Marine palynological record for climate change since the Holocene in the middle Okinawa Trough

The palynological record of the Okinawa Trough provides an effective means to discern past marine and terrestrial environmental changes. Using the OTM-1 core from the middle Okinawa Trough， we reconstructed paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental changes over the past 11000 years. The period from 11 to 8.9 cal kyr BP was characterized by warm and relatively dry climatic conditions. From 8.9 to 7.9 cal kyr BP， there was a slight decrease in temperature accompanied by increased humidity. From 7.9 to 7.1 cal kyr BP， the palynological assemblage implied a warm and humid climate， corresponding to the “Holocene Optimum”. From 7.1 to 4.4 cal kyr BP， temperature and humidity decreased compared to the previous period， although conditions remained overall warm and relatively dry. From 4.4 to 0.5 cal kyr BP， the palynological assemblages indicated a relatively cool and moist climate. Solar insolation was the dominant driver of long-term vegetation changes in the East China Sea Continental Shelf and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River， primarily by influencing the East Asian Summer Monsoon. Additionally， variations in palynological origins driven by sea level changes， the East Asian Winter Monsoon， and the Kuroshio Current may interfere with vegetation and paleoclimate reconstruction in this region.