Abstract

For the reconstruction of the past vegetational changes in Jeju Island, Korea, pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating on the sediments obtained from the Mulyeongari fen were carried out. By the results, the vegetational changes around the Mulyeongari fen from ca. 3,300 cal. yr BP to the present can be interpreted and reconstructed. The pollen record from the Mulyeongari fen was divided into two local pollen assemblage zones and three sub-pollen assemblage zones. Zone I (Quercus-Carpinus-Herbs Zone) was characterized by the predominance of Quercus(30~63%), Carpinus(9~35%) and herbs(40~424%). Zone II was characterized by three sub-pollen assemblage zones and the high occurrence ratio of the tree layer in comparison with Zone I. In Zone IIa (Quercus-Carpinus Zone), herbs(3~161%) were drastically decreased in predominance of Quercus(28~56%) and Carpinus(14~31%). In Zone IIb (Carpinus-Quercus Zone), Carpinus(36~48%) was preferentially increased but Quercus(29~39%) was slightly decreased. In Zone IIc (Quercus-Carpinus Zone), Carpinus(26~38%) was decreased inversely but Quercus(36~50%) was increased. In addition, Cyperaceae was also increased to 52%. Consequently, it is suggested that cool temperate southern/sub-montane vegetation composed of Quercus and Carpinus which was physiognomy of deciduous broad leaved forest was distributed around the Mulyeongari fen from ca. 3,300 cal. yr BP. In addition, Cyclobalanopsis(4~23%), Castanopsis(1~12%) and Myrica(under 1%) which are warm-temperate evergreen deciduous forest components were constantly appeared from this period. Accordingly, it can be inferred that the present vegetation type around the Mulyeongari fen was formed from ca. 180 cal. yr BP.

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