The relationship between vegetation and modern pollen assemblages on Mount Paggeo (NE Greece)

• Published in: Lazaroa Vol. 37; pp. 105 - 123
• Main Authors: Glais, Arthur, Papageorgiou, Aristotelis C., Tsiripidis, Ioannis, Schaad, Daniel, López Sáez, José Antonio, Lespez, Laurent
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Complutense de Madrid 01.01.2016; Madrid Universidad Complutense, Servicio de Publicaciones
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Biodiversity and Ecology; Ecology, environment; Environment and Society; Environmental Sciences; Life Sciences; Systematics, Phylogenetics and taxonomy; Grecia; Palynology; Análisis multivariantes; NE Greece; Phytosociology; Mount Paggeo; NE Grecia; Palinología; Monte Paggeo; Multivariate Analyses; Fitosociología; Fagus sylvatica
• ISSN: 0210-9778; 1988-3307
• DOI: 10.5209/LAZAROA.53604

In this study, we investigated the relationship between vegetation and modern-pollen rain along the elevational gradient of Mount Paggeo. We apply multivariate data analysis to assess the relationship between vegetation and modern-pollen rain and quantify the representativeness of forest zones. This study represents the first statistical analysis of pollen-vegetation relationship along an elevational gradient in Greece. Hence, this paper improves confidence in interpretation of palynological records from north-eastern Greece and may refine past climate reconstructions for a more accurate comparison of data and modelling. Numerical classification and ordination were performed on pollen data to assess differences among plant communities that beech (Fagus sylvatica) dominates or co-dominates. The results show a strong relationship between altitude, arboreal cover, human impact and variations in pollen and non-pollen palynomorph taxa percentages.