Palynological Approach Research Articles

Pollen and Flora as Bioindicators in Assessing the Status of Polluted Sites: The Case Study of the Mantua Lakes (SIN “Laghi di Mantova e Polo Chimico”; N Italy)

An integrated floristic and palynological approach was carried out at the site of national interest “Laghi di Mantova e Polo Chimico” to obtain an environmental assessment useful for monitoring polluted sites. The flora of highly contaminated sectors (area A and area B) was surveyed, and the floristic composition and ecological strategies of the species were compared with a control sector (area C). A total of 195 species were observed in the three sectors. Pollen preservation of six selected species was checked as a bioindicator of environmental health in the same sectors. Area A and area B likely share similar environmental pressures, including anthropogenic stressors such as pollution, geographical proximity and a similar set of habitats, leading to similarities in flora composition. Similarly, the incidence of pollen without cytoplasm is higher in area A (9.3%) and area B (7.6%) than in area C (2.5%). The floristic differences among the sectors and the quantity of empty or abnormal pollen, together with the CSR strategies adopted by the species, suggest that the effects of anthropogenic impact on local vegetation can be detected at both macroscopic and microscopic levels. The discovery of the protected species Narcissus pseudonarcissus in area C is noteworthy, which may be important in directing efforts towards the protection of plant communities in this sector.

Wood use and forest management at the Late Bronze Age copper mining site of Prigglitz-Gasteil in the Eastern Alps – A combined anthracological, archaeological, and palynological approach

The Late Bronze Age mining site of Prigglitz-Gasteil provides a wealth of sources of information for the reconstruction of wood use, past vegetation, and forest management at a copper production facility. In this paper we have combined charcoal analyses from domestic and workshop contexts and the investigation of mining timbers found in the backfill of the opencast copper ore mine with the first results from pollen analyses from the nearby Saubachgraben mire. The complementary information from these different contexts allowed a reconstruction of the impact of settlement and mining activities on the natural mixed forest around the site, chiefly composed of beech, spruce, and fir. Forest clearing affected mainly spruce. Despite the dominance of spruce among the conifers, however, fir wood was exclusively selected for the production of mining timbers, which were used to support the opencast mine walls or for water management constructions. The gathering of firewood for domestic hearths followed the principle of least effort, leading to a secondary succession with pioneering species in the immediate surroundings of the mining settlement. The investigated wood and charcoal finds indicated an intentional and selective use of the locally available wood species. At the current state of the investigations, there is no evidence of scarcity or shortage in the wood supply.

Historical Spruce Abundance in Central Europe: A Combined Dendrochronological and Palynological Approach

Spruce is the most cultivated tree species in modern forestry in Central Europe, since it has the ability to grow on many soil types with profitable biomass accumulation. However, even-aged and uniform spruce forests are affected by recurring droughts and associated biotic stressors leading to large-scale diebacks across Central Europe causing controversies among foresters and nature conservationists. We investigate the role of spruce in historical woodlands by using 15666 spruce timbers from historical buildings and on the basis of pollen-based land cover estimates using the REVEALS model from 157 pollen sites in southern Central Europe. Start and end dates of the spruce timber samples and their dendrological characteristics (age, growth rates and stem diameters) were used to obtain information on past forest structures. Tree rings and REVEALS estimates are combined at a spatial scale of 1° × 1° resolution, grouped in four sub-regions, and a temporal resolution of 100-year time windows starting from 1150 to 1850 CE. We found that spruce dominates the species assemblage of construction timber with almost 41% and that the harvest age varies little through time, whereas a declining trend in growth rates and stem diameters are observed toward times before modern forestry. Temporal and regional differences in spruce abundance and building activity were found highlighting periods of (i) land abandonment and forest expansion in the 14th century, (ii) increased wood consumption during the 16th century due to population increase and beginning industrial developments, (iii) a forest recovery during and after the Thirty years' war, and (iv) afforestation efforts from the 1650s onwards. Furthermore, this study shows that spruce was constantly present in the study area in most studied sub-regions for the last 800 years. We demonstrate the need of combining tree-ring and pollen data to identify spatiotemporal patterns in spruce abundance and utilization.

