Representation and biases: Pollen–vegetation relationships and their contribution to the study of fossil pollen records in SW Iberia

In order to provide a better framework for the interpretation of fossil pollen records, a set of 49 modern pollen samples collected across different habitats of SW Iberia, categorised by context and sample type (soil vs moss), were selected to explore pollen–vegetation relationships by multivariate...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Review of palaeobotany and palynology 2023-09, Vol.316, p.104919, Article 104919
Main Authors: Val-Peón, Cristina, Maié, Tiago, López-Sáez, José Antonio, Santisteban, Juan Ignacio, Mediavilla, Rosa, Reicherter, Klaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Environmental variables
Fossil records
Modern pollen samples
Open database
SW Iberia
Taphonomy
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Summary:In order to provide a better framework for the interpretation of fossil pollen records, a set of 49 modern pollen samples collected across different habitats of SW Iberia, categorised by context and sample type (soil vs moss), were selected to explore pollen–vegetation relationships by multivariate analysis and identify possible biases in pollen representativeness. The distribution of both samples and pollen taxa in the plots is successfully explained according to specific environmental variables in some clusters (A, B and E) in which plant communities depend on certain environmental conditions. On the other hand, other clusters (C, D and F) are better explained by opposition to some variables and suggest a wider range of adaptability of their floristic communities. The classification of samples by context consistently explains their differences in vegetal and environmental terms. However, some discrepancies seem to be better explained by sample type (soil vs moss), which raises some questions on how taphonomic factors may cause biases in both modern and fossil pollen samples. •Modern pollen samples from SW Iberia available at the EMPD were studied.•Distribution of floristic communities were correlated with environmental variables.•Different results were identified depending on the context and sample type (moss and soil).•Taphonomic factors seem to affect the representation of the vegetation in modern samples.•These may explain biases in fossil records and assist their interpretation.
ISSN:0034-6667
DOI:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2023.104919