Pollen Palynomorphs Research Articles

Pollen analysis in reconstruction of paleo vegetation on the southwestern part of the Yamal Peninsula

The aim of this study is to explore the pollen palynomorphs from the bottom sediments of an unnamed tundra lake whilst attempt to reconstruct the past vegetation and paleoecological conditions for the southwestern part of the Yamal Peninsula. 34 pollen (11 boreal, 18 arboreal) and 5 spore palynomorphs were identified. Pollen spectra characterized by a predominance of arboreal pollen (Betula sect. Nanae, Betula sect. Albae, Alnus). It was found in the range of ~6000-5100 cal. yr BP during the Holocene optimum birch forest and shrubby vegetation with bogs has been developed in the lake’s catchment area. The tundra biome was dominant, however, around ~5800 cal. yr BP, the indicator of the taiga biome increases to maximal values. Since the beginning of the Subatlantic period (~2200 cal. yr BP), local vegetation began to evolve into the modern southern tundra with shrubs (dwarf birch, alder, willow), and sedge-sphagnum bogs in lowlands.

Bog pine dendrochronology related to peat stratigraphy: Palaeoenvironmental changes reflected in peatland deposits since the Late Glacial (case study of the Imszar raised bog, Northeastern Poland)

Resultsof dendrochronological analysis of subfossil pine (Pinus sylvestris) buried in the Imszar raised bog deposits (NE Poland, Podlasie Region), were compared with multiproxy analysis of peat deposits (pollen and Non Pollen Palynomorphs, plant macrofossils, Cladocera, and geochemical analyses). The peat (3.3 m thick) accumulation started in the Allerød interstadial. The oldest pine tree population grew in this peatland in ca 6790–6530 cal yrs. BP: floating chronology (determined with the wiggle–matching method) covers this period is 255 years long. The growth of trees on the fen was related to the drying out of the fen at that time, which caused the break in peat accumulation (hiatus). Apart from numerous fallen trees excavated during the peat extraction, a horizon of vertical in situ tree trunks ingrown to the ground, were exposed during peat exploitation. On the basis of a dozen or so trees, a second, “dead forest” floating chronology 197 years long, was compiled with a time range of ca 4255-4060 cal yrs. BP. The youngest, third pine floating chronology (310 years long), elaborated on the basis of ex situ tree trunks, covers the time frame of ca 3130-2820 cal yrs. BP. Multiproxy analyzes of fen deposits indicate that the three stage colonization of the peatland by bog pine was associated with the periods of warming and overdrying in the climate of the Holocene, during which the groundwater table in the Imszar peatland significantly lowered. In turn, the dying off stages of the pine trees occurred in the phases of climate humidity growth, during which the groundwater level in the fen raised. They are well correlated with analogous bog pine germination and dying-off phases in the other European peatlands.

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.

Hydro-climatic variability during last five thousand years and its impact on human colonization and cultural transition in Ladakh sector, India

The Ladakh Range in the Trans Himalaya houses sub-routes of the Silk route through its passes (La in local language) which may have been the main commercial and cultural passage to connect the central Asia and Tibetan region with the rest of India. A ca 6400-220 cal yr B.P. hydroclimatic record of two lakes viz Tsoltak lake and Yaya Tso near the Chang La and Hor La passes of Ladakh Range is presented here. The overall record (mineral magnetic analysis and microbiota) from the Ladakh range shows wetter conditions ca 6400 cal yr BP consistently declining till ~5000 cal yr BP and moderately wet and stable till ~4300 cal yr BP, followed by an arid cold phase (~4300-4000 cal yr BP). This precedes two moderately wet phases (ca 4300-3500 cal yr BP and ca 1260-220 cal yr BP) and the peak arid conditions between 3500 and 2860 cal yr B P and 2230-855 cal yr BP, which may have affected the trade activities and had an adverse affect of cultural transitions during these periods across the Ladakh Range on the to and fro movements from this northern sub-route branch. The biotic assemblage is rich in Non Pollen Palynomorphs (76%) with minor amounts of pollens (24%). An improvement in the conditions since 855 cal yr BP and thereafter from 340 to 220 cal yr BP records the onset of the cold arid conditions again in the Ladakh Range. Presently due to contemporary deglaciation the Ladakh Range is becoming ice free and a number of lakes surrounded by herbaceous meadows are seen in the area due to glacial melt, likely to encourage the human settlements to soon occupy the higher reaches that will negatively affect the natural lake productivity.

