Find in Library

Interpreting paleoenvironmental conditions by means of <i>n</i>-alkane biomarker analyses is challenging because results depend on different influencing factors. Thus, regional calibration of <i>n</i>-alkane patterns is needed because of different plant chemo-taxonomic behavior. We investigated for the first-time leaf wax-derived <i>n</i>-alkane biomarkers from modern plants, litter, top soils, and two recently discovered loess-paleosol sequences (LPSs) in Armenia (Lesser Caucasus). Our results on modern samples show a promising discrimination power based on <i>n</i>-alkane chain length nC₃₃ (probably nC₃₁)) for grasses and herbs versus nC₂₉ for deciduous trees, despite the large interplant variability within vegetation groups. In contrast with other Loess records in Europe, where Late Pleistocene environments are ranging from tundra-like (glacial) to deciduous forest habitats (interglacial), our results from two Armenian LPSs suggest a transition from humid-steppe biome or forest-steppe vegetation dominating during interglacial periods, to semi-desert shrubs species more adapted to the enhanced aridity during glacial periods.