Modern analogs for understanding pollen-vegetation dynamics in a Mediterranean mosaic landscape (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean)
- Laboratory of Palynology and Paleobotany, Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy; ArqueoUIB, Department of Historical Sciences and Theory of Art, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma, Spain
- Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Spain
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education/USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, Center for Forest Disturbance Science, USA; Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, USA
- Laboratory of Palynology and Paleobotany, Department of Life Sciences, Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy
- Mediterranean Hydrological and Ecogeomorphological Connectivity Research Team, Department of Geography, University of the Balearic Islands, Spain; Institute of Agro-Environmental and Water Economy Research – INAGEA, University of the Balearic Islands, Spain
This paper presents the study of modern pollen analogs from the Balearic Islands. While similar studies have been largely applied to mainland areas, research focused on modern vegetation dynamics on Mediterranean islands remains very rare. In this research, we combine vegetation surveys, pollen analysis and multivariate statistics to understand landscape composition. The main objectives of are: (1) to examine pollen-vegetation relationships in relation to environmental and land-use variables; (2) to understand modern pollen representation in a mosaic landscape structure; and (3) to propose pollen indicators that characterize the primary vegetation types from the Balearic Islands to better interpret past pollen records in Mediterranean island environments. Pollen results and Redundancy Analysis (RDA) distinguish three major groups: (a) Holm oak and box formations; (b) maquis and garrigues; and (c) anthropogenic and open habitats. Landscape form, mean decadal rainfall, mean decadal temperature, fire activity, trampling, slope percentage, wet/flooded soil, saline soil, distance to agropastoral cells, gHM index, domestic herbivory presence, agropastoral use, and soil type are the major variables explaining modern pollen assemblage variation in our research. Poaceae undiff., Plantago sp., Apiaceae undiff., Cerealia-t, and Cichorieae are highly correlated to human activities but should be interpreted cautiously when occurring in low values. Quercus ilex-t, Hypericum, and Buxus are correlated to humid locations while Pistacia, Pinus, Juniperus-t, and Olea to high mean decadal temperatures. Our study indicates how pollen analysis and multivariate analysis are powerful tools for characterizing the mosaic landscape, with special focus on the main vegetation types of the Balearic Islands.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge Inst. for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- DOE Contract Number:
- SC0014664
- OSTI ID:
- 1983029
- Journal Information:
- Holocene, Vol. 32, Issue 7; ISSN 0959-6836
- Publisher:
- SAGE
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Figure 1
Recent carbonate sedimentation on Balearic platform: model for temperate-climate carbonate shelves