Late Holocene ecological shifts and chironomid-inferred summer temperature changes reconstructed from Lake Uddelermeer, the Netherlands

This paper presents a late Holocene chironomid-inferred record of July air temperature from a core obtained from Lake Uddelermeer in the Netherlands. The core interval, which dates from 2500 to 400 cal. yr. BP, was analysed at multi-decadal resolution for organic content, pollen, spores and NPPs (Non Pollen Palynomorphs), and chironomid head capsules. These proxies indicate that, from 2500 to 1140 cal. yr. BP, the lake was mesotrophic and sustained a Littorellion community, while the chironomid assemblage was dominated by littoral species associated with macrophytes. At 1140 cal. yr. BP, a shift in the lake ecology occurred from low-nutrient to high-nutrient conditions dominated by algae. This shift might be linked to a concurrent increase in human impact and is reflected in the chironomid assemblage by increases in eurytopic taxa, which are resistant to disturbances. Shifts in the chironomid record between 2500 and 1140 cal. yr. BP do not coincide with changes in lake ecology and are presumably driven by climate change. Using a Norwegian-Swiss calibration dataset as a modern analogue, we produced a chironomid-inferred temperature (C-IT) reconstruction. This reconstruction compares well to other regional temperature reconstructions in timing and duration showing a Roman Warm Period between 2240 and 1760 cal. yr. BP, a Dark Age Cold Period starting at 1760 cal. yr. BP and the Medieval Climate Anomaly beginning at 1280 cal. yr. BP. The C-IT record indicates a temperature drop of 1.5 °C from the Roman Warm Period to the Dark Age Cold Period. Findings improve knowledge of the first millennium AD in NW Europe, which was characterised by changes in landscape, vegetation, society and climate.

A multi-proxy approach to understanding complex responses of salt-lake catchments to climate variability and human pressure: A Late Quaternary case study from south-eastern, Spain

This article focuses on a former salt lake in the upper Vinalopó Valley in south-eastern Spain. The study spans the Late Pleistocene through to the Late Holocene, although with particular focus on the period between 11 ka cal BP and 3000 ka cal BP (which spans the Mesolithic and part of the Bronze Age). High resolution multi-proxy analysis (including pollen, non pollen palynomorphs, grain size, X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction) was undertaken on the lake sediments. The results show strong sensitivity to both long term and small changes in the evaporation/precipitation ratio, affecting the surrounding vegetation composition, lake-biota and sediment geochemistry.To summarise the key findings the main general trends identified include: 1) Hyper-saline conditions and low lake levels at the end of the Late Glacial 2) Increasing wetness and temperatures which witnessed an expansion of mesophilic woodland taxa, lake infilling and the establishment of a more perennial lake system at the onset of the Holocene 3) An increase in solar insolation after 9 ka cal BP which saw the re-establishment of pine forests 4) A continued trend towards increasing dryness (climatic optimum) at 7 ka cal BP but with continued freshwater input 5) An increase in sclerophyllous open woody vegetation (anthropogenic?), and increasing wetness (climatic?) is represented in the lake record between 5.9 and 3 ka cal BP 6) The Holocene was also punctuated by several aridity pulses, the most prominent corresponding to the 8.2 ka cal BP event. These events, despite a paucity of well dated archaeological sites in the surrounding area, likely altered the carrying capacity of this area both regionally and locally, particularly during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, in terms of fresh water supply for human/animal consumption, wild plant food reserves and suitable land for crop growth.

Characteristics of modern biotic data and their relationship to vegetation of the Alpine zone of Chopta valley, North Sikkim, India: Implications for palaeovegetation reconstruction

We examined the modern pollen palynomorphs (PP) distribution complemented with non-pollen palynomorphs (NPP) and stable carbon isotopic data of soil organic matter (SOM) to explore relationships of...

High resolution palaeoecological records for climatic and environmental changes during the last 1350 years from Manzherok Lake, western foothills of the Altai Mountains, Russia