Palynomorph assemblages evidence for river reorganization 8.5 million years ago in Southeast Asia

River reorganization occurs frequently in Southeast Asia, due to the rugged topography and heavy precipitation. However, accurately constraining the age of past reorganization events is difficult. Here we apply a novel palynological approach to evaluate how rivers evolved during the late Cenozoic (~12–0 Ma), based on three deep-sea drilling cores from the South China Sea (SCS): International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Sites U1499 in the north and U1433 in the central SCS, and Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Site 1143 in the south. A rapid, dramatic runoff reorganization event at 8.5 Ma is identified in the cores by a sharp decrease in terrestrial pollen and freshwater algae input in the northern SCS, coeval with a contrasting increase in the South SCS, which is supported by contemporaneous changes in neodymium isotopes composition (εNd), and sediment rates and budgets across the SCS. We postulate that the reorganization of rivers was the main dynamic driver of rapid changes in palynomorph assemblages, which took place against a background of tectonic and climatic changes.

Reconstruction of the last cretaceous anoxic event in the Tarfaya Laayoune basin (South of Morocco): Biostratigraphy and Paleoenvironment of the Oum Debaa Formation

Abstract The Tarfaya-Laayoune coastal basin developed in a stable passive margin, where sedimentation occurred in shallow bays. During the Late Cretaceous, bituminous and phosphatic series were deposited in the shallow depression such as Sebkha Oum Debaa. In this work, the age of these Cretaceous layers are refined using a palynological approach and their paleoenvironments are described using organic geochemistry. Based on quantitative and qualitative palynological analyses, the sediments revealed a rich and diverse dinoflagellate cyst assemblage (65 taxa); among them 9 important biostratigraphic markers: Andalusiella inflata, Andalusiella ivoirensis, Andalusiella mauthei, Cerodinium diebelii, Cerodinium speciosum, Dinogymnium acuminatum, Odontochitina porifera, Trichodinium castanea, and Trithyrodinium evittii. According to the reported stratigraphic dinoflagellate taxa distribution, an age range of late Campanian to early Maastrichtian is herein proposed for the Oum Debaa Formation. This biostratigraphy update has been correlated to the Tethyan and Sub-Boreal domains. On the paleoenvironmental level, geochemical proxies have displayed an anoxic lagoon depositional which is dominated by an intermediate climate between hot / humid and arid with an often low paleoproductivity regime which induces redox conditions.

Persistent, multi-sourced lead contamination in Central Europe since the Bronze Age recorded in the Füramoos peat bog, Germany

Despite a multitude of lead-contamination archives, the history of anthropogenic lead (Pb) contamination in Central Europe during the Holocene has remained incompletely understood. Contributing to a regionally differentiated understanding of Pb contamination in Central Europe since the Late Glacial (14.5 kyrs ago), this paper presents a record of atmospheric Pb deposition from an ombrotrophic peat bog at Füramoos, southern Germany. We combine Pb content and isotope data with pollen data allowing the interpretation of Pb signals within a context of natural change and human activities. The data show that Pb accumulation rates during the Late Glacial and early Holocene (0.074 mg*m-2*yr-1) were considerably higher than those during the mid-Holocene (0.016 mg*m-2*yr-1). Anthropogenic Pb contamination commenced at 3600 years BP and originates primarily from the Western Mediterranean region until the demise of the Roman Empire, after which contamination sources shifted to Britain, France, and Germany. For the past 3600 years, the data document an exponential increase in Pb contamination (max 5.6 mg*m-2*yr-1) that is unhinged from natural Pb deposition and far exceeds the natural Holocene background levels. The integrated geochemical and palynological approach allows placement of Pb contamination signals into detailed historical context. Land-use changes at Füramoos are consistent with the timing of political, economic, and social developments of medieval societies that modulated the ability and demand for mining during the past millennia.

