Vegetation patterns, recent pollen deposition and distribution of non‐pollen palynomorphs in a polygon mire near Chokurdakh (NE Yakutia, NE Siberia)

Abstract

Fine‐scaled distribution patterns of vegetation and palynomorphs in a polygon mire in NE Siberia were studied in 31 × 31 plots of 1 m2 (vegetation) and along a transect at intervals of 1 m (palynomorphs). Pollen and non‐pollen‐palynomorph contents clearly reflect differences between polygon ridges and centres. For most single pollen types, however, no unambiguous relation with actual plant abundances and distribution exists. High pollen values are restricted to the immediate vicinity of the pollen sources, which is attributed to the low height of the vegetation. For several plant taxa, high pollen values were found to be restricted to particular plant specimens in the population. High values of pollen ascribed to taxa currently absent at the relevant plot show that the sampled mosses contain a pollen signal of several years. Betula exilis produces two morphologically clearly distinct pollen types. The distribution of selected non‐pollen palynomorphs correlates to microrelief, moisture regime and/or trophic conditions. The study shows that single palaeo‐sections from arctic peatlands should not be over‐interpreted with respect to their palaeoecological value. Local vegetation types and site conditions, however, can be accurately reconstructed from the total assemblages and from combined occurrences of specific palynomorph types.