Compilation of spore-pollen, diatom and biochemical analyses of samples from the top 80-cm sediments of Manzherok Lake, located on the western foothills of the Altai Mountains (51°49′15.5″N, 85°48′35.7″E, 400 m a.s.l.), revealed influence of regional climate changes during the past 1350 years on the hydrological budget of the lake and the dynamics of the surrounding vegetation. Based on indicator species of diatom complexes in the lake sediments, the reconstructed lake level and pH can be deciphered as (1) shallow pond with relatively high pH prior to the Medieval Warm Period (MWP), (2) dramatic flooding with freshwater in the MWP, (3) lowering of the lake level during the Little Ice Age (LIA), and (4) contemporary rise of the lake level after the LIA. Increased concentrations of the detrital elements and severe degradation of diatom assemblages in the lake sediments took place during the dramatic flooding stage. The reconstructed lake level based on the diatom assemblages is in good agreement with the palynological data which indicate changes from birch forest-steppe to pine and cedar forests in the beginning of MWP, and then to birch-pine anthropogenically transformed forest-steppe in the LIA. Sharp maxima of non pollen palynomorphs Anabaena and Bryales/Algae at the 43–46 cm depth (∼900 a BP) possibly mark ecological crises in lake's biotope. Cold and dry conditions during the LIA were clearly expressed in pollen diagram of Manzherok Lake by decline of maxima of Siberian pine pollen and increase of Artemisia pollen. This study provides evidence to support a dry episode in the 9th century, wet climatic conditions in the MWP and a dry LIA in the Russian Altai Mountains in contrast to the opposite pattern revealed for arid regions of Central Asia and NW China during the same periods (Chen et al., 2010; Eichler et al., 2011; Chen et al., 2015). Our study indicates that, as a small and shallow lake located in the forest-steppe western foothills of the Altai Mountains, Manzherok Lake is more sensitive to high-resolution (less than centennial scale) climatic and environmental variations, in comparison with the large and deep Teletskoye Lake located in the mountain taiga zone of the northern Altai.

Pollen- and Non Pollen Palynomorphs- Analyses from Svalbard

We analysed fifteen samples of a shallow profile “Sverrefjellet Volcano “, located in the NW part of Svalbard – Bockfjord region (see Fig.1). Frequency of pollen grains, spores and NPP (Non Pollen Palynomorphs) was quite low. Only the local taxa (e.g. Salix and Cyperaceae) produced pollen in greater abundance. The pollen spectrum was considerably varied, although pollen grains and spores of most taxa were present in low abundances. This was due to low pollen and spores productivity of the Arctic flora, which propagates mostly in a vegetative way. To obtain as much information from the profile under study as possible, we analysed the non- pollen palynomorphs as well. We succeeded above all in determination of eggs, buccal tubes and claws of the Tardigrada phylum (Jankovská 1991). The determination has been recently verified by specialists in the field, prof. L. Kaczmarek and dr. M. Roszkowska (in Jankovská et al. 2016). The results of the pollen- and NPP analysis are presented in pollen- and NPP diagram, which represents a picture of the species-poor Arctic flora.

Cyanobacteria and testate amoeba as potential proxies for Holocene hydrological changes and climate variability: Evidence from tropical coastal lowlands of SW India

Cyanobacteria and thecamoebians are the two major constituents of Non Pollen Palynomorphs (NPP) found in the palynological preparations. The former is well represented in the sediment archives while the latter has restricted occurrence in the Holocene sequence apart from the conventional organic matter of pollen and spores. Well preserved morphotypes of Gleotrichia and Rivularia are the best forms of cyanobacteria found in almost all the studied profiles and their abundance towards Early to Middle Holocene coincides with the heavy rainfall and wet climate conditions during the Holocene climate optimum (HCO). Contrary to cyanobacterial diversity, thecamoebians are restricted to Late Holocene in most of the studied profiles and their occurrence is correlated with the prevailing dry and stressful environmental conditions. The major elements of thecamoebians identified belong to Arcellaceans, Centropyxids and Cucurbitella types. Abundance of Centropyxids and Arcellaceans in Varapuzha, West Kadungallur, Koonamavu, Pachcha and Ernakulam indicates low humidity and low precipitation. However, the relative abundance of Centropyxids in Mid Holocene at Ernakulam and Koonamavu reflects the early colonization of this type competing with the cyanobacteria, whereas, Arcellaceans are essentially confined to Late Holocene. Dominance of cyanobacteria and its proliferation is directly related to freshwater influx of the rainfall as well as the local hydrological regimes associated with the active aquifers controlled by the geomorphological features of the region in which the wetland system sustained. Considering the signatures of cyanobacteria and thecamoebians observed in the sediment archives their occurrence in the wetlands during the Holocene corresponds to the hydrodynamic regimes brought in by the freshwater influx as a result of monsoon variability. The well preserved cyanobacterial signatures in sediment archives of Kerala coast and their scarcity or even absence elsewhere along the west coast of India indicates that they are exclusively adapted to the wetland habitats where the hydrodynamic regimes are regularly controlled by fresh water influx in the form of extended rainy days of the monsoon system.