Late Eocene–early Miocene evolution of the southern Australian subtropical front: a marine palynological approach

Abstract. Improvements in our capability to reconstruct ancient surface-ocean conditions based on organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst (dinocyst) assemblages from the Southern Ocean provide an opportunity to better establish past position, strength and oceanography of the subtropical front (STF). Here, we aim to reconstruct the late Eocene to early Miocene (37–20 Ma) depositional and palaeoceanographic history of the STF in the context of the evolving Tasmanian Gateway as well as the potential influence of Antarctic circumpolar flow and intense waxing and waning of ice. We approach this by combining information from seismic lines (revisiting existing data and generating new marine palynological data from Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 1168A) in the western Tasmanian continental slope. We apply improved taxonomic insights and palaeoecological models to reconstruct the sea surface palaeoenvironmental evolution. Late Eocene–early Oligocene (37–30.5 Ma) assemblages show a progressive transition from dominant terrestrial palynomorphs and inner-neritic dinocyst taxa as well as cysts produced by heterotrophic dinoflagellates to predominantly outer-neritic/oceanic autotrophic taxa. This transition reflects the progressive deepening of the western Tasmanian continental margin, an interpretation supported by our new seismic investigations. The dominance of autotrophic species like Spiniferites spp. and Operculodinium spp. reflects relatively oligotrophic conditions, like those of regions north of the modern-day STF. The increased abundance in the earliest Miocene of Nematosphaeropsis labyrinthus, typical for modern subantarctic zone (frontal) conditions, indicates a cooling and/or closer proximity of the STF to the site . The absence of major shifts in dinocyst assemblages contrasts with other records in the region and suggests that small changes in surface oceanographic conditions occurred during the Oligocene. Despite the relatively southerly (63–55∘ S) location of Site 1168, the rather stable oceanographic conditions reflect the continued influence of the proto-Leeuwin Current along the southern Australian coast as Australia continued to drift northward. The relatively “warm” dinocyst assemblages at ODP Site 1168, compared with the cold assemblages at Antarctic Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site U1356, testify to the establishment of a pronounced latitudinal temperature gradient in the Oligocene Southern Ocean.

Palaeodiet, palaeoecology and palaeoenvironment during 1200 BCE–300 CE in the Ganga Plain: A palaeoethnobotanical and palynological approach

This paper presents the results of plant macro–remain analysis from Iron Age–Historic settlement sites in Ganga Plain. The plant remains affirm the presence of distinct agricultural economy based on cereals (Oryza sativa, Hordeum vulgare, Triticum aestivum, Triticum sphaerococcum), pulses (Lathyrus sativus, Vigna sp., Macrotyloma uniflorum), oil–fibre yielding (Sesamum indicum, Gossypium sp.) and minor millets (Panicum sp., Setaria sp.). Relative dates based on ceramics from individual site provide secure chronology for the sites between 1200 BCE to 300 CE. Also analyzed pollen and non–pollen palynomorphs from Biland–Khera (200 BCE–300 CE) cultural sediment to investigate palaeovegetation and palaeoenvironment around the settlement.

Insight into palynological characteristics of Vinca species in Turkey and their taxonomic relationship

The aim of this research is the palynological characterisation of all Vinca species naturally grown in Turkey. In this context, six Vinca (Apocynaceae) taxa from Turkey were investigated – V. herbacea Waldst & Kit., V. ispartensis Koyuncu & Ekşi, V. minor L., V. major subsp. major L., V. major subsp. hirsuta (Boiss.) Steam, and V. soneri Koyuncu – by a palynological approach, and palynological characters of the more closely related taxa (especially two new species and subspecies) were defined. Thus, pollen structures of the six taxa and their systematical relations could be discussed. The pollen type of the studied taxa was determined to be colpate and the sculpture psilate. The results confirm that palynological characters show minor differences between the investigated taxa of the genus. Nevertheless, these features can be used to discriminate among the taxa. PAST-multivar-cluster and principal component analysis were applied to the obtained data to compare the palynological characters of the six taxa and prove the similarities among their pollen. The results shed light on the relationship between two new Vinca species (V. soneri Koyuncu, V. ispartensis Koyuncu & Ekşi) and their closest taxa (V. herbacea). The statistical results determined the simmilarities of morphologically closer taxa (V. herbacea, V. ispartensis, V. soneri) and indicate that V. herbacea and V. ispartensis are much closer to each other compare to V. soneri, with regard to the palynological features. Also, the two subspecies (V. major subsp. major and V. major subsp. hirsuta) were observed to be most closely related to each other. In conclusion, with a few exceptional states, the palynological findings support the morphological classification. As the results demonstrate, palynological parameters can be helpful for taxonomical classification of plant taxa.

