Reply to Theuerkauf and Couwenberg (2020) comment on: “Pollen-based reconstruction of Holocene land-cover in mountain regions: Evaluation of the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm in the Vicdessos valley, northern Pyrenees, France”

Abstract

Comments on Marquer et al. (2020) by Theuerkauf and Couwenberg (2020) revisit two issues important for pollen-based reconstruction of past vegetation with the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm (LRA;Sugita, 2007a,2007b) and related models: the selection of pollen dispersal model and the appropriate use of pollen productivity estimates. We are aware of those issues, and our paper addresses those questions and advises for caution and necessary future steps to improve model-based reconstruction of vegetation in mountain environments and elsewhere. This reply restates briefly some of the important take-home messages fromour study and presents our suggestion and proposal in response toTheuerkauf and Couwenberg’s comments.