Exploratory palynological analysis of Quaternary lacustrine deposits around Damavand volcano, Northern Iran

Palynological analyses from exposed palaeolacustrine deposits located at the flanks of Damavand volcano, in the central AlborzMountains in Northern Iran, provide a broad idea of the temporal variation of vegetation according to climate changes during a rangeof limited time intervals during the Quaternary period. This research reveals that the regional vegetation of the study area had been asemi-arid mountain steppe since the early Quaternary. However, moderate expansions of open woodlands and aquatic/marshy taxaindicate less arid climatic conditions. Some of these comparatively less arid phases during the last 70 ka are contemporaneous with theclimatic amelioration phases during previous glacial periods in the Himalayan region. Although the results are scattered through time,they clearly show the potential of the study area for further palynological investigations with the aim of understanding the regionalvegetation response on global climate changes in Northern Iran