Palynostratigraphy of the lower Paleogene Margaret Formation at Stenkul Fiord, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada

The upper Paleocene to lower Eocene Margaret Formation exposed at Stenkul Fiord on southern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada, represents a nearly continuous terrestrial succession of microfossil-rich clastic sediments and coal. These strata were deposited at a time of extensive tectonic activity associated with Eurekan deformation. The precise chronology of the Eurekan deformation is poorly known. Prior studies at Stenkul Fiord provided a stratigraphic overview and relative age estimates for exposed strata but lack the absolute age control required to investigate the timing of deformation events. Strata at Stenkul Fiord preserve evidence of Arctic forests that may have grown during hyperthermal events that characterized the Paleogene, namely, the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) and Eocene Thermal Maximum 2 (ETM2). A quantitative palynological approach is herein used to define a new higher-resolution biostratigraphic framework for the Margaret Formation strata at Stenkul Fiord. This resulting improved biostratigraphic framework is integrated with new absolute age control of 53.7 ± 0.06 Ma provided by U-Pb ID-TIMS of zircon preserved in an ash bed within the studied succession. Nine pollen zones are defined based on cluster analysis, NMDS ordination, first- and last occurrences of taxa, and angiosperm pollen taxa diversity (H′). The presence of thermophilic pollen taxa at Stenkul Fiord provides evidence of climates related to the globally warm climates during the early Paleogene.

The History of Pastoral Activities in S Italy Inferred from Palynology: A Long-Term Perspective to Support Biodiversity Awareness

The present-day Mediterranean landscape is a result of the long-term human–environment–climate interactions that have driven the ecological dynamics throughout the Holocene. Pastoralism had (and still has) an important role in shaping this landscape, and contributes to maintaining the mosaic patterns of the Mediterranean habitats. Palaeoecological records provide significant multi-proxy data on environmental changes during the Holocene that are linked to human activities. In such research, the palynological approach is especially useful for detailing the complexity of anthropogenically-driven landscape transformations by discriminating past land uses and pastoral/breeding activities. This paper focuses on the palynological evidence for the impact of centuries of grazing on the vegetation of Basilicata, a region of southern Italy where animal breeding and pastoralism have a long tradition. A set of 121 pollen samples from eight archaeological sites (dated from the 6th century BC to the 15th century AD) and five modern surface soil samples were analyzed. The joint record of pollen pasture indicators and spores of coprophilous fungi suggests that continuous and intense pastoral activities have been practiced in the territory and have highly influenced its landscape. The palaeoecological results of this study provide us with better knowledge of the diachronical transformations of the habitats that were exposed to continuous grazing, with a shift toward more open vegetation and increase of sclerophyllous shrubs. The palynological approach gives insights into the vocation and environmental sustainability of this southern Italy region on a long-term basis.

Sedimentological and Palynological Approach for Determining the Depositional Environment of the Outcropping Surma Group Mudrocks in the Sitakund Anticline, Chittagong-Tripura Fold Belt, Bangladesh

Sitakund anticlinal structure exposes about 1.5 km of Surma group sediments and has been chosen for a comprehensive study of the mudrocks depositional environment based on sedimentological and palynological evidences. Five mudrock facies have been identified in this region. They are Mudstone Dominated, Sand/Silt Streaked Shale, Fissile Shale, Laminated Shale and Lenticular Bedded Shale. The palynological assemblages from these samples have been analyzed qualitatively, and a variety of pollen, spores, algae and fungi identified. The pollen and spores have been attributed to parent plants located at the immediate and more regional surrounding areas during the deposition of these sediments. Palynological assemblages incorporates ample of Palmae grains such as spores in the Palmipollenites and Proxaperites and predominance of pteridophytic spores. The occurrences and abundances of these pollens indicate that the deposition of the Surma mudrocks took place at the proximity of the shore level. Coastal fluvial environment is also triumphed after the previous depositional event which is apparent by the occurrence of palynomorphs of pteridophytes, angiosperms and algal origin.
 Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 66(1): 37-42, 2018 (January)

