Abstract
ABSTRACTThe aim of this study is to evaluate the local impact of human activities on surface pollen assemblages and identify pollen indicators associated with grazing and cultivation in the Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau. We analyzed 80 surface and 10 dung pollen samples from five communities of vegetation in the Qinghai Lake Basin. Each vegetation zone was identifiable based on surface pollen assemblages. Principal component analysis of 33 pollen taxa and two supplementary variables of human influences was used to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities on surface pollen assemblages in the Qinghai Lake Basin. Surface pollen assemblages were moderately influenced by cultivation, as indicated by the content of the cultivation‐associated Hordeum‐type and Brassiaceae pollen. Severe grazing led to changes in pollen assemblages, including increases in Chenopodiaceae, Plantago, Potentilla‐type, Thymelaeaceae and Aster‐type pollen. Pollen assemblages are similar among dung samples and are dominated by Artemisia, Poaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Hordeum‐type pollen content is relatively higher in dung samples, indicating herbivores are important in the dispersion of Cerealia Poaceae pollen into pastures. Characterizing modern pollen assemblages will provide a more precise reference for reconstructing prehistoric human activities during the Holocene based on fossil pollen assemblages in the Qinghai Lake Basin.
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