Phytolith analysis of soils interstratified with tephras in Tengutai section near Hachinohe, northeastern Japan, revealed a record of climate fluctuations since the Last Interglacial. The Holocene soils have phytolith assemblages in which Panicoid dominates over Festucoid, suggesting a warm climate period. In addition, they are characterized by dominant non-Bambusoideae phytoliths, suggesting the existence of a grassland composed of non-Bambusoideae taxa. Such a grassland was thought to be the result of human impact through deforestation. The Last Glacial soils have phytolith assemblages which are characterized by dominant Pooideae, suggesting a cold climate period. In soils between Hachinohe Pumice (HP) and Biscuit-1 Pumice (BP-1), corresponding to δ
18O stage 2, coniferous phytoliths generally occurred with relatively high frequency, indicating that boreal coniferous forest spread throughout this region. Soils between Biscuit-1 Pumice and Kibidango Pumice (KbP), corresponding to δ
18O stage 3 to 4, were characterized by relatively high frequency of Bambusoideae phytoliths. The Last Interglacial soils generally have phytolith assemblages characterized by dominant Bambusoideae phytoliths. In the lowest layers of the soils over Madara Pumice (MP), which correlates to δ
18O stage 5e, Bambusoideae phytoliths from
Pleioblastus were dominant. This assemblage indicates a warmer climate condition than the present because
Pleioblastus is a dominant taxon in warmer climate zones than the study region. In the uppermost layers of the soils, which correlate to δ
18O stage 5a, Bambusoideae phytoliths from
Sasa were dominant, indicating a warm to cool climate condition similar to the present. The lower part of these soils, which are interbedded with Okoshi Pumice (OP), had a relatively higher frequency of a broadleaved deciduous tree phytolith such as elliptical multifaceted phytolith from
Magnolia, suggesting the existence of a broadleaved deciduous forest. The soils interbedded with Aosuji Pumice (AP), which correlate to δ
18O stage 5b, had assemblages characterized by relatively higher frequency of Pooideae phytoliths, suggesting a cold period in the Last Interglacial. The soils which correlate to δ
18O stage 5d, probably with an assemblage characterized by a relatively higher frequency of Pooideae phytolith, are yet to be recognized.
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