Cereal cultivation as a correlate of high social status in medieval Iceland

Utilising a multi-profile palynological approach and a rapid scanning technique, this paper examines whether or not cereal cultivation is representative of a medieval Icelandic farmstead’s social status; first as a correlate by confirming that cereals were grown in association with the archaeological features characteristic of high status and second, as an indicator in its own right through comparison with other datasets from inferred lower status farms in the same valley. The results suggest that medieval cereal cultivation in Mosfellsdalur was confined to the landholding of the Mosfell Estate. This is probably a direct consequence of the locale being settled early during Iceland’s colonisation and thereby allowing settlers there to secure the prime location in the valley for agriculture. The later abandonment of cereal cultivation on the Estate also appears to be linked to social circumstances in Mosfellsdalur c. ad 1200. An evaluation of other pollen studies and historical sources intimates a transition in cereal cultivation from inland toward coastal (and perhaps geothermal) sites in the mid-13th century, probably as a consequence of the onset of the Little Ice Age. These sites may also be linked with high status institutions. Despite this effort to adapt to altered climate conditions, cereal cultivation in Iceland is believed to have been completely abandoned by ad 1500. Overall, the temporal and spatial dynamics of cereal cultivation are shown to be complex, subject to both societal and environmental changes.

Paleodepositional environment and age of Kanawa Member of Pindiga Formation, Gongola Sub-basin, Northern Benue Trough, NE Nigeria: Sedimentological and palynological approach

Sedimentogical and palynological investigations of the Kanawa Member of Pindiga Formation in the Gongola Sub-basin, Northern Benue Trough, NE Nigeria were carried out in order to determine the paleoenvironment and age of the sediments. Three main lithofacies were identified from the measured sedimentary log section, namely; the wave rippled sandstones, the limestones (with ammonites, bivalves and gastropods) and the clay-shale. The facies were interpreted to have been deposited in a marine environment. Based on palynological studies, Kanawa Member consists of two palynozones, namely; Cretacaeiporites scabratus and Triorites africaensis. The Triorites africaensis zone is characterized by species of T. africaensis, Gnetaceaepollenites sp. 1, Cretacaeiporites polygonalis, Monosulcites sp., Cretacaeiporites scabratus, Elaterocolpites castelainii and is dated Late Cenomanian whilst the Cretacaeiporites scabratus zone is characterized by the dominance of C. scabratus, C. mulleri and Tricolporopollenites sp and is dated Early Turonian. The Kanawa Member is therefore, dated Late Cenomanian to early Turonian.

Holocene landscape development along the Portuguese Algarve coast – A high resolution palynological approach

Along the Algarve coast, multi-proxy investigations of four estuaries detail the Holocene landscape evolution through high-resolution pollen and sediment analyses. This approach focuses on palynological results and enables the reconstruction of differentiated human impact around the studied archives between the Neolithic and modern times. During the Chalcolithic and Phoenician periods anthropogenic land use increases clearly and triggers erosional processes in the catchment. The increased agricultural area and the change in land use methods since the beginning of the second Islamic epoch form the actual landscape. According to the palynological results, since 8200 cal BP highly variable climatic conditions in terms of moisture availability have occurred during the entire Holocene. Arid periods occurred during the early Holocene prior to 8000 cal BP, around 7000 cal BP and between 6400 and 6200 cal BP. During the mid Holocene, two further dry periods with very different duration could be identified between 5000 and 3300 cal BP and between 2800 and 2500 cal BP. Finally, during the late Holocene between 1300 and 1050 cal BP and between 700 and 500 cal BP, further arid periods appeared. In conclusion, climatic and anthropogenic influences caused erosion in the catchments and in this way silting up of the estuaries along the Portuguese Algarve coast.

