PALYNOLOGY IN SOUTHERN NORTH AMERICA

Abstract

The sediments of the Cuenca de Mexico fall into two classes—transported materials from the surrounding highlands and residual materials deposited as a result of limnological processes, in situ . The latter include inorganic and organic constituents as well as microfossils. Studied together these components reflect events influenced or controlled by changing climates, by volcanic and tectonic activity, and by erosion whether natural or accelerated by man. Changes in percentage composition of upland forest pollen reflect changes in available moisture, and thus in climate. Changes in the density or abundance of recoverable pollen are closely related to changes in sedimentary zones and in water content of the sediments. High pollen density is associated with slow sedimentation and high water content of the sediments, whereas stages of rapid sedimentation and low water content are marked by sparseness or absence of pollen. As upland forest pollen composition is chiefly a function of climate, pollen density is a function of volcanic and other physiographic processes. Pollen and spores from lowland communities reflect swamp conditions and changes in vegetation caused by disturbance of habitat by volcanism, tectonic activity, and human occupation. Temporary disturbance from fresh ash fall and tectonic activity tends to be followed by a brief period of heavy density of ruderal pollen (composite, amaranth, grass) and by prompt restoration of the prevailing upland forest communities. Maize pollen was recovered throughout the archeological period and at a depth of 9 m, predating the presence of agricultural man in the basin. It was again recovered at 70m, a depth which represents considerable antiquity for maize; which is evidence in favor of the American origin of this plant. Contemporary pollen gathered from a site comparable to the Mexico City basin indicates relatively short distance of upland pollen transport. Therefore, the sparse spruce pollen found at various horizons in the Mexican cores probably came from the vicinity during times cooler than the present. Exceptionally heavy spruce pollen in samples from a recent horizon appears to be the result of redeposition of older sediments from the surrounding highlands. Correlation of the sedimentary components involves a complex of climatic, tectonic, volcanic and biotic factors; evidence from every possible source, in addition to conventional pollen analysis, is required for proper interpretation.