Paleovegetation Researches Based on Fossil Pollen Analysis in Akgol (Sakarya): Preliminary Results

Abstract

Fossil pollen analyzes include research of pollen grains from various environments such as lake sediments, peatland, river and marine sediments, glaciers, lignite and coal. Lakes are one of the important data sources for Quaternary palynological studies. Akgol, which is selected as a research area, is located in Golkent district of the Ferizli township in the provincial city of Sakarya. Its surface area is 3.5 km(2) and its maximum depth is 8 meters. The aim of this study was to investigate vegetation changes around Akgol in the last 1000 years using fossil pollen analysis in the bottom sediments of the lake. The Piston corer of ITU EMCOL Research Centre was used for recovering sediment cores from Akgol. Sediment samples of 2 cm(2) were collected every 5 centimeters on one of the cores at the Palynology Laboratory of IUC. Fossil pollen analysis was performed according to the "classical method" The pollen percentage values were calculated for each plant taxa and relative abundance graphs were plotted in the TILIA program. According to preliminary results of the pollen diagram; deciduous forest vegetation has been predominant in the last 1000 years around Akgol. Maritime pine was introduced into this natural forest by plantation in the recent years.