Depositional Environment of Mio-Pliocene Siwalik Sedimentary Strata from the Darjeeling Himalayan Foothills, India: A Palynological Approach.

A rich and diverse palynoassemblage recovered from the Churanthi River section (26°53' 59.3" N, 88°34' 17.2" E), Darjeeling foothills Eastern Himalaya, has yielded 87 species assigned to 69 genera. The palynoassemblage is rich in angiosperm taxa (45.63%) followed by gymnosperms (0.45%), pteridophytes (18.49%) and fungal remains (23.88%). Based on their nearest living relatives, a wet evergreen to semi-evergreen forest under a humid tropical to sub-tropical environment during the Mio-Pliocene age has been suggested. A lot of angiosperms such as Palaeosantalaceaepites, Araliaceoipollenites, Malvacearampollis, Zonocostites, Neocouperipollis, Dicolpopollis, Palmidites, Palmaepollenites, isolated salt glands of mangrove plant leaves (Heliospermopsis) and Mediaverrunites type of fungal spores, along with ichnofossils like Planolites, Palaeophycus, Skolithos, Rosselia, Ophiomorpha and Teichichnus associated with rippled mudstone-siltstone suggest an environment strongly influenced by brackish water. Primary sedimentary structures in the associated strata indicate strong wave agitation common in shallow marine setting. Some high elevation components (5.14%) such as Alnipollenites, cf. Corylus (Betulaceae), Juglanspollenites, Engelhardtioipollenites (Juglandaceae), Quercoides, Cupuliferoidaepollenites, Lithocarpus, Castanopsis (Fagaceae), Abietineaepollenites (Pinaceae) represent hinterland vegetation possibly transported to the prograding deltaic coastline by the rivers. Reworked palynotaxa (Striatopodocarpites sp., Striatites sp., Faunipollenites sp., Circumstriatites sp., Crescentipollenites sp., Cuneatisporites sp., Parasaccites sp., Scheuringipollenites sp., Rhizomaspora sp., Marsupipollenites sp., Lophotriletes sp.) of Permian age have also been recorded in the palynoassemblage (11.55%) indicating the abundance of Permian Gondwana strata in the source area.

A palynological approach to the study of Quercus pyrenaica forest communities in the Spanish Central System

A total of 75 surface samples collected from mosses in the Quercus pyrenaica forests of the Spanish Central System mountains were analysed for their pollen content. The samples were taken from six different Quercus pyrenaica phytosociological associations between 443 and 1657 m a.s.l. and fall within distinct rainfall and temperature regimes. The aims of this paper are to provide new data on the modern pollen rain from Central Spain, and to perform these data using multivariate statistics (hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis) and pollen percentages. We could distinguish first between unaltered and disturbed forest landscapes and among different Quercus pyrenaica forest associations based on climatic gradients (rainfall pattern, summer moisture). This analysis allowed us to identify a set of pollen taxa markers which could assist in distinguishing these oak forest communities.

Marine productivity leads organic matter preservation in sapropel S1: palynological evidence from a core east of the Nile River outflow

