ABSTRACT
Peat deposits in three peatlands located in Kirov region in European Russia were analyzed for botanical and spores-pollen composition. Despite some differences in the history of formation of peat thickness in all three objects, quite accurate regularities are traced. The lowermost layers of peat with a thickness about 20–60 cm adjoining on the mineral horizons are characterized by existence and prevalence of green mosses. Such vegetative groups could be created in cool and damp conditions of the Preboreal period (about 8–9 thousand years ago) in territories of runoff of glacial waters. Above it, there are layers with prevalence of sedge. Thickness of sedge layers of peat on different objects varies from 40 to 80 cm. Groups (formation) with domination of sedge are characteristic of territories of periodic superficial flooding in period called boreal (about 7–8 thousand years ago). Maximum number of the wood remains is observed in the layers lying above. A large number of woods remains can be considered as sign of the “boundary” horizon, which existence in 28many peat bogs of the European Russia demonstrates wide circulation of forest vegetation during the Atlantic period (5–7 thousand years ago). At this time, the climate was warmer than modern one and forest vegetation had wider circulation. The peat layers stored presumably in the Subboreal period remained only on the undeveloped site of a peatland “Zenginsky”. The specific composition of peat-forming plants demonstrates that the peat thickness was torn off from the mineral horizon and developed on transitional type. Thus, studying of botanical structure demonstrates alternation of different climatic eras. In each stage, there is a formation of the phytocenoses, which are most adapted for these climatic factors, that is visually reflected in the peat (organic) chronicle of bogs. Application of botanical and paleopalinologic analyses of peat allows to characterize vegetative groups at different stages of peatland formation. Such analyses make it possible to restore climatic and hydrological conditions of formation of phytocenoses.
