2026/07/01 by Jordi Revelles, Eneko Iriarte, Francesc Mesquita‐Joanes +4
Arts and Humanities · Earth and Planetary Sciences · #Geological formations and processes #Geology and Paleoclimatology Research #Maritime and Coastal Archaeology
paper · doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2026.105688
openalex publication_date 2026/07/01 · openalex created_date 2026/07/28 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
The environmental evolution of volcanic barrier-lake systems is shaped by complex interactions between climate forcing and local geomorphological processes. This study presents a high-resolution multi-proxy record from the sedimentary sequence of Pla de les Preses volcanic barrier-palaeolake (Vall d'en Bas, NE Iberia), spanning the Late Glacial–Early Holocene transition. Particular emphasis is placed on the contribution of non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) to palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Pollen data indicate that regional vegetation dynamics broadly follow the expected transition from open Late Glacial landscapes to temperate deciduous forests during the Early Holocene. However, notable deviations occur, including a marked decline in broadleaf forests, suggesting a strong influence of local disturbance processes. Sedimentological and palaeobiological proxies document the formation of a volcanic barrier lake following the damming of the Fluvià River, and its subsequent evolution through three main stages: (i) shallow, unstable conditions with pioneer aquatic communities, (ii) progressive deepening and establishment of a persistent lacustrine system, and (iii) lake shallowing, wetland expansion and final terrestrialisation linked to barrier erosion and fluvial reactivation. Hydrological changes do not always align with regional climatic trends, indicating a decoupling between climate and local environmental processes. NPP assemblages provide key insights into these dynamics, recording variations in water depth, aquatic productivity, trophic conditions and lake–catchment interactions. Algae and cyanobacteria reflect limnological variability, while pteridophyte spores and fungal remains document wetland development, soil erosion processes and terrestrial inputs. In addition, NPPs capture short-term ecological responses to volcanic activity and fire. This study demonstrates the value of NPPs for reconstructing highly dynamic lacustrine systems, complementing pollen-based approaches and enabling a more detailed understanding of palaeoenvironmental change.