The formation of Eastern Mediterranean organic matter rich deposits known as sapropels is the results of two mechanisms: (enhanced) marine productivity and preservation of organic material at depth. However, their relative contribution and their leads and lags with respect to each other remain elusive. Here, we address these questions by studying sediments deposited prior to, during, and after the most recent sapropel (S1, ∼10–6 calibrated ka before present, BP) with an integrated marine and terrestrial palynological approach, combined with existing and newly generated geochemical data. The studied core was retrieved from an area under strong influence of the Nile outflow and has high average sediment accumulation rates allowing a high temporal resolution (of several decades to centuries).Marine productivity, as reconstructed with total dinocyst accumulation rates (ARs) and biogenic CaCO3 content, starts to increase ∼1ka prior to sapropel formation. A shift in the dinocyst taxa contributing to the productivity signal at sapropel onset indicates the rapid development of (seasonal) water column stratification. Pollen and spore ARs also increase prior to sapropel onset, but a few centuries after the increase in marine productivity. Hence, the first shift to a high marine productivity system before sapropel deposition may have been mostly favoured by the injection of nutrients via shoaling of the nutricline with a minor contribution of nutrients from land via river input and flooding of the shelves. Pollen assemblages indicate a gradual change across the sapropel onset from a savanna-like, through coastal marsh expansion, toward an open woodland assemblage, which is consistent with enhanced Nile influence and delta development. At sapropel onset a marked shift in pollen ARs could suggest increased preservation under anoxia. However, major shifts in pollen assemblages and signs of selective- or partial decomposition of terrestrial palynomorphs are absent. We therefore suggest that the high pollen ARs largely result from an increased influx of pollen by enhanced Nile discharge and extension of the freshwater plume. Three centuries after the sapropel onset, dinocyst ARs and CaCO3 content indicate that marine productivity starts to decrease, while sapropel deposition continued. Organic carbon content decreased only later and less dramatically. This may be explained by a shift in the dominance of the organisms contributing to marine productivity, to an enhanced preservation of organic matter, or a combination of both.

Late Quaternary landscape development at the margin of the Pomeranian phase (MIS 2) near Lake Wygonin (Northern Poland)

In Central Europe, Late Quaternary landscapes experienced multiple phases of geomorphologic activity. In this study, we used a combined geomorphological, pedological, sedimentological and palynological approach to characterize landscape development after the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) near Lake Wygonin in Northern Poland. The pedostratigraphical findings from soil pits and drillings were extrapolated using ground-penetrating radar (GPR) and electric resistivity tomography (ERT). During the Pomeranian phase, glacial and fluvioglacial processes dominated the landscape near Lake Wygonin. At the end of the glacial period, periglacial processes became relevant and caused the formation of ventifacts and coversands containing coated sand grains. At approximately 15,290–14,800calyrBP, a small pond formed in a kettle hole (profile BWI 2). The lacustrine sediments lack eolian sand components and therefore indicate the decline of eolian processes during that time. The increase of Juniperus and rock-rose (Helianthemum) in the pollen diagram is a prominent marker of the Younger Dryas. At the end of the Younger Dryas, a partial reshaping of the landscape is indicated by abundant charcoal fragments in disturbed lake sediments. No geomorphologic activity since the beginning of the Holocene is documented in the terrestrial and wetland archives. The anthropogenic impact is reflected in the pollen diagram by the occurrence of rye pollen grains (Secale cereale) and translocated soil sediments dated to 1560–1410calyrBP, proving agricultural use of the immediate vicinity. With the onset of land use, gully incision and the accumulation of colluvial fans reshaped the landscape locally. Since 540–460calyrBP, further gully incision in the steep forest tracks has been associated with the intensification of forestry. Outside of the gully catchments, the weakly podzolized Rubic Brunic Arenosols show no features of Holocene soil erosion.

Genesis and evolution of the cultural landscape in central Mediterranean: the ‘where, when and how’ through the palynological approach

Cultural landscapes are priority research themes addressed in many fields of knowledge. Botanists can explore the ecological, formal and cognitive level of cultural landscapes with different approaches. Palynologists study both palaeoenvironmental (off-site) and archaeological (on-site) records and are, therefore, in a privileged corner to observe the origin and history of present landscapes, what is their true nature and vocation, what must be preserved or transformed for the future. The study of an archaeological site shows short space–time events and the behaviour of a few people. In order, though, to attain a regional and cross-area cultural landscape reconstruction, many sites must be studied as part of a regional multi-point site and with an interdisciplinary approach. The likelihood to observe human-induced environments in pollen diagrams depends on the nature and productivity of human-related plant species. In the Mediterranean area, many Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic sites point to the long-term action on the environment. However, the pollen signal of pre-Holocene and early Holocene human impact is ambiguous or weak. The effects of culture became evident, and possibly irreversible, as a consequence of human permanence in a certain land. In the Bronze age, the establishment of human-induced environments was evident from the combination of decrease of forest cover and increase of cereal and synanthropic pollen types in pollen records.