Abstract

WINGENROTH, Mónica C. Present and past ecosystems in the quebrada Benjamín Matienzo (32º 35' - 32º 50'S and 70º 06'W), cordillera de Los Andes, Mendoza, Argentina. Rev. Asoc. Geol. Argent. [online]. 2012, vol.69, n.3, pp.436-456. ISSN 0004-4822.

Sediments from a profile in the quebrada Benjamín Matienzo, cordillera de Los Andes (32º35'-32º50'S and 70º06'W, 3400 m asl), were dated at the bottom of a 572 cm-depth core to 6400 years B.P. The pollen identified in 174 events (layers) of the profile was related to the present pollen assemblage (1980-1981 / 1981-1982). Differences between the quantity and quality of the local pollen defined a total of seven environments in the quebrada Benjamín Matienzo and suggested changes in vegetation and/or pollen production due to water availability and temperature variations. In turn, differences between the quantity and quality of the allochthonous pollen were used to infer the predominant wind directions reaching the quebrada Benjamín Matienzo during each past event. In addition, positive and negative cumulative ice mass balance, melting of frozen periglacial areas and correspondence with the solar cycles were suggested for each event of the seven identified environments.

Keywords : Pollen; Environment; Vegetation; Water; Temperature.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )