Modern Pollen Rain and Vegetational History of the Malaspina Glacier District, Alaska

1986 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy M. Peteet
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Of Alaska ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Coastal Forest ◽  
Modern Pollen ◽  
Pollen Rain ◽  
History Of ◽  
Climatic Cooling ◽  
Coastal Meadow

Seventy surface pollen samples from coastal forest, coastal meadow, muskeg, tree line, and alpine tundra communities form a basis for interpreting fossil pollen assemblages in the Malaspina Glacier district, Alaska. Poflen and macrofossil analyses of three radiocarbon-dated fossil sections from Icy Cape indicate that vegetational changes resulting from plant succession can be distinguished from those of migrational and climatic origin. Vegetation of the early Holocene xerothermic interval (10,000–7600 yr B.P.) was dominated by Alnus communities. Wetter conditions ensued, enabling generative muskeg surfaces to develop and first Picea sitchensis, then Tsuga heterophylla to expand from areas southeastward. Climatic cooling in more recent millennia (3500 yr B.P. to the present) is indicated by the appearance and persistent growth of Tsuga mertensiana and Selaginella selaginoides along this portion of the Gulf of Alaska coastline.

Modern pollen rain of Washington

1978 ◽  
Vol 56 (13) ◽  
pp. 1510-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calvin J. Heusser
Keyword(s):  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Alpine Tundra ◽  
Subalpine Forest ◽  
Western Coast ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Columbia Plateau ◽  
Modern Pollen ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Pollen Rain

Modern pollen rain was studied at 98 sites distributed in a belt transect some 250 km wide running a distance of 425 km between La Push on the Pacific coast and Grand Coulee on the Columbia Plateau. Sites are located in a variety of plant communities from the Picea sitchensis Zone near sea level to the Alpine Tundra Zone at 2285 m in the Cascades. The purposes of the study are (1) to establish the nature of the pollen rain and its relation to vegetation sources and (2) to develop further the pool of potential analogs of fossil pollen spectra for use in the reconstruction of Quaternary environments.Relative frequencies are shown for the pollen of Pinus, Picea, Abies, Tsuga, Pseudotsuga, Cupressaceae, Alnus, Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Artemisia, and Compositae. Results indicate the pollen rain to be related to source vegetation at the collection sites except for certain instances of infiltration by extraneous types, of which Pinus is most conspicuous. Alnus is the dominant pollen in the Puget Lowland and the western Coast and Cascade Ranges; Tsuga heterophylla is most prominent in the Coast Range; and Pinus ranks foremost in the eastern Cascades and on the Columbia Plateau. On the Columbia Plateau, the Gramineae, Artemisia, Compositae, and Chenopodiaceae are also distinctive. Subalpine forest types and nonarboreals are generally characteristic of the Timberline and Alpine Tundra Zones.

scholarly journals Postglacial Fire Frequency and its Relation to Long-Term Vegetational and Climatic Changes in Yellowstone Park

1992 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
pp. 212-218
Author(s):  
Cathy Whitlock
Keyword(s):  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Northern Rocky Mountains ◽  
Modern Pollen ◽  
Pollen Rain ◽  
History Of ◽  
Fossil Records ◽  
In Fire ◽  
The Relationship

The primary research objective has been to study the vegetational history of Yellowstone and its sensitivity to changes in climate and fire frequency. To establish a sequence of vegetational changes, a network of pollen records spanning the last 14,000 years has been studied from different types of vegetation within the Park. The relationship between modern pollen rain, modern vegetation and present­day climate in the northern Rocky Mountains has been the basis for interpreting past vegetation and climate from the fossil records. Changes in fire regime during the past 14,000 years have been inferred from sedimentary charcoal and other fire proxy in lake sediments. Calibration of the fire signal is based on a study that measures the input of charcoal into lakes following the 1988 fires in Yellowstone.

