Publication Date:
2019
Description:
〈div data-abstract-type="normal"〉〈p〉The characterization of modern pollen rain assemblages along environmental gradients is an essential prerequisite for reliable interpretations of fossil pollen records. In this study, we identify pollen-vegetation relationships using modern pollen rain assemblages in moss polsters (n = 13) and lake sediment surface samples (n = 11) along a steep temperature gradient of 7°C (3100–4200 m above sea level) on the western Andean Cordillera, Ecuador. The pollen rain is correlated to vascular plant abundance data recorded in vegetation relevées (n = 13). Results show that pollen spectra from both moss polsters and sediment surface samples reflect changes in species composition along the temperature gradient, despite overrepresentation of upper montane forest taxa in the latter. Estimated pollen transport distance for a lake (Laguna Llaviucu) situated in a steep upper montane forest valley is 1–2 km, while a lake (Laguna Pallcacocha) in the páramo captures pollen input from a distance of up to 10–40 km. 〈span〉Weinmannia〈/span〉 spp., 〈span〉Podocarpus〈/span〉 spp., and 〈span〉Hedyosmum〈/span〉 sp. are indicators of local upper montane forest vegetation, while 〈span〉Phlegmariurus〈/span〉 spp. and 〈span〉Plantago〈/span〉 spp. are indicators for local páramo vegetation.〈/p〉〈/div〉
Print ISSN:
0033-5894
Electronic ISSN:
1096-0287
Topics:
Geography
,
Geosciences
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