Palynological Study of Akindonuma Moor in the Central Oh-u Backbone Range, Northeasternl Japan

Abstract

Pollen analyses and <TEX>$^{14}$</TEX> C dating of the sediments of the Akindonuma moor, which is situated in a closed depression of an old landslide, were peformed in order to study the vegetation history of the montane zone of the Miyagi Prefecture, Northeast Japan. The main results are as follows: Two forest zones have been distinguished: 1) the A-I zone, or the Fagus-Quercus-Betula forest (R I stage, before about 11,700 yrs B.P.), and 2) the A-II zone, or the Fagus-Quercus forest (R II stage, after about 11,700 yrs B.P.). By comparing the geological section with the pollen diagram of the moor, it is assumed that the deposit environment of the Middle Part, which mostly consists of peat layers, is very stable. During the period, the Ulmus/Zelfkova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized. According to the preceding research, theme is a close relationship between the fluctuation of the Ulmus/Zelkova pollen ratio and the general trend of hillslope instability in the changing balance of temporature and precipitation Actually, Zelkova serrata tends to cover the footslope and the lower sideslope. Ulmus davidiana covers the footslope and the alluvial cone. Therefore, the fact that the Ulmus/Zeikova pollen ratio was very low and small peak was not recognized, is believed to reflect the stability of the earth's surface environment, which was estimated from the geological section.