Plant Fossil Assemblage and Vegetation from the Latest Pleistocene to Early Holocene in Maebashi, Central Japan

Abstract

Vegetational history from the latest Pleistocene to early Holocene in Maebashi, north-western Kanto region, was discussed, based upon stratigraphical and paleobotanical investigations on the Maebashi Peat. The forests in the latest Pleistocene around 13, 000 y.B.P. were characterized by cool-temperate to boreal conifers and deciduous broad-leaved trees, including Pinus koraiensis, Picea sect. Eupicea, Larix, Betula, and Alnus, and resembled those in the eastern and southern Kanto regions. From the latest Pleistocene to early Holocene, such forests changed into the sparse forests dominated by Quercus subgen. Lepidobalanus, in consequence of the rising of temperature and the increase of annual precipitation. In an age of this transition, there was the period of Larix and Betula forests formed under the influence of the large-scale ash fall in the pumice flow stage (ca. 13, 000-11, 000 y.B.P.) of the Asama volcano.