Peat core research in Western Siberia: methods applied, regions studied, and future prospects

Abstract. Peatlands are natural archives that preserve information not only about their own development but also about past environmental conditions in surrounding landscapes. This study presents a comprehensive review of palaeoecological research based on peat cores from the Western Siberian Lowland (WSL). We compiled and georeferenced 654 peat cores and documented the application of 26 palaeoecological proxies, including chronological, physical, chemical, and biological indicators, resulting in the creation of the Western Siberian Peat Core Database (WSPC). The database synthesizes information from 156 publications spanning 1953–2025 and captures both the temporal and methodological evolution of peatland studies in the region, highlighting a clear shift from early single-proxy, low resolution investigations to modern multi-proxy high-resolution studies. Spatial analysis reveals high peat core density along major rivers and in the Great Vasyugan Mire, while remote northern continuous permafrost regions remain underrepresented. Temporal coverage indicates that most cores capture Holocene peatland dynamics, with the longest records in non-permafrost and isolated permafrost zones, extending into the Late Glacial (~15,600 cal. yr BP). The database underscores the dominant role of fundamental physical and chemical proxies, while highlighting the selective application of biological proxies and the limited use of specialized chemical analyses. In addition, the study identifies key research challenges in Western Siberia, including narrow seasonal windows for fieldwork, permafrost, limited transport infrastructure, permit requirements, and geopolitical barriers, which collectively constrain peatland sampling. The WSPC database represents the most extensive compilation of peat-core-based palaeoecological data for this region, offering critical guidance for targeted sampling and future research to address spatial, temporal, and proxy-specific gaps in the study of Western Siberian peatlands.