Late Holocene pollen record from Fiume Morto (Dead River), a palaeomeander of Tiber River near Ancient Ostia (central Italy)

Pollen and non pollen palynomorph analyses were carried out in a sediment core (MO2) drilled in the southern lobe of a palaeomeander, Fiume Morto (Dead River), in the Tiber delta area, near Ancient Ostia (central Italy). Since the Roman period, the Tiber River flowed close to Ancient Ostia and its saltworks, Salinae Ostiensis. The Tiber meander was cut off during the Tiber River flood of 1557 AD and transformed into an oxbow lake. During the nineteenth century the Fiume Morto pond was reclaimed and at present the area is about 3 km distant from the present shoreline and intensely transformed by human settlements. According to radiocarbon dates, the pollen record, not continuous, spans from the fourth century BC to the nineteenth century AD. It shows first a riverine phase before the meander cut off of sixteenth century AD and probably only the last centuries BC were preserved from erosion. The river deposits record riparian vegetation (mainly tamarisk and alder) with mesophilous (mainly deciduous oaks) and Mediterranean (mainly evergreen oaks, heather and olive tree) elements. The human presence is clear, probably related to the development of Ancient Ostia and evidenced by synanthropic taxa. The second phase corresponds to the oxbow lake formed after the meander cut off. Several peaks of pine pollen are tentatively ascribed to Tiber flood events: the first peak is found just in correspondence with the meander cut off at 1557 AD. The numerous floods we interpret in the following part of the diagram could be linked to the increase in extreme events and precipitation that occurred during the Little Ice Age. The last phase, in which freshwater plants are present and chenopods decrease, shows the saltworks abandonment that occurred in nineteenth century. This study turned out to be of key relevance to reconstruct the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the ancient Holocene Tiber meander during the last two and a half millennia.

Effect of Holocene climate and sea level changes on landform evolution and human habitation: Central Kerala, India

Holocene climate and sea level changes have significant bearing on the geomorphic evolution of the coastal environments. A better understanding of the chronologic events of these changes is essential not only for ensuring accuracy of the climate/sea level prediction systems developed essentially from instrumental measurements but is also important for planning developmental initiatives in coastal and near shore environments. The present study is confined to the sedimentological, palynological and stable isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) evidence of palaeoclimate and sea level records in the Holocene sedimentary archives of the coastal lowlands of Periyar – Chalakudy river systems of Central Kerala, which host one of the fast developing urban – industrial centres in south India, Kochi City. The Holocene deposit in the study area is composed mainly of sand and clay dominant sediments that fall within an age range between 5390 ± 140 yrs BP and 10,110 ± 80 yrs BP. The palynological and non - pollen palynomorphs in the sediments together with the textural and geochemical attributes indicate that Holocene sedimentation took place in the area under fluctuating environmental conditions with marked changes of climate and sea level. The northern part of the study area near Pattanam revealed multiple lines of evidence of human habitation which were subsequently buried under fluvio-marine sediments in the Late Holocene.

A non-pollen palynomorphs contribution to the local environmental history in the Ligurian Apennines: a preliminary study

As part of a regional research project on wetlands, a analysis was carried out on non pollen palynomorphs (NPP) from the upper sediments of a mountain peat bog in the Ligurian Apennines, northwest Italy. The aim of this project was to see if NPPs could yield useful results on local ecology and human activity in connection with the use of resources. More than 60 NPP types were found, among which a new type is described. A good agreement was observed between pollen assemblages and different NPP types, which are still an under-exploited source of information. Coprophilous fungi suggest the presence of livestock at the site after cal. a.d. 770–1160, while various algae and other water-demanding organisms show an increasing eutrophication of the environment in the most recent phase after cal. a.d. 1500. This approach, which is new for this region, confirms the hypothesis that local farming practices, such as management of pasture and woodland, were not recently established here. The site features and both NPP variety and significance show that further improvement of this additional tool could contribute to answering some questions about past cultural landscapes.

New Wealden correlation for the Wessex Basin

New scan-search (SEM) investigation of small pollen palynomorphs have led to a revised correlation of the Coarse Quartz Grit of Worbarrow (Dorset) with the Pine-raft of the Wealden Marls (Wessex Formation) of the western Isle of Wight, and with a level at 426.7–434.3 m (1400–1425 feet) depth in the Warlingham borehole, close in time to the Hauterivian-Barremian boundary.