000 years. Given the geography, chronology and seed morphology of these data, we argue that mobile pastoralists were key agents in the spread of crop repertoires and the transformation of agricultural economies across Asia from the third to the second millennium BC.     

Status and prospects of tree-ring research in Central Asia

Central Asia is the world’s largest non-zonal arid area, with rare and uneven precipitation. As a sensitive area of global change and with a vulnerable ecological environment, Central Asia is largely affected by global change. Various long-lived conifer species widely distributed in the mountains of Central Asia have become an important proxy for studying historical climatic, hydrological, and vegetation changes in this region. This paper reviews research progress on tree rings in Central Asia; specifically, the current state of research is addressed, highlights and bottleneck problems associated with the research are analyzed and discussed, and suggestions and prospects for further study of dendrochronology in this area are proposed.     

Mongol names in the nomenclatural designations of the fossil Cenozoic fauna and flora of Central Asia

Mongol names and toponyms are most often used by paleontologists for designation of new forms of fossil fauna and flora from the Cenozoic of Central Asia.     

Climatic determinism in phytogeographic regionalization: A test from the Irano-Turanian region,SW and Central Asia

This study investigates the role of climate in determining phytogeographic regions, focusing particularly on the Irano-Turanian floristic region in SW and Central Asia. A set of simple climatic variables and bioclimatic indices were used to prepare climate-space scatter plots and climate diagrams. The climate data were also subjected to multivariate analyses (PCA and Regression tree) in order to develop a bioclimatic characterization of the Irano-Turanian region in comparison with the adjacent Mediterranean, Saharo-Sindian, Euro-Siberian, and Central-Asiatic regions. Phytogeographic regions of SW and Central Asia display distinct bioclimatic spaces with small overlaps. The Irano-Turanian region is differentiated from surrounding regions by continentality, winter temperature, and precipitation seasonality. Continentality is the most important bioclimatic factor in differentiating it from the Mediterranean and Saharo-Sindian regions and is responsible for floristic differences among sub-regions of the Irano-Turanian region. In our case study, the Irano-Turanian region is a nearly independent bioclimatic unit, distinct from its surrounding regions. Hence, it is suggested that the term “Irano-Turanian bioclimate” be used to describe the climate of most of the continental Middle East and Central Asia. Among different sub-regions, the west-central part of this floristic region (“IT2 sub-region”) is a major center of speciation and endemism. Our case study demonstrates that climate is a primary determinant of phytogeographic regionalization. Although modern climate and topography are strong control parameters on the floristic composition and geographical delimitation of the Irano-Turanian region, the complex paleogeographic and paleoclimatic history of SW Asia has also influenced the Tertiary and Quaternary evolution of the Irano-Turanian flora, with additional impacts by the long-lasting historic and present land-use in this region. Many Irano-Turanian montane species are threatened by global warming, and particular conservation measures are needed to protect the Irano-Turanian flora in all sub-regions.     

Impacts of climate change on dragonflies and damselflies in West and Central Asia

Aim

To project the impact of climate change on dragonfly and damselfly diversity in West and Central Asia.

Location

West and Central Asia.

Time period

1900–2020 data used to predict distributions in 2070 and 2100.

Taxon studied

Odonata.

Methods

Based on 149,001 records, distribution models were created for 159 species using MaxEnt. Environmental variables consisted of climate variables taken from BIOCLIM, river data and soil data. The future climate data were obtained from CHELSA from CMIP6 climate models. The same variables were collected for three scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP3-7.0 and SSP5-8.5) of shared socioeconomic pathways for the years 2050–2070 and 2080–2100. For each scenario and period, diversity maps were prepared for six species groups: all species, Lentic, Lotic, Oriental, Afrotropical and Palaearctic species.

Results

Strong declines in diversity are expected in western Turkey, the Levant and Azerbaijan, and to a lesser extent in parts of Iran and southern Central Asia. An increase is expected in eastern Turkey and at higher elevations in Central Asia with a limited increase throughout the Arabian Peninsula. In contrast to expectations, a decrease in areas with <15 species was found. Faunal composition is predicted to show strong shifts, with Palaearctic species declining and Oriental and Afrotropical species increasing. No clear difference between the trend of lentic and lotic species is found, although there are clear spatial differences in trend between these groups.

Main Conclusions

Climate change will result in strong changes in diversity and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies in West and Central Asia with regional declines and increases. None of the species are predicted to go extinct based on the impact of climate change only, however, the combined impact of climate change and anthropogenic forces is likely to push some of the species to near extinction by 2100.     

New records of Azhdarchids (Pterosauria,Azhdarchidae) from the late Cretaceous of Russia,Kazakhstan, and Central Asia

A review of 12 azhdarchid localities in Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan is given. New records of unidentifiable azhdarchids from the Khodzhakul (Cenomanian), Tyul’keli (Turonian-Coniacian), Kansai (Santonian), Malaya Serdoba, and Beloe Ozero (Campanian) localities and a new taxon, Aralazhdarcho bostobensis gen. et sp. nov. (Shakh-Shakh, Santonian-Campanian), are described.