Corresponding Patterns of Pollen and Vegetation in Lower Michigan: A Comparison of Quantitative Data

Abstract

Mapping of modern pollen and vegetation data as well as principal component analysis of these data reveals the patterns in the vegetation to be quite evident in the pollen data. The pollen was extracted from the top 2 cm of short cores taken from 64 lakes in lower Michigan, and the vegetation data were derived from Forest Inventory records. Except for pine and poplar, the distribution of pollen values for individual genera parallels the distribution of vegetational values. Principal component analysis shows that the north—south gradient between mixed conifer—hardwood forests in the north and deciduous forests in the south occurs in both sets of data, and differences between the major forest types are also evident.