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Evaluating the effect of flowering age and forest structure on pollen productivity estimates

Matthias, Isabelle ; Nielsen, Anne Birgitte LU orcid and Giesecke, Thomas (2012) In Vegetation History and Archaeobotany 21(6). p.471-484
Abstract
Pollen productivity estimates (PPEs) are indispensable prerequisites for quantitative vegetation reconstructions. Estimates from different European regions show a large variability and it is uncertain whether this reflects regional differences in climate and soil or is brought about by different assessments of vegetation abundance. Forests represent a particular problem as they consist of several layers of vegetation and many tree species only start producing pollen after they have attained ages of several decades. Here we used detailed forest inventory data from north-eastern Germany to investigate the effect of flowering age and understory trees on PPEs.

Pollen counts were obtained from 49 small to medium sized lakes chosen to... (More)
Pollen productivity estimates (PPEs) are indispensable prerequisites for quantitative vegetation reconstructions. Estimates from different European regions show a large variability and it is uncertain whether this reflects regional differences in climate and soil or is brought about by different assessments of vegetation abundance. Forests represent a particular problem as they consist of several layers of vegetation and many tree species only start producing pollen after they have attained ages of several decades. Here we used detailed forest inventory data from north-eastern Germany to investigate the effect of flowering age and understory trees on PPEs.

Pollen counts were obtained from 49 small to medium sized lakes chosen to represent the different forest types in the region. Surface samples from lakes within a closed forest of Fagus yielded disproportionate amounts of Fagus pollen, increasing its PPE and the variability of all other estimates. These samples were removed from further analysis but indicate a high trunk-space component that is not considered in the Prentice–Sugita pollen dispersal and deposition model. Results of the restricted dataset show important differences in PPEs based on the consideration of flowering age and understory position. The effect is largest for slow growing and/or late flowering trees like Fagus and Carpinus while it is minimal for species that flower early in their development like Betula and Alnus. The large relevant source area of pollen (RSAP) of 7 km obtained in this study is consistent with the landscape structure of the region. (Less)
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author
; and
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publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
flowering age, surface samples, pollen productivity estimates, Germany, relevant source area of pollen, forest structure
in
Vegetation History and Archaeobotany
volume
21
issue
6
pages
471 - 484
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • wos:000310319600004
  • scopus:84868193810
ISSN
0939-6314
DOI
10.1007/s00334-012-0373-z
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
ee9c3e4a-fefe-4cfd-9460-4aa0a451937d (old id 3159194)
alternative location
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00334-012-0373-z
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:18:56
date last changed
2022-04-20 00:58:55
@article{ee9c3e4a-fefe-4cfd-9460-4aa0a451937d,
  abstract     = {{Pollen productivity estimates (PPEs) are indispensable prerequisites for quantitative vegetation reconstructions. Estimates from different European regions show a large variability and it is uncertain whether this reflects regional differences in climate and soil or is brought about by different assessments of vegetation abundance. Forests represent a particular problem as they consist of several layers of vegetation and many tree species only start producing pollen after they have attained ages of several decades. Here we used detailed forest inventory data from north-eastern Germany to investigate the effect of flowering age and understory trees on PPEs.<br/><br>
Pollen counts were obtained from 49 small to medium sized lakes chosen to represent the different forest types in the region. Surface samples from lakes within a closed forest of Fagus yielded disproportionate amounts of Fagus pollen, increasing its PPE and the variability of all other estimates. These samples were removed from further analysis but indicate a high trunk-space component that is not considered in the Prentice–Sugita pollen dispersal and deposition model. Results of the restricted dataset show important differences in PPEs based on the consideration of flowering age and understory position. The effect is largest for slow growing and/or late flowering trees like Fagus and Carpinus while it is minimal for species that flower early in their development like Betula and Alnus. The large relevant source area of pollen (RSAP) of 7 km obtained in this study is consistent with the landscape structure of the region.}},
  author       = {{Matthias, Isabelle and Nielsen, Anne Birgitte and Giesecke, Thomas}},
  issn         = {{0939-6314}},
  keywords     = {{flowering age; surface samples; pollen productivity estimates; Germany; relevant source area of pollen; forest structure}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{6}},
  pages        = {{471--484}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Vegetation History and Archaeobotany}},
  title        = {{Evaluating the effect of flowering age and forest structure on pollen productivity estimates}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/1738391/3159221.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s00334-012-0373-z}},
  volume       = {{21}},
  year         = {{2012}},
}