Non-Marine Paleoclimate Records: Pollen Data
Non-Marine Paleoclimate Records: Pollen Data
Pollen Data
Pollen Studies
Palynology is the study of pollen
Pollen grains can be found in caves, lake
sediments, soils, peat deposits, marine
sediments, glacial deposits.
Pollen data provides information of changes
in vegetation, climate, and human
disturbance of terrestrial ecosystems.
Pollen Production
Pollen production is inversely proportional to the
probability of fertilization.
Authogamous plants < Entomophilous < Anemophilous
(self-fertilizing)
(insect-fertilizing)
(wind-dispersed)
Genus
Pollen
Production
Grain/flower
Rate of Fall
(cm/sec)
Pinus
>15 million
Picea
200,000
Abies
100
40
Poacea
90,000
10
Betula
10,000
Quercus
9,000
15
Acer
8,000
Tilia
20,000
18
Fagus
Pollen Production
Pollen production is speciesspecific. Whereas some plants
can produce 70,000 grains per
anther, others produce up to 100
grains per anther.
The pollen record is biased
towards wind-pollinated plants
(all gymnosperms and most
angiosperms) because these
plants need to produce vast
quantities of pollen.
Pollen Production
Anemophilous plants
(wind-pollinated) produce
light, aerodynamically
shaped pollen.
Pollen deposition depends
on grain shape and weight,
wind velocity, wind
direction, canopy cover
Pollen dispersal
Travel distance is inversely proportional to
pollen-grain size.
Pollen grains are filtered as they move
through the canopy.
Some light pollen grains can be transported
long-distances in the upper atmosphere.
In general, pollen from low-standing plants
have low probability of dispersal.
Pollen dispersal
Meteorological conditions control pollen
dispersal.
Pollen Analysis
Sediments are collected
Pollen grains are isolated
from the sediment matrix
via chemical treatments.
Isolated pollen grains are
mounted onto a glass
slide, and they are
identified and quantified
under a microscope.
Pollen Analysis
Pollen counts in each
slide are reported in
percentages of the total
pollen count (excluding
wetland or rare species).
Changes in the % of one
species are interpreted to
reflect a similar change in
the composition of
vegetation.
Pollen Analysis
Y-axis: Time
Problem: % of pollen
counts could give
unrealistic information
of vegetation
composition if, for
instance, a plant
species is replaced by
an abundantly pollenproducing plant.
X-axis: % pollen grains
Pollen Analysis
To circumvent biases associated with pollen
production, one could use pollen flux density
values (pollen grain/yr-cm2).
However, accurate and numerous dates are
needed. Because this is rare, pollen fluxes are
not used very often.
Pollen Interpretation
Pollen diagrams are
usually divided into
zones to facilitate
interpretations.
Changes in pollen
composition are
interpreted to indicate
changes in climate or
human disturbance.
St. Paul, MN (Matsch, 1976).
Pollen Interpretation
Two general interpretative approaches exist:
Individualistic Approach: Past environmental
conditions are reconstructed on the basis of
present-day ecology and environmental
tolerance and optima of a plant species.
Assemblage Approach: Past environmental
conditions are reconstructed on the basis
modern plant associations in climate/
biogeographical regions.
Pollen Interpretation
Individualistic approach
(Midwest):
Decline in hardwood species
(beech, maple, oak, hickory)
and/or increase in conifer species
(spruce, fir, pine) indicates
cooling.
Increase in ash and/or elm
indicates wet environments.
Decline in trees and increase in
grasses indicates drier conditions.
Pollen record for Money Creek and Pine Creek in southeastern Minnesota
(Baker et al., 2002).
Pollen Interpretation
Assemblage Approach:
Modern Analog Technique (MAT): Central
assumption: If two assemblages contain a similar
mixture of pollen grains, then the communities that
produced those assemblages must also have been
similar.
Another assumption: Plant composition in an
ecosystem is at equilibrium with the environment.
Pollen Interpretation
MAT: relies on the dissimilarities of modern
and fossil assemblages.
To determine if they are the same, the
threshold of relatedness is based on
statistical comparisons between paired
populations within and between
ecosystems.
Pollen Interpretation
Hierarchical Analog Approach: Based on
functional analogs rather than on plant
associations.
First level of analyses: similar to MAT
Second level: based on plant functional
types.
Third level: based on plant life forms.
Williams, 2003.
Williams, 2003.
Pollen Interpretation
Transfer Functions: A polynomial equation
is fitted to observed pollen data.
Not often used because these functions
assume that only one parameter controls the
distribution of vegetation (pollen).
Particularly problematic for ecosystems
with no modern analog.
Macrofossils
Plant remains (leaves, fruits,
flowers, roots, etc) are preserved
in some particular environments
(e.g., swamps).
Advantage: species can readily
be identified, provides good
radiocarbon dates.
Disadvantage: Few locations are
available and modern analogs
are difficult to established.
Tree-line (Ecotone)
Gradual transition from mature dense forest
through open, discontinuous woodland, to isolated
trees or grasslands.
Artic Ecotone: Boreal forest/tundra