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The palaeontological, geochemical and mineralogical records of core GNS84-C106 were analysed in order to reconstruct palaeohydrological changes and palaeoproductivity patterns in the Gulf of Salerno for the last 34 kyr. This approach, including compositional analysis of planktonic and benthic assemblages, gave an insight into the relationships between continental, sea surface and bottom environmental changes. The main source of variability of planktonic and benthic assemblages is related respectively to sea surface temperature and palaeobathymetry. Interrelated changes in surface salinity, nutrients, density gradient in the water column and organic fluxes at the bottom act as a secondary factor controlling the composition of both planktonic and benthic assemblages. The highest palaeoproductivity rates were reached during an interval spanning from late glacial to Middle Holocene, in conditions of enhanced continental run-off. During the Early and Middle Holocene, reduced surface salinity and density stratification were also coupled with the development of a deep chlorophyll maximum and enhanced flux or organic matter at the bottom. From about 6.5 kyr B.P. onward, a sharp reduction in palaeoproductivity took place, coupled with an increase in surface salinities.

Quantitative analyses of ostracod assemblages from three cores recovered on the Tyrrhenian shelf (Gaeta and Salerno Gulfs) have been applied to construct palaeobathymetric curves. Palaeoclimatic curves obtained from planktonic foraminifera, calcareous nanoplankton, pteropods and pollen are available for the same cores, in addition to sedimentological, mineralogical, geochemical (δ18O, 14C, C/N, CaCO3) and volcanological data with regard to the two cores from the Salerno Gulf. The palaeobathymetric curves reflect the climatic events through the Late Pleistocene–Holocene interval. The climatic events of the Last Glacial (and within it, the Last Glacial Maximum), the Late Glacial (with Oldest Dryas, Bolling-Allerod, Younger Dryas events) and Postglacial have been recognised. The palaeobathymetric curves are also in agreement with palaeoclimatic curves of planktonic assemblages and pollen.