Palynomorphs from Late Holocene sediments of the eutrophic Lake Manyas, NW Anatolia

Lake Manyas is one of the twelve "Ramsay Sites" in Turkey designated as "Wetlands of International Importance." The wildlife and ecological richness of the lake has been the subject of several studies for many years; however, no detailed palynological study has been reported from the area. A rich and diverse assemblage of palynomorphs from sediment samples of the lake were studied to investigate how micro-flora and -fauna in and around the lake were reflected in the deposits during the Late Holocene. Palynomorphs were grouped into four categories; arboreal taxa (AP) made up 30,7%, non-arboreal taxa (NAP) 9,6%, aquatic and marshland plants 26,8% and zoological remains 32,8% of the total of 1463 particles. Apart from AP and NAP taxa, pollen of shoreline plants i.e. reeds, sedges and grasses growing around the lowland areas of the lake; spores of cryptogams, liverworts, and bryophyte-peat moss; free-floating or rooted angiosperms; zygospores of green algae; plant-like algae and cyanobacteria; and ubiquitous protozoans living along the shores of the lake on wet ground are grouped under aquatic and wetland plants and organisms. A total of 37 morphological types of zoological remains were described and identified. Three palynological zones (PZ) were delineated based on absolute abundance and percentages of the taxa; PZ I ca 1690-1790 AD, PZ II to ca1790-1890 AD, and PZ III to ca 1890-1998 AD. The turnover of the zones was discussed by inferring to anthropogenic influences and climatic changes. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.