Paleolimnological Records of Coastal Lakes

Abstract

The modern and ancient coastal lagoons of the Pampa plain serve as exceptional archives of Holocene geological and paleoclimatic history. Paleolimnological studies conducted in these records have allowed reconstructing the environmental evolution of these water bodies in response to sea-level and eustatic changes, climatic fluctuations, and sedimentary processes occurred since the Late Pleistocene. These studies were based on analyses of sediments and biological proxies, such as diatoms, foraminifera, ostracods, mollusks and pollen. This chapter reviews the evidences provided by these paleolimnological records, emphasizing the Holocene evolution of Pampa coastal lagoons. The analysis of sediment cores from these areas provides critical insights into the region’s past climate and sea-level history, contributing to our understanding of coastal dynamics and ecosystem changes.