A late Quaternary vegetation history from Lily Lake, Chilkat Peninsula, southeast Alaska

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (5) ◽  
pp. 1106-1112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Les C. Cwynar
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Late Quaternary ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Coastal Forest ◽  
Southeast Alaska ◽  
Plant Migration ◽  
Arrival Times ◽  
The Pacific

Pollen and plant macrofossil analyses of a radiocarbon-dated core from Lily Lake on the Chilkat Peninsula, southeast Alaska, provide evidence for the history of the Pacific Coastal Forest. A Pinus contorta woodland with an abundance of herbs and ferns initially became established after deglaciation (10 870 years BP). By 10 330 years BP, Alnus viridis had become a significant component of the pine woodland while herbs and other shrubs declined. At 9480 years BP, Picea sitchensis and Populus were locally present and P. contorta populations declined. Tsuga heterophylla, which dominates the modern vegetation, became locally established at 7880 years BP. The last major component, Tsuga mertensiana, joined the vegetation about 6710 years BP. The modern closed forest, dominated by T. heterophylla and P. sitchensis, became established about 2870 years BP. The arrival times for the dominant species are compatible with dates from other studies that suggest a northward migration along the coast. Key words: fossil pollen, Alaska, Quaternary, plant migration, coastal forest.

A 14,000 year vegetation history of a hypermaritime island on the outer Pacific coast of Canada based on fossil pollen, spores and conifer stomata

2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 572-582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terri Lacourse ◽  
J. Michelle Delepine ◽  
Elizabeth H. Hoffman ◽  
Rolf W. Mathewes
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
North Coast ◽  
Pollen Record ◽  
The North ◽  
History Of ◽  
Local Species

AbstractPollen and conifer stomata analyses of lake sediments from Hippa Island on the north coast of British Columbia were used to reconstruct the vegetation history of this small hypermaritime island. Between 14,000 and 13,230 cal yr BP, the island supported diverse herb–shrub communities dominated by Cyperaceae, Artemisia and Salix. Pinus contorta and Picea sitchensis stomata indicate that these conifers were present among the herb–shrub communities, likely as scattered individuals. Transition to open P. contorta woodland by 13,000 cal yr BP was followed by increases in Alnus viridis, Alnus rubra and P. sitchensis. After 12,000 cal yr BP, Pinus-dominated communities were replaced by dense P. sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla forest with Lysichiton americanus and fern understory. Thuja plicata stomata indicate that this species was present by 8700 cal yr BP, but the pollen record suggests that its populations did not expand to dominate regional rainforests, along with Tsuga and Picea, until after 6600 cal yr BP. Conifer stomata indicate that species may be locally present for hundreds to thousands of years before pollen exceed thresholds routinely used to infer local species arrival. When combined, pollen and conifer stomata can provide a more accurate record of paleovegetation than either when used alone.

Ecosystem development in the Girdwood area, south-central Alaska, following late Wisconsin glaciation

2010 ◽  
Vol 47 (7) ◽  
pp. 971-985 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Ager ◽  
P. E. Carrara ◽  
J. P. McGeehin
Keyword(s):  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Coastal Forest ◽  
Postglacial History ◽  
South Central ◽  
Tundra Vegetation ◽  
History Of Vegetation ◽  
Clayey Silt ◽  
Birch Trees ◽  
History Of ◽  
Tsuga Mertensiana

Pollen analysis of two cores with discontinuous records from a peat bog near Girdwood, in south-central Alaska, provides the basis for reconstructing the first radiocarbon-dated outline of postglacial history of vegetation in the upper Turnagain Arm area of Cook Inlet. Pollen data from clayey silt underlying peat at one site indicate that the earliest known vegetation in the Girdwood area was shrub–herb tundra. Tundra vegetation developed by ∼13 800 cal years BP, soon after local retreat of glacial ice from the maximum position of the Elmendorf glacial advance (∼15 000 – 11 000 cal years BP). By ∼10 900 cal years BP, the tundra vegetation became shrubbier as Betula nana , Salix , and Ericales increased, and scattered Alnus shrubs began to colonize Turnagain Arm. By ∼9600 cal years BP, Alnus thickets with Polypodiaceae ferns became the dominant vegetation. By ∼6600 cal years BP, birch trees ( Betula neoalaskana , B. kenaica ) from the Anchorage and Kenai lowlands began to spread eastward into eastern Turnagain Arm. Mountain hemlock ( Tsuga mertensiana ) began to colonize the Girdwood area by ∼3400 cal years BP, followed soon after by Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ), both Pacific coastal forest species that spread westward from Prince William Sound after a long migration from southeastern Alaska. For at least the past 2700 cal years, Pacific coastal forest composed mostly of Tsuga mertensiana , Picea sitchensis , and Alnus has been the dominant vegetation of eastern Turnagain Arm.

