CHANGES IN PRIMARY PRODUCER PIGMENT COMPOSITION AND ASSOCIATED PALEOECOLOGICAL/CLIMATOLOGICAL DRIVERS IN LAKE CINILI, THE TAURUS MOUNTAINS, TURKIYE

Alpine Lake sediments may contain a record of past climatic changes unaffected by human activity. We conducted the first large-scale paleoecological sampling in Anatolian alpine lakes between 2019-2023, collecting 15 sediment cores. Here, we present multiproxy results from an 85 cm core in Lake Çinili (11 m deep at 2667 m a.s.l.) and reconstruct its paleoecological history. C-14 dating of pollen suggests the core is approximately 2200 years old, with a possibly high reservoir age. Pigment analysis identified a total of 13 pigments, with high cyanobacterial pigment levels between 2200 and 800 BP. Diatom contribution has increased over the past 450 years. CN and XRF analyses showed significant fluctuations in organic matter and terrestrial input over time, with an overall decline in allochthonous carbon. The Mn/Fe ratio indicated abrupt water level drops and potential droughts between 649 and 410 BP. The alloxanthin/diatoxanthin ratio also reflected changes in water level linked to precipitation shifts. Clustering of pigments identified four periods aligning with the Roman Climatic Optimum, Medieval Climate Anomaly, and Little Ice Age. Overall, Lake Çinili experienced notable changes in water level and primary producer composition over the last 2200 years, demonstrating that regional climate fluctuations significantly impact the lake ecosystem. Results suggest that climate fluctuations in the region have a pronounced effect on the Lake Çinili ecosystem and Alpine lakes in Anatolia may serve as a potential paleoecological record.

Presentation Preference: Standard Oral (12 Minutes)

Primary Presenter: Hasan Arslan, Middle East Technical University (arslan.hasan@metu.edu.tr)

Authors:

HASAN ARSLAN, Middle East Technical University  (hasanarslan318@gmail.com)

Demet Biltekin, İstanbul Technical University  (demetbiltekin@gmail.com)

Cüneyd Nadir Solak, Dumlupınar University  (cnsolak@gmail.com)

Kadir Kürşad Eriş, İstanbul Technical University  (kursadkadire@gmail.com)

Korhan Özkan, Middle East Technical University  (okorhan@metu.edu.tr)