Postglacial vegetation history of Mitkof Island, Alexander Archipelago, southeastern Alaska

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas A. Ager ◽  
Paul E. Carrara ◽  
Jane L. Smith ◽  
Victoria Anne ◽  
Joni Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Contorta ◽  
Vegetation History ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Sitka Spruce ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Pollen Record ◽  
Coastal Forests ◽  
History Of

An AMS radiocarbon-dated pollen record from a peat deposit on Mitkof Island, southeastern Alaska provides a vegetation history spanning ∼12,900 cal yr BP to the present. Late Wisconsin glaciers covered the entire island; deglaciation occurred > 15,400 cal yr BP. The earliest known vegetation to develop on the island (∼12,900 cal yr BP) was pine woodland (Pinus contorta) with alder (Alnus), sedges (Cyperaceae) and ferns (Polypodiaceae type). By ∼12,240 cal yr BP, Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) began to colonize the island while pine woodland declined. By ∼11,200 cal yr BP, mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) began to spread across the island. Sitka spruce-mountain hemlock forests dominated the lowland landscapes of the island until ∼10,180 cal yr BP, when western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) began to colonize, and soon became the dominant tree species. Rising percentages of pine, sedge, and sphagnum after ∼7100 cal yr BP may reflect an expansion of peat bog habitats as regional climate began to shift to cooler, wetter conditions. A decline in alders at that time suggests that coastal forests had spread into the island's uplands, replacing large areas of alder thickets. Cedars (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Thuja plicata) appeared on Mitkof Island during the late Holocene.

Fire and Vegetation History from the Coastal Rain Forest of the Western Oregon Coast Range

2002 ◽  
Vol 58 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin J. Long ◽  
Cathy Whitlock
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation History ◽  
Fire Frequency ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Picea Sitchensis ◽  
Eastern Coast ◽  
Summer Drought ◽  
Coast Range ◽  
Episode Frequency ◽  
History Of ◽  
In Fire

AbstractHigh-resolution charcoal and pollen analyses were used to reconstruct a 4600-yr-long history of fire and vegetation near Taylor Lake in the wettest forests of coastal Oregon. Today, fires in these forests are rare because the season of ignition does not coincide with months of dry fuels. From ca. 4600 to 2700 cal yr B.P. fire episodes occurred at intervals of 140±30 yr while forest vegetation was dominated by disturbance-adapted taxa such as Alnus rubra. From ca. 2700 cal yr B.P. to the present, fire episodes have become less common, occurring at intervals of 240±30 yr, and fire-sensitive forest taxa, such as Tsuga heterophylla and Picea sitchensis, have become more prominent. Fire occurrence during the mid-Holocene was similar to that of the more xeric forests in the eastern Coast Range and suggests that summer drought was widespread. After ca. 2700 cal yr B.P., a decrease in fire episode frequency suggests that cooler conditions and possibly increased summer fog allowed the establishment of present-day Picea sitchensis forests within the watershed. These results provide evidence that fire has been an important disturbance agent in the Coast Range of Oregon, and variations in fire frequency and climate have led to the establishment of present-day forests.

Pollen Taphonomy in a Canyon Stream

1987 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 393-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia L. Fall
Keyword(s):  
Surface Soil ◽  
Pollen Grains ◽  
Close Correlation ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Alluvial Deposits ◽  
Modern Pollen ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Pollen Rain ◽  
Arid Steppe ◽  
Turbulent Water

AbstractSurface soil samples from the forested Chuska Mountains to the arid steppe of the Chinle Valley, Northeastern Arizona, show close correlation between modern pollen rain and vegetation. In contrast, modern alluvium is dominated by Pinus pollen throughout the canyon; it reflects neither the surrounding floodplain nor plateau vegetation. Pollen in surface soils is deposited by wind; pollen grains in alluvium are deposited by a stream as sedimentary particles. Clay-size particles correlate significantly with Pinus, Quercus, and Populus pollen. These pollen types settle, as clay does, in slack water. Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthus, Artemisia, other Tubuliflorae, and indeterminate pollen types correlate with sand-size particles, and are deposited by more turbulent water. Fluctuating pollen frequencies in alluvial deposits are related to sedimentology and do not reflect the local or regional vegetation where the sediments were deposited. Alluvial pollen is unreliable for reconstruction of paleoenvironments.

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